1. We are children of God (1-6)

What is our identity? We were once children of the devil. But now we became children of God. It was by his great love lavished on us through Jesus' death on the cross! What shall we be? When Jesus appears again, we shall see him as glorious and pure as he is. We also will be like him, glorious in resurrected body and spirit. Therefore, how should we live? We should purify ourselves with this hope, as Jesus is pure. We should stop sinning, for sin is breaking the law. Sin is lawlessness. Jesus appeared to take away our sins. In him is no sin. No one who belongs to him keeps on sinning.

2. Children of God, children of devil (7-10)

We know who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. Children of God don't continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. But anyone who does not do what is right, nor love his brother and sister is the devil's child.