1 John 3:4-10
New American Standard Bible
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and (A)sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He (B)appeared in order to (C)take away sins; and (D)in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in Him (E)sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or [a](F)knows Him. 7 (G)Little children, make sure no one (H)deceives you; (I)the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is (J)of the devil; for the devil [b]has been sinning from the beginning. (K)The Son of God (L)appeared for this purpose, (M)to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who has been (N)born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the (O)children of God and the (P)children of the devil are obvious: [c]anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who (Q)does not love his (R)brother and sister.
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- 1 John 3:6 Or has known
- 1 John 3:8 Lit sins
- 1 John 3:10 Lit everyone
1 John 3:4-10
Amplified Bible
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will]. 5 You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame]. 6 No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because [a]God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] [b]love his [believing] brother.
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- 1 John 3:9 I.e. in human terms, God’s seed is like a divine “genetic code” which is passed on to His children and produces in them the desire to live in a way which pleases Him.
- 1 John 3:10 See note 2:10.
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