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.

Miren cuánto nos ama el Padre, que nos ha concedido ser llamados hijos de Dios. Y lo somos. El mundo no nos conoce, porque no lo conoció a él.

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 hemos de ser. Pero sabemos que, cuando él se manifieste, seremos semejantes a él porque lo veremos tal como él es.

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

Y todo aquel que tiene esta esperanza en él, se purifica a sí mismo, así como él 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 aquel que comete pecado, quebranta también la ley, pues el pecado es quebrantamiento 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 ustedes saben que él apareció para quitar nuestros pecados, y en él 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 aquel que permanece en él, no peca; todo aquel que peca, no lo ha visto, ni lo 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.

Hijitos, que nadie los engañe, el que hace justicia es justo, así como él 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 peca desde el principio. Para esto se ha manifestado el Hijo de Dios: para deshacer 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.

Todo aquel que ha nacido de Dios no practica el pecado, porque la simiente de Dios permanece en él, y no puede pecar, porque ha 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 manifiestan los hijos de Dios, y los hijos del diablo: todo aquel que no hace justicia, ni ama a su hermano, tampoco es de Dios.

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

Éste es el mensaje que ustedes han 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 lo mató? Porque sus obras eran malas, y las de su hermano eran justas.

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

Hermanos míos, no se extrañen si el mundo los 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.

En esto sabemos que hemos pasado de la muerte a la vida: en que amamos a los hermanos. El que no ama a su hermano, permanece en la 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 aquel que odia a su hermano es homicida, y ustedes saben 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 hemos conocido el amor: en que él dio su vida por nosotros. Así también nosotros debemos dar nuestra vida 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 ¿cómo puede habitar el amor de Dios en aquel que tiene bienes de este mundo y ve a su hermano pasar necesidad, y le cierra su corazón?

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

Hijitos míos, 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,

Y en esto sabemos que somos de la verdad, y aseguraremos nuestro corazón delante de él,

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.

pues si nuestro corazón nos reprende, Dios es mayor que nuestro corazón, y él 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 reprende, confianza tenemos en 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 recibiremos de él todo lo que le pidamos, porque obedecemos sus mandamientos, y hacemos las cosas que le son agradables.

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.

Éste es su mandamiento: Que creamos en el nombre de su Hijo Jesucristo, y nos amemos unos a otros como Dios nos lo 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 obedece sus mandamientos, permanece en Dios, y Dios en él. En esto sabemos que él permanece en nosotros: por el Espíritu que él nos ha dado.