1 S ee what '> an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

Mirad cuán gran amor nos ha otorgado el Padre, para que seamos llamados hijos de Dios; y eso somos. Por esto el mundo no nos conoce, porque no le conoció a El.

2 B eloved, we are now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall '> as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.

Amados, ahora somos hijos de Dios y aún no se ha manifestado lo que habremos de ser. Pero sabemos que cuando El se manifieste, seremos semejantes a El porque le veremos como El es.

3 A nd everyone who has this hope on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

Y todo el que tiene esta esperanza puesta en El, se purifica, así como El es puro.

4 E veryone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

Todo el que practica el pecado, practica también la infracción de la ley, pues el pecado es infracción de la ley.

5 Y ou know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin '> essentially and forever].

Y vosotros sabéis que El se manifestó a fin de quitar los pecados, y en El no hay pecado.

6 N o one who abides in Him '> in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who sins has either seen or known Him.

Todo el que permanece en El, no peca; todo el que peca, ni le ha visto ni le ha conocido.

7 B oys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.

Hijos míos, que nadie os engañe; el que practica la justicia es justo, así como El es justo.

8 h e who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil.

El que practica el pecado es del diablo, porque el diablo ha pecado desde el principio. El Hijo de Dios se manifestó con este propósito: para destruir las obras del diablo.

9 N o one born (begotten) of God '> habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

Ninguno que es nacido de Dios practica el pecado, porque la simiente de Dios permanece en él; y no puede pecar, porque es nacido de Dios.

10 B y this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).

En esto se reconocen los hijos de Dios y los hijos del diablo: todo aquel que no practica la justicia, no es de Dios; tampoco aquel que no ama a su hermano.

11 F or this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,

Porque este es el mensaje que habéis oído desde el principio: que nos amemos unos a otros;

12 n ot be like Cain who from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother’s were righteous (virtuous).

no como Caín que era del maligno, y mató a su hermano. ¿Y por qué causa lo mató? Porque sus obras eran malas, y las de su hermano justas. Amemos de hecho, no de palabra

13 D o not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.

Hermanos, no os maravilléis si el mundo os odia.

14 W e know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in death.

Nosotros sabemos que hemos pasado de muerte a vida porque amamos a los hermanos. El que no ama permanece en muerte.

15 A nyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding ( persevering) within him.

Todo el que aborrece a su hermano es homicida, y vosotros sabéis que ningún homicida tiene vida eterna permanente en él.

16 B y this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the love: that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay lives down for brothers '> in Him].

En esto conocemos el amor: en que El puso su vida por nosotros; también nosotros debemos poner nuestras vidas por los hermanos.

17 B ut if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?

Pero el que tiene bienes de este mundo, y ve a su hermano en necesidad y cierra su corazón contra él, ¿cómo puede morar el amor de Dios en él ?

18 L ittle children, let us not love in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

Hijos, no amemos de palabra ni de lengua, sino de hecho y en verdad.

19 B y this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,

En esto sabremos que somos de la verdad, y aseguraremos nuestros corazones delante de El

20 W henever our hearts in '> tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. '> we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything.

en cualquier cosa en que nuestro corazón nos condene; porque Dios es mayor que nuestro corazón y sabe todas las cosas.

21 A nd, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us, we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,

Amados, si nuestro corazón no nos condena, confianza tenemos delante de Dios;

22 A nd we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we '> watchfully] obey His orders and '> habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.

y todo lo que pidamos lo recibimos de El, porque guardamos sus mandamientos y hacemos las cosas que son agradables delante de El.

23 A nd this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.

Y este es su mandamiento: que creamos en el nombre de su Hijo Jesucristo, y que nos amemos unos a otros como El nos ha mandado.

24 A ll who keep His commandments abide in Him, and He in them. '> They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He lives and makes His home in us: by the Spirit Whom He has given us.

El que guarda sus mandamientos permanece en El y Dios en él. Y en esto sabemos que El permanece en nosotros: por el Espíritu que nos ha dado.