John 5:24-25 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. ²⁵ “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

1 John 3:14 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹⁴ We know that we have passed over from death to life because we love the brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

Edward D. Andrews writes,

These ones that Jesus spoke of were at one time spiritually dead. However, once they had an opportunity to hear the gospel, they put faith in Jesus Christ and gave up their former sinful life. By doing so, they “passed from death to life” because, formerly, they had been condemned to death as a result of inheriting Adamic sin. All mankind is under the condemnation of death by the Judge, God. This was now lifted for all those with genuine faith after the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, and they had an opportunity for eternal life as a result of their faith. These are the ones who hear the good news with faith followed by obedience and then believe in Jesus Christ and the Father who sent him. – 1 Peter 4:3-6.

Albert Barnes writes,

John 5:24-25

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word. To hear, in this place, evidently denotes not the outward act of hearing but to receive in a proper manner; to suffer it to make its proper impression on the mind; to obey. The word hear is often used in this sense, Mat. 11:15; Jn. 8:47; Ac. 3:23. Many persons outwardly hear the gospel who neither understand nor obey it.

My word. My doctrine, my teaching. All that Jesus taught about himself, as well as about the Father.

And believes him who sent me. On the Father, who, in the plan of redemption, is represented as sending his Son to save men. See Jn. 3:17. Faith in God, who sent his Son, is here represented as being connected with everlasting life; but there can be no faith in him who sent his Son, without faith also in him who is sent. The belief of one of the true doctrines of religion is connected with, and will lead to, the belief of all.

Has eternal life. The state of man by nature is represented as death in sin, Ep. 2:1. Religion is the opposite of this, or is life. The dead regard not anything. They are unaffected by the cares, pleasures, and amusements of the world. They hear neither the voice of merriment nor the tread of the living over their graves. So with sinners. They are unmoved with the things of religion. They hear not the voice of God; they see not his loveliness; they care not for his threatenings. But religion is life. The Christian lives with God, and feels and acts as if there was a God. Religion, and its blessings here and hereafter, are one and the same. The happiness of heaven is living unto God—being sensible of his presence, and glory, and power—and rejoicing in that. There shall be no more death there, Re. 21:4. This life, or this religion, whether on earth or in heaven, is the same—the same joys extended and expanded forever. Hence, when a man is converted, it is said that he has everlasting life; not merely shall have but is already in possession of that life or happiness which shall be everlasting. It is life begun, expanded, ripening for the skies. He has already entered on his inheritance—that inheritance which is everlasting.

He does not come into judgment. He was by nature under condemnation. See Jn. 3:18. Here, it is declared that he shall not return to that state or will not be again condemned. This promise is sure; the Son makes it of God, and no one can pluck them out of his hand, Jn. 10:28. Comp. Andrews would add that while no one can pluck this one out of his hand, he is free to reject the hand, returning himself from life back to the condemnation of death. Paul tell us, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the accurate knowledge[1] of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment …” (Hebrews 10:26-31) He also said, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away,[2] it is impossible to renew[3] them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put him to public shame.” – Hebrews 6:4-6.

But has passed from death to life. Has passed over from a state of spiritual death to the life of the Christian. The word translated is passed would be better expressed by has passed. It implies that he has done it voluntarily; that none compelled him; and that the passage is made unto everlasting life. Because Christ is the author of this life in the soul, he is called the life (Jn. 1:4); and as he has always existed and is the source of all life, he is called the eternal life, 1 Jn. 5:20.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming. The time. Under the preaching of the gospel, as well as in the resurrection of the dead.

And is now here. It is now taking place. Sinners were converted under his ministry and brought to spiritual life.

When the dead. Either the dead in sins, or those that are in their graves. The words of the Savior will apply to either. Language in the Scriptures is often so used to describe two similar events. Thus the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world are described by Jesus in the same language, Mat. 24, 25. The return of the Jews from Babylon, the coming of the Messiah, and the spread of his gospel are described in the same language by Isaiah, Is. 40–61. Comp. Notes on Is. 7:14. The renewal of the heart and the raising of the dead at the judgment are described here in similar language because they so far resemble each other that the same language will apply to both.

Andrews would interject that all mankind is under the condemnation of death since Adam. Those who had died before Christ with a righteous standing before God will have this same opportunity upon being resurrected and hearing the good news. Paul tells us in Acts 24:15 that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. The unrighteous who had never been evangelized will be resurrected and judged on whether they will accept the gospel during the thousand-year reign of Christ.

The voice of the Son of God. The voice is that by which we give command. Jesus raised up the dead by his command or by his authority. When he did it, he spoke or commanded it to be done. Mar. 5:41: “He took the damsel by the hand and said, Talitha cumi.” Lu. 7:14: “And he came and touched the bier, and said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” Jn. 11:43: “He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” So by his command, those who are dead in sins are quickened or made alive, ver. 21. And so at the day of judgment the dead will be raised by his command or voice, though there is no reason to think that his voice will be audibly heard, ver. 28.

Shall live. Shall be restored to life.[4]

1 John 3:14. We know that we have passed from death to life. From spiritual death (See Eph. 2:1) to spiritual life, we are true Christians.

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[1] Accurate Knowledge: (ἐπίγνωσις epignōsis) This is a strengthened or intensified form of gnosis (epi, meaning “additional”), meaning “true,” “real,” “full,” “complete” or “accurate,” depending upon the context. It is a personal recognition where one understands something clearly and distinctly or as true and valid. Paul and Peter alone use epignosis. Paul uses the term 15 times, while Peter uses it four times. Paul wrote about some who were “always learning and yet never able to come to accurate knowledge of truth.” (2Ti 3:6-7) He also prayed for those in the Colossian church, who clearly had some knowledge of the will and purposes of the Father, for they had become Christians, “that [they] may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Col 1:9) All Christians should desire to obtain or achieve accurate knowledge of God’s Word. (Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3-4), It is crucial in one’s effort at putting on the new person that Paul spoke of, and in gaining peace. – Rom. 1:28; Eph. 1:17; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 3:10; 1 Tim 2:4; 2Pe 1:2.

[2] Fall Away, Forsake, or Turn Away: (παραπίπτω parapiptō) The sense of parapiptō is to fall away or forsake the truth.

[3] Renew, Restore, or Bring Back: (ἀνακαινίζω anakainizō) The sense of anakainizō is to cause change to a previous state, to start anew.

[4] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 232–233