Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(A) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(B)

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^(A)

³⁶ So if the Son sets you free,^(A) you will be free indeed.

⁹ No one who is born of God^(A) will continue to sin,^(B) because God’s seed^(C) 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^(D) are and who the children of the devil^(E) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love^(F) their brother and sister.^(G)

²² But now that you have been set free from sin^(A) and have become slaves of God,^(B) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^(C)