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.

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him^(A)

^23 (B)Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross ^[a]daily, and follow Me. ^24 (C)For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

³³ So likewise, whoever of you ^(A)does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

^14 (A)Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, ^(B)without which no one will see the Lord:

^3 (A)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

^15 (A)but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, ^(B)“Be holy, for I am holy.”

^6 (A)He who says he abides in Him ^(B)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

The Consummation of Love

¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that ^(A)we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.