1 John 3:9-19

9 Those who have been born from God don't live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can't live sinful lives. They have been born from God.

10 This is the way God's children are distinguished from the devil's children. Everyone who doesn't do what is right or love other believers isn't God's child.

11 The message that you have heard from the beginning is to love each other.

12 Don't be like Cain. He was a child of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain murder his brother? Because the things Cain did were evil and the things his brother did had God's approval.

13 Brothers and sisters, don't be surprised if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn't grow in love remains in death.

15 Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn't have eternal life.

16 We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.

17 Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God's love be in that person if he doesn't bother to help the other believer?

18 Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.

19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence.