Post by Cindy on Dec 3, 2015 9:22:24 GMT -5
In 1 John we're told about a sin that leads to death, and it's a pretty scary thing to read about. Rather then explain it myself, I thought I'd share what some of the commentaries say about it so you'll know it's not just coming from me, but rather from godly pastors who preach the Truth from God's Word.
“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. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” (1 John 5:16–18)
“All unrighteousness is sin,” but some sin is worse than other sin. All sin is hateful to God, and should be hateful to a believer; but some sin is punished with death. John tells us (1 John 5:16–17) about the case of a brother (a believer) whose life was taken because of sin.
The Bible mentions people who died because of their sin. Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron the priest, died because they deliberately disobeyed God (Lev. 10:1–7). Korah and his clan opposed God and died (Num. 16). Achan was stoned because he disobeyed Joshua’s orders from God at Jericho (Josh. 6–7). A man named Uzzah touched the ark and God killed him (2 Sam. 6).
“But those are Old Testament examples!” someone may argue. “John is writing to New Testament believers who live under grace!” To whom much is given, much shall be required. (Luke 12:48) A believer today has a far greater responsibility to obey God than did the Old Testament saints. We have a complete Bible, we have the full revelation of God’s grace, and we have the Holy Spirit living within us to help us obey God. But there are cases in the New Testament of believers who lost their lives because they disobeyed God.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about their offering, and they both died (Acts 5:1–11). Some believers at Corinth died because of the way they had acted at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:30). And 1 Corinthians 5:1–5 suggests that a certain offender would have died had he not repented and confessed his sin (2 Cor. 2:6–8).
If a believer does not judge, confess, and forsake sin, God must chasten him. This process is described in Hebrews 12:1–13, which suggests that a person who does not subject himself to the Father will not live (Heb. 12:9). In other words, first God “spanks” his rebellious children, and if they do not yield to His will, He may remove them from the world lest their disobedience lead others astray and bring further disgrace to His name.
“The sin unto death” is not some one specific sin. Rather, it is a kind of sin—it is the sort of sin that leads to death. With Nadab and Abihu, it was their presumption in taking the priest’s office and entering the holy of holies. In the case of Achan it was covetousness. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of hypocrisy and even of lying to the Holy Spirit.
If a Christian sees a brother committing sin, he should pray for him (1 John 5:16), asking that he confess his sin and return to fellowship with the Father. But if in his praying, he does not sense that he is asking in God’s will (as instructed in 1 John 5:14–15), then he should not pray for the brother. “Therefore, pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me; for I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:16).
James 5:14–20 somewhat parallels 1 John 5:16–17. James describes a believer who is sick, possibly because of his sin. He sends for the elders, who come to him and pray for him. The prayer of faith heals him and if he has sinned his sins are forgiven. “The prayer of faith” is prayer in the will of God, as described in 1 John 5:14–15. It is “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
Christians do not deliberately practice sin. They have the divine nature within; Jesus Christ guards them, and they do not want God’s discipline. The Bible exposition commentary
John mentions praying specifically for another believer who has sinned in a way that might result in death (1 Cor. 11:30). This “sin unto death” is not some “unpardonable sin” that a believer unwittingly falls into, but a deliberate sin in defiance of the Word of God (Heb. 12:9), something that other believers can see and recognize as rebellion. Jeremiah was told not to pray for the rebellious Jews (7:16; 11:14; 14:11; and see Ezek. 14:14, 20). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse (1 John 1:9–2:2).
True prayer is much more than saying words to God. It involves searching the Word, letting the Spirit search the things of God (Rom. 8:26–28), and yielding to God’s will as we share our requests with Him. There is a price to pay in this kind of praying, but it is worth it.
Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament
John illustrates praying according to God’s will with the specific example of the “sin leading to death.” Such a sin could be any premeditated and unconfessed sin that causes the Lord to determine to end a believer’s life. It is not one particular sin like homosexuality or lying, but whatever sin is the final one in the tolerance of God. Failure to repent of and forsake sin may eventually lead to physical death as a judgment of God (Ac 5:1–11; 1Co 5:5; 11:30). No intercessory prayer will be effective for those who have committed such deliberate high-handed sin, i.e., God’s discipline with physical death is inevitable in such cases as He seeks to preserve the purity of His church (see notes on 1Co 5:5–7). The contrast to the phrase “sin leading to death” with “sin not leading to death” signifies that the writer distinguishes between sins that may lead to physical death and those that do not. That is not to identify a certain kind of mortal or non-mortal sin, but to say not all sins are so judged by God.
