Exploring 1 John: A Sin Not Leading to Death
1 John 5:16-17; Ephesians 5:15-21; Acts 5:1-11 - We confess our sins and help our fellow believers to get past their sins. We pray for those whose sins could lead to death.
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
1 John 5:16-17 NASB1995
Well, now we have arrived at a passage in 1 John 5 that is, for me, pretty much incomprehensible when first reading it (and reading it the tenth time). John talks about seeing a brother (whom I would assume is in the faith) committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him (I’m assuming the brother) give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. Then John says there is a sin leading to death and that he should not make a request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and (once again) there is a sin not leading to death (is it a particular sin or is it some group of sins?).
I looked at more commentary than you can shake a stick at to try and figure this out. Bible readers know that Jesus talked about the unforgivable sin, which is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (a complete and persistent rejection of God). Damnation is inevitable for those who openly, consistently and willingly reject the idea of belief in God. But what about this idea of sin not leading to death for a believer or even a sin that leads to death for a believer (brother)? First, let’s look at what Enduring Word says about this passage:
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin… he will ask: When we see a brother in sin, John tells us the first thing to do is to pray for that person. All too often, prayer is the last thing we do, or the smallest thing we do in regard to our brother having a difficult time.
And He will give him life: God promised to bless the prayer made on behalf of a brother in sin. Perhaps such prayers have special power before God because they are prayers in fulfillment of the command to love the brethren. Surely, we love each other best when we pray for each other.
There is sin leading to death: Because John wrote in context of a brother, it is wrong to see him meaning a sin leading to spiritual death; he probably meant a sin leading to the physical death of the believer.
This is a difficult concept, but we have an example of it in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, where Paul says that among the Christians in Corinth, because of their disgraceful conduct at the Lord’s Supper, some had died (many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep). This death came not as a condemning judgment, but as a corrective judgment (But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world [1 Corinthians 11:32]).
Apparently, a believer can sin to the point where God believes it is just best to bring them home, probably because they have in some way compromised their testimony so significantly that they should just come on home to God.
However, it is certainly presumptuous to think this about every case of an untimely death of a believer, or to use it as an enticement to suicide for the guilt-ridden Christian. Our lives are in God’s hands, and if He sees fit to bring one of His children home, that is fine.
Some believe that brother is used here in a very loose sense, and what John means by the sin leading to death is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which is the willful, settled rejection of Jesus Christ. But this would be a curious use of the term brother, especially according to how John has already used brother in his own letter.
I do not say that he should pray about that: Apparently, when a Christian is being corrected in regard to a sin leading to death, there is no point in praying for his recovery or restoration – the situation is in God’s hands alone.
There is sin not leading to death: John takes pains to recognize that not every sin leads to death in the manner he speaks of, though all unrighteousness is sin.
Ok, that sort of makes sense. A believer could still struggle with a sin, but sometimes that sin is one that if pursued persistently could lead to physical death. Perhaps I’m completely out to lunch here, but stay with me. Let‘s say you believe fervently, but you also enjoy having a glass or two of wine. Here’s what is said in Ephesians:
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”
Ephesians 5:15-21 NASB1995
Abstaining completely is not necessary (Jesus enjoyed His wine), but it is also cautioned that you should not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation. Drinking too much can lead to physical ailments and death. Drinking too much is a sin that could lead to death. I like my wine (hopefully in moderation most of the time), but I wonder if I have crossed the line on occasion from simple enjoyment of one of His great gifts to dissipation.
Well, this may not be the right answer, so let’s look at what Gotquestions.org says about 1 John 5:16:
First John 5:16 is one of the most difficult verses in the New Testament to interpret. “If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.” Of all the interpretations out there, none seem to answer all the questions concerning this verse.
The best interpretation may be found by comparing this verse to what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1–10 (see also 1 Corinthians 11:30). The “sin unto death” is willful, continuous, unrepentant sin. God has called His children to holiness (1 Peter 1:16), and God corrects them when they sin. We are not “punished” for our sin in the sense of losing salvation or being eternally separated from God, yet we are disciplined. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:6).
First John 5:16 says there comes a point when God can no longer allow a believer to continue in unrepentant sin. When that point is reached, God may decide to take the life of the stubbornly sinful believer. The “death” is physical death. God at times purifies His church by removing those who deliberately disobey Him. The apostle John makes a distinction between the “sin that leads to death” and the “sin that does not lead to death.” Not all sin in the church is dealt with the same way because not all sin rises to the level of the “sin that leads to death.”
In Acts 5:1–10 and 1 Corinthians 11:28–32, God dealt with intentional, calculated sin in the church by taking the physical life of the sinner. This is perhaps also what Paul meant by “the destruction of the flesh” in 1 Corinthians 5:5.
John says that we should pray for Christians who are sinning, and that God will hear our prayers. However, there may come a time when God decides to cut short a believer’s life due to unrepentant sin. Prayers for such an unheeding person will not be effective.
God is good and just, and He will eventually make us “a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27). To further that end, God chastens His children. May the Lord preserve us from the hard-heartedness that would cause us to commit the “sin unto death.”
Well, maybe I am on the right track. This is similar to the interpretation in Enduring Word. The example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a good example. These two were likely saved because they were members of the early church, but they still egregiously sinned against God by dishonestly representing their gift to the church, so this was a sin that lead to death:
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.”
Acts 5:1-11 NASB1995
This story will be explored more in-depth in my next devotional series that tackles the Book of Acts. God hates hypocrisy and sin and will discipline His believers. Sometimes that discipline leads to health difficulties, trauma or death. He is a Holy and Righteous God, not just a loving God. We should fear Him as much as we love Him.
So a sin not leading to death is probably something that is a “one-off” (unique or rare circumstance) that is seen in a believer, like a burst of uncharacteristic rage at something, or a white lie. Sin is sin, however, and we should confess our sins regularly to God and help our fellow believers. We should also avoid continuing to sin, even if we think the sin is minor in our human opinion. God’s judgment of that sin may be completely different than what we think.
My next devotional examines 1 John 5:18-20 - We are of God. There will be one more devotional for 1 John 5:21 and a summary of what we learned from this epistle, then I will jump into one of my favorite books (being an action-oriented creature) the Book of Acts.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Help me to know my sins and confess them to you daily. Help me to help other believers when they have sins not leading to death. Help me to pray for those who are believers but are caught up in sins that lead to death. Thank you for helping me understand these difficult passages in 1 John. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
Gotquestions.org was accessed on 6/25/2024 to review the answer to “What is Sin unto Death?”.