1 Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don't know who we are. 2 My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. 3 This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy.
4 Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. 5 You know Christ came to take away our sins. He isn't sinful, 6 and people who stay one in their hearts with him won't keep on sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they don't know Christ, and they have never seen him.
7 Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. 8 Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. 9 God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so they cannot keep on sinning. 10 You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Love Each Other
11 From the beginning you were told we must love each other. 12 Don't be like Cain, who belonged to the devil and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder him? He did it because his brother was good, and he was evil. 13 My friends, don't be surprised if the people of this world hate you. 14 Our love for each other proves we have gone from death to life. But if you don't love each other, you are still under the power of death.
15 If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know murderers do not have eternal life. 16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. 17 If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. 18 Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it.
19 When we love others, we know we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God. 20 But even if we don't feel at ease, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we feel at ease in the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him. 22 He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him. 23 God wants us to have faith in his Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. This is also what Jesus taught us to do. 24 If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit he has given us is proof that we are one with him.
Dieva bērni
1 Redziet, cik lielu mīlestību Tēvs mums ir dāvājis, ka tiekam saukti Dieva bērni un tādi arī esam. Pasaule mūs neatzīst, tādēļ ka tā nav atzinusi viņu. 2 Mīļotie, tagad mēs esam Dieva bērni, un vēl nav atklājies, kas mēs būsim. Zinām, ka tad, kad tas atklāsies, mēs būsim līdzīgi viņam, mēs redzēsim viņu tādu, kāds viņš ir. 3 Bet katrs, kam ir šī cerība uz viņu, šķīsta sevi, tāpat kā viņš ir šķīsts. 4 Katrs, kas grēko, pārkāpj likumu, jo grēks ir nelikumība. 5 Un jūs zināt, ka viņš parādījās, lai paņemtu prom grēkus, un viņā nav grēka. 6 Ikviens, kas paliek viņā, negrēko, bet, kas grēko, nav viņu nedz redzējis, nedz pazinis. 7 Bērniņi, lai neviens jūs nemaldina: kas dara taisnību, ir taisns, tāpat kā viņš ir taisns. 8 Kas dara grēku, ir no velna, jo velns grēko jau no paša sākuma, un Dieva Dēls tādēļ ir parādījies, lai izjauktu velna darbus. 9 Ikviens, kas dzimis no Dieva, nedara grēku, jo Dieva sēkla paliek viņā; un viņš nevar grēkot, jo ir no Dieva dzimis. 10 Tā top redzami Dieva bērni un velna bērni – katrs, kas nedara taisnību, nav no Dieva; tāpat arī tas, kas nemīl savu brāli.
Mīliet cits citu!
11 Jo šī ir tā vēsts, ko jūs esat dzirdējuši no iesākuma – lai mēs mīlam cits citu. 12 Ne tā kā Kains, kas bija no ļaunā un nokāva savu brāli. Un kādēļ viņš to nokāva? Tādēļ, ka viņa darbi bija ļauni, bet viņa brāļa darbi – taisni. 13 Nebrīnieties, brāļi, ka pasaule jūs ienīst. 14 Mēs zinām, ka esam no nāves pārgājuši dzīvībā, tādēļ ka mēs mīlam brāļus, bet, kas nemīl, paliek nāvē. 15 Ikviens, kas savu brāli nīst, ir slepkava, un jūs zināt, ka neviens slepkava nepatur sevī mūžīgo dzīvību. 16 Mīlestību mēs esam iepazinuši no tā, ka viņš savu dzīvību par mums ir atdevis. Arī mums pienākas savu dzīvību atdot par brāļiem. 17 Ja kādam šajā pasaulē ir pārticība un viņš redz savu brāli trūkumā un noslēdz tam savu sirdi, kā lai viņā paliek Dieva mīlestība? 18 Bērniņi, nemīlēsim ar vārdiem un ar mēli, bet ar darbiem un patiesību! 19 Un tā mēs zināsim, ka esam no patiesības: iedrošināsim viņa priekšā savu sirdi! 20 Un, pat ja mūsu sirds mūs apsūdz, Dievs ir lielāks nekā mūsu sirds, un viņš zina visu. 21 Mīļotie, ja jau mūs neapsūdz sirds, tad mums ir paļāvība uz Dievu. 22 Ja mēs ko lūdzam, tad saņemam no viņa, jo mēs turam viņa baušļus un darām to, kas viņam tīkams. 23 Viņa bauslis ir, lai mēs ticam viņa Dēla Jēzus Kristus vārdā un mīlam viens otru, kā viņš mums ir pavēlējis. 24 Bet, kas viņa baušļus tur, tas paliek viņā un viņš tanī. No tā mēs zinām, ka viņš paliek mūsos, no Gara, ko viņš mums ir devis.