Victory over sin and Satan is the third Christian certainty (3:9; Ro 6:15–22). Because the believer belongs to God, Satan must operate within God’s sovereignty and cannot function beyond what God allows, as in the example of Job (Job 2:5; Ro 16:20). While Satan may persecute, tempt, test, and accuse the believer, God protects His children and places definite limits on Satan’s influence or power (2:13; Jn 10:28; 17:12–15). The MacArthur study Bible
sin leading to death: As a form of divine chastisement (see 1 Cor. 11:30; Heb. 12:7). Not every backslider or Christian overtaken in a sin has abandoned all concern for salvation. Many can be rescued from their defeat by our prayers and support. Both Judas and Peter sinned. Judas put himself beyond the reach of saving grace and was lost. Jesus prayed for Peter, and he came back with tears of repentance. It is difficult to know exactly when a person has sinned beyond the point of no return, so we should keep praying for every backslider as long as there is any possibility of repentance. The Open Bible
1 John 5:16—If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it. (Emphasis ours.) (See also Joshua 23:16.)
1 Corinthians 10:6–10 gives an overview of how thousands of believers in the Exodus generation committed various sins that led to their awful and premature deaths. These events are recorded for our warning:
1 Corinthians 10:11—Now all these things happened unto them for examples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
God warns the children of Israel that all of the Exodus generation will die in the desert because of their murmuring against Him (Numbers 14:29–35).
An earthquake swallowed those who were part of the Korah rebellion, and God sent fire to kill 250 more (Numbers 16:30–35).
The children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and God sent a plague that killed 14,700 (Numbers 16:47–49).
The people challenged God and Moses, and God sent poisonous snakes to kill many (Numbers 21:5–9).
Some of the people committed idolatry, and 24,000 more died by plague (Numbers 25:1–9).
God’s warning was fulfilled—none of the Exodus generation were left (Numbers 26:64, 65).
God uses a graphic example to explain the purpose He has for all believers’ lives after salvation.
Hebrews 3:7–19 is too long to quote here. Please read it and then note the following points, relating this passage to your life. “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:7–19)
Summary and Application
1. God desired to give Israel the promised land of milk and honey as its possession forever (Exodus 3:17). He even promised to help Israel clean out the land of giants and heathen (Deuteronomy 3:22).
2. Israel was an estimated two million strong as it came out of the Egyptian bondage—603,550 men twenty years old or older (Numbers 1:46). All of the adults were saved as evidenced by their observing the first Passover (Exodus 12:1–13).
3. God took His huge kindergarten class through the Red Sea, drowned the entire Egyptian army, and led His whiny charges into the wilderness (Exodus 14:11–14).
4. For the next forty years God led these ungrateful, always-complaining, children around in circles while trying to teach them to trust in Him and His Word (Hebrews 3:9).
5. Throughout this period God had provided sweet water out of bitter (Exodus 15:22–25), quail at night and manna every morning (Exodus 16:13), and water out of a rock (Exodus 17:6). He had conquered the invading army of Amalek (Exodus 17:13) and had given them the Mosaic Covenant.
6. But, the children of Israel hardened their hearts against God (Hebrews 3:8).
7. Finally, the entire adult generation that had come out of Egypt (except for Joshua and Caleb) died in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:17–19).
How Does This Relate?
8. God had a purpose for the nation of Israel to learn and to live by The Law while wandering in the desert. This was to prepare them to enter the promised land, subdue the heathen therein, and to glorify God.
Likewise, God has a purpose for every Christian to learn the Word of God and so to become spiritually mature, prepared to battle Satan.
9. God’s Word was taught to the Israelites for forty years, while God gave the people many specific opportunities to trust in Him.
Likewise, God will provide His Word for you and give you opportunities to discover His matchless character.
