1 John 3:10–18

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, qthat we should love one another, 12 not as rCain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if sthe world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love 3his brother abides in death. 15 tWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that uno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

16 vBy this we know love, wbecause He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But xwhoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, ylet us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.