⁷ Dear children,^(A) do not let anyone lead you astray.^(B) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.^{(C) 8} The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,^(D) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God^(E) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.^{(F) 9} No one who is born of God^(G) will continue to sin,^(H) because God’s seed^(I) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. ¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God^(J) are and who the children of the devil^(K) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love^(L) their brother and sister.^(M)

⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(A)

³⁶ Be merciful,^(A) just as your Father^(B) is merciful.

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.^{(A) 24} For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.^(B)

³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.^(A)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(A) and to be holy;^(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^(C)

³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves,^(A) just as he is pure.^(B)

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(A) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](B)

⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.^(A)