10. The Israelites had an evil heart of disbelief throughout the forty years, and therefore the 603,550 male Jews of twenty years old and above died the sin unto death (except Caleb and Joshua, Numbers 1:46; 26:65). We are not told how the balance of the people served their penalty. Probably most died a natural, although premature, death since the youngest would have been only sixty years old had they lived. The average life expectancy at this time was about 120 years. (See Psalm 55:23.)
Hebrews 3:17—But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
Likewise, the Christian who hardens his heart today against God’s Word and refuses to believe in the promises or character of God can find himself facing this same fate.
1 Corinthians 11:30—For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (See also Psalm 118:18; 1 Corinthians 10:1–11; 1 Corinthians 11:27–32; 1 John 5:16.)
11. God told the children of Israel that entering into the land would be entering into His rest by faith (Hebrews 3:18, 19).
Likewise, sinful Christians today can enter into God’s rest by turning their hearts back to God.
1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:9–11—There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (See also Psalm 38; John 14:27.)
The choice is yours. You can easily see that God is a lot more serious about our Christian life than He is about the Sunday-only nod which most people reluctantly give to Him.
Psalm 119:75-77a—I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live.
The following chart attempts to depict the rebellious believer’s Christian Walk:
Chronological Development
This chart depicts a believer who remains spiritually immature and wanders in the place of testing—the desert. Without God’s Word and power, he repeatedly fails the trials of the flesh (his own sin nature) and the tests of the world (false philosophies). Eventually, he dies the sin unto death after rejecting God’s attempts to revive him.
The following Chart depicts the spiritual life of a beliver growing to maturity:
In the preceding chart the bottom line represents a person’s time on Earth. The diagonal line represents the optimum path a believer could follow from salvation to maturity to fullfilling God’s Purpose for his life. The lower section called, the desert, is the time of learning and testing. The upper section indicates a believer reaching maturity and crossing over the Jordan into the land fo milk and honey—and giants and Satan waring with God.
Fugate, J. R. (1999). What the Bible Says About ... Suffering: Biblical answers for today’s pain and suffering
“sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death” John has listed several categories of sin. Some relate to one’s (1) fellowship with deity; (2) fellowship with other believers; and (3) fellowship with the world. The ultimate sin is rejection of trust/belief/faith in Jesus Christ. This is the sin unto ultimate death! W. T. Conners in his Christian Doctrine, says:
“This does not mean, however, unbelief in the sense of a refusal to accept a doctrine or a dogma. It is unbelief in one’s rejection of moral and spiritual light, particularly as that light is embodied in Jesus Christ. It is the rejection of God’s final revelation of himself as made in Christ. When this rejection becomes definite and wilful, it becomes the sin unto death (1 John 5:13–17). It thus becomes moral suicide. It is putting out one’s own spiritual eyes. It does not take place except in connection with a high degree of enlightenment. It is deliberate, wilful, malicious rejection of Christ as God’s revelation, knowing that he is such a revelation. It is deliberately calling white black”.
WHAT IS SIN UNTO DEATH?
A. Hermeneutical considerations
1. proper identification must be related to the historical setting of I John
....a. the presence of gnostic false teachers in the churches (cf. 1 John 2:19, 26; 1 John 3:7; 2 John 7)
........1) “Cerinthian” gnostics taught that the man Jesus received the Christ spirit at his baptism and that the Christ spirit left before his death on the cross (cf. 1 John 5:6–8)
........2) docetic gnostics taught that Jesus was a divine spirit, not a true human being (cf. 1 John 1:1–3)
........3) gnosticism revealed in the writings of the second century reflected two different views about the human body
...........a) since salvation was a truth revealed to the mind, the human body was irrelevant to the spiritual realm. Therefore, whatever it desired it could have. These are often referred to as antinomian or libertine gnostics.
...........b) the other group concluded that since the body was inherently evil (i.e. Greek thought), any bodily desire should be shunned. These are called ascetic gnostics.
....b. these false teachers had left the church (cf. 1 John 2:19), but their influence had not!
