⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. ^8 (A)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, ^(B)that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been ^(C)born of God does not sin, for ^(D)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love^(E)

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.

^48 (A)Therefore you shall be perfect, just ^(B)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

^36 (A)Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

² Beloved, ^(A)now we are children of God; and ^(B)it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, ^(C)we shall be like Him, for ^(D)we shall see Him as He is. ^3 (E)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.