1 John 3King James Version
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
John marvels at the Father's love that grants believers the title 'children of God,' then draws out its moral implications. The children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished by their conduct: righteousness versus sin, love versus hatred. Cain is cited as the paradigm of murderous hatred. John calls readers to active, practical love, and closes with the assurance that obedience produces confidence before God.
Being born of God is not a passive status. It reshapes behavior toward righteousness and genuine love for others, making conduct the visible mark of belonging.
"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." (3:16) John defines love not by sentiment but by the cross, and immediately draws an ethical obligation: the same self-giving that defines Christ now defines what Christian community requires.
Somewhere in the congregation there are members with material resources and brothers who lack them. John does not abstract this into principle. He asks: if you see the need and shut your heart, how does God's love dwell in you? The question hangs in the air like an open accusation, direct and uncomfortable.
Cain appears as the negative archetype, the brother-killer whose envy of righteousness drove him to murder. Christ is held as the counter-archetype, laying down his life for others. John's readers are positioned between these two models and called to choose.
The sharp language about not sinning has puzzled readers, since John already assumed sin in chapter one. He is describing the orientation of the new nature, not sinless perfection. Those born of God do not live with sin as their settled direction. The chapter also contains one of the New Testament's most concrete ethics: when a brother has need and you shut your heart, you reveal something about your relationship with God.
Wonder opens the chapter, 'Behold, what manner of love,' and it is genuine astonishment, not rhetoric. That wonder immediately becomes obligation. The emotional temperature moves from awe to accountability without losing warmth.
1Behold, 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.
2Beloved, 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.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He 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.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In 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.
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12Not 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.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16Hereby 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.
17But 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?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And 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.
24And 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.