Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 3:14

"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death." — 1 John 3:14 (ASV)

John looks back to v.10 and answers the question: How do we know those who have been “born of God”? or, Who are the children of God? “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (cf. Jn 5:24).

This conviction is not based on self-judgment or self-justification but on the certainty that love is the basis for life in the believing community. This is a selftest by which each person can examine himself or herself. Love will not, of course, cause one’s passage to spiritual life but will give evidence of it. Conversely, to be unable to love means that a person is without spiritual life and remains in death.