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1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14)
Loveth not.
 Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of the words “his brother,” leaving the more general statement, “he that loveth not, continues to abide in the death.” This includes, of course, those who do not love their brethren. Absence of love indicates that one is still dead in sin. The clause is an example of the apostle’s customary restatement in the negative of what he has already said positively (cf. on ch. 1:5). If the demonstration of brotherly love proves the possession of eternal life, lack of that love proves that the individual has not yet passed “unto life” but remains in the original “death” from which others have been rescued.
Love the brethren.
 While the phrase “love one another” is fairly frequent in the NT (John 13:34; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; etc.), “love the brethren” occurs only here, and may be given a wide interpretation. Those who have passed from death unto life do not restrict their affections to their own immediate circle of acquaintance, but extend their love to all fellow believes (cf. on 1 Peter 2:17). By so doing they prove that they have left the world of death and have entered into the realm of everlasting life. They have already begun to exercise the virtues that will be eternally theirs, those virtues that are foundational to the kingdom of heaven. How important it is that the Christian practice the art of loving his brethren, that he may be in harmony with the principles of the kingdom for which he is preparing.
From death unto life.
 Literally, “out of the death into the life.” The presence of the definite articles before “death” and “life” indicates these two states as exclusive realms, in one or the other of which all men find themselves. By nature all men are citizens of the kingdom of death (Eph. 2:1-3), but the Christian, as a result of his Master’s gift, has passed into the realm of eternal life (1 John 5:11, 12; see on ch. 3:2).
Have passed.
Gr. metabainō, “to pass over [from one place to another],” “to remove,” “to depart.” The form of the Greek verb shows that John is referring to those who had passed over to a new experience and have remained in their new sphere, as immigrants permanently settled in the country of their choice.
We know.
 In keeping with the community of interest suggested in v. 13, John includes himself with his readers, and continues to do so (cf. vs. 16, 18, 19, etc.). Christians have an inner knowledge that is denied to the worldling, which knowledge can both fortify them and guide them in consistent godly conduct. The nature of that knowledge is explained in the clause that follows.