2. proper identification must be related to the literary context of the whole book
....a. I John was written to combat false teaching and assure the true believers
....b. these two purposes can be seen in the tests of true believers
........(1) doctrinal
..............a) Jesus was truly human (cf. 1 John 1:1–3; 1 John 4:14)
..............b) Jesus was truly God (cf. 1 John 1:2; 1 John 5:20)
..............c) humans are sinful and responsible to a holy God (cf. 1 John 1:6, 10)
..............d) humans are also forgiven and made right with God by
....................i) Jesus’ death (cf. 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9–10, 14; 1 John 5:6–8)
....................ii) faith in Jesus (cf. 1 John 1:9; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:1, 4–5, 10–12, 13)
........(2) practical (positive)
..............a) lifestyle obedience (cf. 1 John 2:3–5; 1 John 3:22, 24; 1 John 5:2–3)
..............b) lifestyle love (1 John 2:10; 1 John 3:11, 14, 18, 23; 1 John 4:7, 11–12, 16–18, 21)
..............c) lifestyle Christlikeness (does not sin, cf. 1:7; 2:6, 29; 3:6–9; 5:18)
..............d) lifestyle victory over evil (cf. 1 John 2:13, 14; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4)
..............e) His word abides in them (cf. 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:14)
..............f) they have the Spirit (cf. 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:4–6, 13)
..............g) answered prayer (cf 1 John 5:14–15)
........(3) practical (negative)
..............a) lifestyle sin (cf. 1 John 3:8–10)
..............b) lifestyle hate (cf. 1 John 2:9, 11; 1 John 3:15; 1 John 4:20)
..............c) lifestyle disobedience (cf. 1 John 2:4; 1 John 3:4)
..............d) love the world (cf. 1 John 2:15–16)
..............e) deny Christ (denies Father and Son, cf. 1 John 2:22–23; 1 John 4:2–3; 1 John 5:10–12)
3. proper identification must be linked to specific items in the relevant text (cf. 1 John 5:16–17)
....a. does the term “brother” of v. 16 relate to both those committing a sin not leading to death and to those committing a sin leading to death?
....b. were the offenders once members of the church (cf. 1 John 2:19)?
....c. what is the textual significance of
...........a. no article with “sin”?
...........b. the verb “sees” as a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL with AORIST ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE?
....d. how can the prayers of one Christian (cf. James 5:15–16) restore eternal life “zōē” to another without the sinner’s personal repentance?
....e. how does v. 17 relate to the types of sin (unto death, not unto death)?
B. Theological problems
1. should an interpreter try to link this text with
....a. the “unpardonable” sin of the Gospels
....b. the “once out” sin of Heb. 6 and 10
........The context of I John does seem parallel to the unpardonable sin of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day (cf. Matt. 12:22–37; Mark 3:2–29) as well as the unbelieving Jews of Heb. 6 and 10. All three groups (Pharisees, unbelieving Jews, and gnostic false teachers) heard the gospel clearly, but refused to trust Jesus Christ.
2. should modern denominational questions be a theological grid to view this text?
Evangelicalism has overemphasized the beginning of the Christian experience and neglected the ongoing lifestyle evidences of true faith. Our modern theological questions would have shocked first century Christians. We want “certainty” based on selected biblical “proof-texts” and our own logical deductions or denominational biases.
Our theological questions, grids, and distinctives reflect our own insecurities. We want more information and clarification than the Bible provides, so our systematic theologies take some small chunks of Scripture and weave huge webs of logical, western, specific doctrines!
Jesus’ words in Matt. 7 and Mark 7 were adequate for the early church! Jesus looks for disciples, not decisions, long term lifestyle faith, not short-term emotional faith (cf. Matt. 13:10–23; John 8:31–59). Christianity is not an isolated past act, but an ongoing repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance. Christianity is not a ticket to heaven, purchased in the past, nor a fire insurance policy taken out to protect one from a lifestyle of selfish, godless living!
3. Does the sin unto death refer to physical death or eternal death? John’s use of zōē in this context implies the contrast refers to eternal death. Is it possible that God takes home (physical death) sinning children? The implication of this context is that (1) the prayers of fellow believers and (2) the personal repentance of the offender combine to restore the believers, but if they continue in a lifestyle that brings reproach on the believing community, then the result may be an “untimely” or early physical departure from this life (cf. When Critics Ask by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, p. 541)
“God will for him give life” The theological and lexical problem here is the meaning of the term “life” (zoā). Normally in John’s writings this refers to eternal life, but in this context it seems to mean restoration to health or forgiveness (i.e. much like James’ use of “save” in James 5:13–15). The person prayed for is called “a brother” which strongly implies a believer (by John’s own use of the term for his readers).
