Children of God
Study note
John invites readers to marvel at the lavish love the Father has given them: they are called children of God, and that is what they are. The world does not know them because it did not know Christ. Though what they will become has not yet been fully revealed, they know that when Christ appears they will be like him, because they will see him as he truly is. This hope purifies everyone who holds it.
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Dear friends, right now we are already God's children. What we will become one day has not been shown yet. But we know that when Jesus appears, we will become like him, because we will see him exactly as he is. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 Everyone who has this hope in Jesus works to become pure, because Jesus himself is pure. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Sin and the Children of God
Study note
John defines sin as lawlessness and declares that Christ appeared to take away sins. Those who remain in Christ do not keep on sinning; those who continue in sin have neither seen nor known him. John draws a stark contrast: whoever practices righteousness is righteous, but whoever makes a practice of sinning belongs to the devil, who has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared to destroy the devil's works. Those born of God do not make a habit of sinning because God's seed remains in them.
4 Everyone who keeps sinning is breaking God's law. That is exactly what sin is -- breaking God's law. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 You know that Jesus came to take away sins, and there is no sin in him. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 No one who stays connected to Jesus keeps on sinning as a way of life. Anyone who makes sin their habit has never truly seen Jesus or known him. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone mislead you. The person who does what is right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 The person who makes sin their lifestyle belongs to the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. The reason the Son of God appeared was to tear apart everything the devil has done. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who has been born into God's family makes sin their way of life. God's new life stays inside them. They cannot keep on sinning as a habit, because they have been born of God. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 Here is how you can tell who belongs to God's family and who belongs to the devil's family. Anyone who does not do what is right does not belong to God. And anyone who does not love other believers does not belong to God either. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Love One Another in Action
Study note
The message from the beginning is mutual love. John contrasts this with Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother out of envy. Believers should not be surprised if the world hates them. The proof of passing from death to life is love for fellow believers; hatred amounts to murder. John defines love by Christ's example: he laid down his life for us, and we should be willing to do the same. If a believer sees someone in need and does nothing, the love of God does not dwell in that person. Love must be expressed in action and truth, not merely in words.
11 This is the message you have heard from day one: love one another. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Do not be like Cain. He belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because the things Cain did were wicked, and his brother's actions were good. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 So do not be caught off guard, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know we have moved from death into life because we love our fellow believers. Someone who does not love is still trapped in death. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is truly a murderer at heart. And you know that no murderer has eternal life living inside them. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Here is how we learned what real love looks like: Jesus gave up his life for us. That means we should be ready to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters too. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 Someone might have enough to live on. They might see a fellow believer who is struggling. But they turn away and do nothing. How can God's love be in that person? But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 Dear children, our love should not be pretty words and nice speeches. It needs to be real -- shown through our actions and backed up by truth. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Confidence Before God
Study note
By loving in truth and action, believers assure their hearts before God. Even when their hearts condemn them, God is greater than their hearts and knows all things. When their hearts do not condemn them, they have confidence before God and receive what they ask because they keep his commandments. God's commandment is twofold: believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another. Those who obey remain in God, and the Spirit he gave confirms his presence in them.
19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth, and our hearts will be at peace when we stand before God. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 Even when our own heart blames us, God is bigger than our heart. He knows everything. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Dear friends, when our heart is not blaming us, we can come to God with total confidence. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatever we ask for, we receive from him. This happens because we do what he says and live in a way that makes him happy. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 This is God's command: trust in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another. That is his command. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 The person who follows God's commands stays connected to God, and God stays connected to them. How do we know God lives in us? Because of the Spirit he placed inside us. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.