1 SEE WHAT an incredible quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
2 Beloved, we are even here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be hereafter, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall as God's children resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He really is.
3 And everyone who has this hope resting on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).
4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for that is what sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect--being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).
5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away upon Himself sins, and in Him there is no sin essentially and forever.
6 No one who abides in Him who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him--deliberately, knowingly, and habitually commits (practices) sin. No one who habitually sins has either seen or known Him recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him.
7 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life is righteous, even as He is righteous.
8 But he who commits sin who practices evildoing is of the devil takes his character from the evil one, for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil has done.
9 No one born (begotten) of God deliberately, knowingly, and habitually practices sin, for God's nature abides in him His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).
11 For this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,
12 And not be like Cain who took his nature and got his motivation from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother's were righteous (virtuous).
13 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.
14 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in spiritual death.
15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother in Christ is at heart a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him.
16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the essential love: that He laid down His own life for us; and we ought to lay our lives down for those who are our brothers in Him.
17 But if anyone has this world's goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?
18 Little children, let us not love merely in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).
19 By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,
20 Whenever our hearts in tormenting self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. For we are in God's hands. For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything nothing is hidden from Him.
21 And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us, we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,
22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we watchfully obey His orders observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us and habitually practice what is pleasing to Him.
23 And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.
24 All who keep His commandments who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and abide in Him, and He in them. They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ. And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He really lives and makes His home in us: by the Holy Spirit Whom He has given us.