The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series
“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. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” (1 John 5:16–18)
“All unrighteousness is sin,” but some sin is worse than other sin. All sin is hateful to God, and should be hateful to a believer; but some sin is punished with death. John tells us (1 John 5:16–17) about the case of a brother (a believer) whose life was taken because of sin.
The Bible mentions people who died because of their sin. Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron the priest, died because they deliberately disobeyed God (Lev. 10:1–7). Korah and his clan opposed God and died (Num. 16). Achan was stoned because he disobeyed Joshua’s orders from God at Jericho (Josh. 6–7). A man named Uzzah touched the ark and God killed him (2 Sam. 6).
“But those are Old Testament examples!” someone may argue. “John is writing to New Testament believers who live under grace!” To whom much is given, much shall be required. (Luke 12:48) A believer today has a far greater responsibility to obey God than did the Old Testament saints. We have a complete Bible, we have the full revelation of God’s grace, and we have the Holy Spirit living within us to help us obey God. But there are cases in the New Testament of believers who lost their lives because they disobeyed God.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about their offering, and they both died (Acts 5:1–11). Some believers at Corinth died because of the way they had acted at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:30). And 1 Corinthians 5:1–5 suggests that a certain offender would have died had he not repented and confessed his sin (2 Cor. 2:6–8).
If a believer does not judge, confess, and forsake sin, God must chasten him. This process is described in Hebrews 12:1–13, which suggests that a person who does not subject himself to the Father will not live (Heb. 12:9). In other words, first God “spanks” his rebellious children, and if they do not yield to His will, He may remove them from the world lest their disobedience lead others astray and bring further disgrace to His name.
“The sin unto death” is not some one specific sin. Rather, it is a kind of sin—it is the sort of sin that leads to death. With Nadab and Abihu, it was their presumption in taking the priest’s office and entering the holy of holies. In the case of Achan it was covetousness. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of hypocrisy and even of lying to the Holy Spirit.
If a Christian sees a brother committing sin, he should pray for him (1 John 5:16), asking that he confess his sin and return to fellowship with the Father. But if in his praying, he does not sense that he is asking in God’s will (as instructed in 1 John 5:14–15), then he should not pray for the brother. “Therefore, pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me; for I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:16).
James 5:14–20 somewhat parallels 1 John 5:16–17. James describes a believer who is sick, possibly because of his sin. He sends for the elders, who come to him and pray for him. The prayer of faith heals him and if he has sinned his sins are forgiven. “The prayer of faith” is prayer in the will of God, as described in 1 John 5:14–15. It is “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
Christians do not deliberately practice sin. They have the divine nature within; Jesus Christ guards them, and they do not want God’s discipline. The Bible exposition commentary
John mentions praying specifically for another believer who has sinned in a way that might result in death (1 Cor. 11:30). This “sin unto death” is not some “unpardonable sin” that a believer unwittingly falls into, but a deliberate sin in defiance of the Word of God (Heb. 12:9), something that other believers can see and recognize as rebellion. Jeremiah was told not to pray for the rebellious Jews (7:16; 11:14; 14:11; and see Ezek. 14:14, 20). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse (1 John 1:9–2:2).
True prayer is much more than saying words to God. It involves searching the Word, letting the Spirit search the things of God (Rom. 8:26–28), and yielding to God’s will as we share our requests with Him. There is a price to pay in this kind of praying, but it is worth it.
Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament
John illustrates praying according to God’s will with the specific example of the “sin leading to death.” Such a sin could be any premeditated and unconfessed sin that causes the Lord to determine to end a believer’s life. It is not one particular sin like homosexuality or lying, but whatever sin is the final one in the tolerance of God. Failure to repent of and forsake sin may eventually lead to physical death as a judgment of God (Ac 5:1–11; 1Co 5:5; 11:30). No intercessory prayer will be effective for those who have committed such deliberate high-handed sin, i.e., God’s discipline with physical death is inevitable in such cases as He seeks to preserve the purity of His church (see notes on 1Co 5:5–7). The contrast to the phrase “sin leading to death” with “sin not leading to death” signifies that the writer distinguishes between sins that may lead to physical death and those that do not. That is not to identify a certain kind of mortal or non-mortal sin, but to say not all sins are so judged by God.
