5 You know that Christ came to take away sins. He isn't sinful,
6 and people who stay united in their hearts with him won't keep on sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they don't know Christ, and they have never seen him.
7 Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself.
8 Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done.
9 God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning.
10 You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
11 From the beginning you were told that we must love each other.