1 John 3:1-10 - Living As Children Of God
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given us in allowing us to be called "Children of God!" And that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not know him. 2 We are God's children now, beloved; what we shall be has never yet been made manifest. But we know that when he is manifested we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 3 And every one who is holding this hope in him is purifying himself, even as he is pure.
4 Every one who commits sin commits also lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whoever continually abides in him does not habitually sin; whoever lives in sin has not seen him, nor come to know him.
7 My children, let no one deceive you; he who is working righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who is committing sin is of the devil, because from the beginning of the devil is sinning. It was for this cause that the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is a child of God cannot go on sinning, because his seed is abiding in him; and he cannot go on sinning because he is a child of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; for every one who does not work righteousness is not a child of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.