He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
John now builds on the principle of light and darkness as symbols of love and hate. To be "in the light" is to live in fellowship with God. "God is light" (1 John 1:5); therefore, to be in the light is to be where God is. John says if anyone claims that he is "in the light" or living in fellowship with God while hating his brother, he deceives himself; consequently, he is in fact living in darkness and out of fellowship with God. There actually are only two areas of existence: darkness and light. If being in the light is equivalent to fellowship with God, then being in darkness is to be in fellowship with God’s adversary, the devil. Our attitude toward our fellowman determines the status of our fellowship. God says, "Love me, love my children." The man who walks with God will love God’s people. We cannot claim to be God’s friends while despising those who are closest to Him. While the darkness of hate may be passing away, John says that the Christian who hates other Christians is still in darkness "even unto now" or at this present time. That darkness has not passed for him. John impresses us with the truth that our attitude toward our brothers and sisters in Christ is crucial in determining our relationship to God.