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.
1 Redziet, kādu mīlestību Tēvs mums ir parādījis, ka tiekam saukti Dieva bērni, un mēs tādi arī esam. Pasaule mūs tāpēc neatzīst, ka tā Viņu nav atzinusi. 2 Mīļie, tagad mēs esam Dieva bērni, un vēl nav atklājies, kas mēs būsim. Mēs zinām, ka, kad tas atklāsies, mēs būsim Viņam līdzīgi, jo mēs redzēsim Viņu, kāds Viņš ir. 3 Katrs, kam ir šī cerība uz Viņu, šķīsta sevi pašu, kā Viņš ir šķīsts. 4 Katrs, kas dara grēku, dara arī netaisnību; grēks ir netaisnība. 5 Jūs zināt, ka Viņš ir atklājies, lai grēkus atņemtu, un grēku nav Viņā. 6 Katrs, kas paliek Viņā, negrēko; katrs, kas grēko, nav Viņu redzējis, nedz Viņu atzinis. 7 Bērni, lai neviens jūs nemaldina: kas dara taisnību, ir taisns, tā kā Viņš ir taisns. 8 Kas dara grēku, ir no velna, jo velns grēko no sākuma. Tamdēļ Dieva Dēls atnācis, lai Viņš iznīcinātu velna darbus. 9 Ikviens, kas ir no Dieva dzimis, nedara grēku, jo Viņa sēkla paliek viņā un tas nevar grēkot, jo viņš ir no Dieva dzimis. 10 No tā var pazīt Dieva bērnus un velna bērnus; katrs, kas nedara taisnību, nav no Dieva, arī tas ne, kas nemīl savu brāli. 11 Jo šī ir tā vēsts, ko esat dzirdējuši no sākuma, ka mums būs citam citu mīlēt, 12 ne kā Kains, kas bija no ļaunā un nokāva savu brāli, bet kādēļ viņš to nokāva? Tāpēc ka viņa darbi bija ļauni un viņa brāļa darbi taisni. 13 Nebrīnieties, brāļi, ja pasaule jūs ienīst. 14 Mēs zinām, ka esam no nāves pārgājuši dzīvībā, jo mēs mīlam brāļus; kas nemīl, paliek nāvē. 15 Katrs, kas savu brāli ienīst, ir slepkava, un jūs zināt, ka neviens slepkava nepatur sevī mūžīgo dzīvību. 16 No tā mēs esam nopratuši mīlestību, ka Viņš Savu dzīvību par mums ir atdevis; tad arī mums pienākas atdot savu dzīvību par brāļiem. 17 Bet kam ir laicīga manta un viņš redz savu brāli ciešam trūkumu un aizslēdz viņam savu sirdi, kā gan Dieva mīlestība paliktu viņā? 18 Bērniņi, nemīlēsim vārdiem, nedz ar mēli, bet ar darbiem un ar patiesību! 19 No tā mēs zināsim, ka piederam patiesībai un varēsim savu sirdi Viņa priekšā klusināt, 20 ka, ja mūsu sirds mūs pazudina, Dievs ir lielāks nekā mūsu sirds un zina visas lietas. 21 Mīļie, kad mūsu sirds nepazudina mūs, tad mums ir paļāvība uz Dievu, 22 un visu, ko mēs lūdzam, to saņemam no Viņa, jo mēs turam Viņa baušļus un darām to, kas Viņam patīkams. 23 Bet šis ir Viņa bauslis, lai mēs ticam Viņa Dēla Jēzus Kristus Vārdam un mīlam cits citu, kā Viņš mums pavēlējis. 24 Kas Viņa baušļus tur, tas paliek Viņā un Viņš tanī, bet no tā mēs noskārstam, ka Viņš paliek mūsos, proti, no Gara, ko Viņš mums ir devis.