Victory over sin and Satan is the third Christian certainty (3:9; Ro 6:15–22). Because the believer belongs to God, Satan must operate within God’s sovereignty and cannot function beyond what God allows, as in the example of Job (Job 2:5; Ro 16:20). While Satan may persecute, tempt, test, and accuse the believer, God protects His children and places definite limits on Satan’s influence or power (2:13; Jn 10:28; 17:12–15). The MacArthur study Bible
sin leading to death: As a form of divine chastisement (see 1 Cor. 11:30; Heb. 12:7). Not every backslider or Christian overtaken in a sin has abandoned all concern for salvation. Many can be rescued from their defeat by our prayers and support. Both Judas and Peter sinned. Judas put himself beyond the reach of saving grace and was lost. Jesus prayed for Peter, and he came back with tears of repentance. It is difficult to know exactly when a person has sinned beyond the point of no return, so we should keep praying for every backslider as long as there is any possibility of repentance. The Open Bible
1 John 5:16—If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it. (Emphasis ours.) (See also Joshua 23:16.)
1 Corinthians 10:6–10 gives an overview of how thousands of believers in the Exodus generation committed various sins that led to their awful and premature deaths. These events are recorded for our warning:
1 Corinthians 10:11—Now all these things happened unto them for examples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
God warns the children of Israel that all of the Exodus generation will die in the desert because of their murmuring against Him (Numbers 14:29–35).
An earthquake swallowed those who were part of the Korah rebellion, and God sent fire to kill 250 more (Numbers 16:30–35).
The children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and God sent a plague that killed 14,700 (Numbers 16:47–49).
The people challenged God and Moses, and God sent poisonous snakes to kill many (Numbers 21:5–9).
Some of the people committed idolatry, and 24,000 more died by plague (Numbers 25:1–9).
God’s warning was fulfilled—none of the Exodus generation were left (Numbers 26:64, 65).
God uses a graphic example to explain the purpose He has for all believers’ lives after salvation.
Hebrews 3:7–19 is too long to quote here. Please read it and then note the following points, relating this passage to your life. “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:7–19)
Summary and Application
1. God desired to give Israel the promised land of milk and honey as its possession forever (Exodus 3:17). He even promised to help Israel clean out the land of giants and heathen (Deuteronomy 3:22).
2. Israel was an estimated two million strong as it came out of the Egyptian bondage—603,550 men twenty years old or older (Numbers 1:46). All of the adults were saved as evidenced by their observing the first Passover (Exodus 12:1–13).
3. God took His huge kindergarten class through the Red Sea, drowned the entire Egyptian army, and led His whiny charges into the wilderness (Exodus 14:11–14).
4. For the next forty years God led these ungrateful, always-complaining, children around in circles while trying to teach them to trust in Him and His Word (Hebrews 3:9).
5. Throughout this period God had provided sweet water out of bitter (Exodus 15:22–25), quail at night and manna every morning (Exodus 16:13), and water out of a rock (Exodus 17:6). He had conquered the invading army of Amalek (Exodus 17:13) and had given them the Mosaic Covenant.
6. But, the children of Israel hardened their hearts against God (Hebrews 3:8).
7. Finally, the entire adult generation that had come out of Egypt (except for Joshua and Caleb) died in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:17–19).
How Does This Relate?
8. God had a purpose for the nation of Israel to learn and to live by The Law while wandering in the desert. This was to prepare them to enter the promised land, subdue the heathen therein, and to glorify God.
Likewise, God has a purpose for every Christian to learn the Word of God and so to become spiritually mature, prepared to battle Satan.
9. God’s Word was taught to the Israelites for forty years, while God gave the people many specific opportunities to trust in Him.
Likewise, God will provide His Word for you and give you opportunities to discover His matchless character.
10. The Israelites had an evil heart of disbelief throughout the forty years, and therefore the 603,550 male Jews of twenty years old and above died the sin unto death (except Caleb and Joshua, Numbers 1:46; 26:65). We are not told how the balance of the people served their penalty. Probably most died a natural, although premature, death since the youngest would have been only sixty years old had they lived. The average life expectancy at this time was about 120 years. (See Psalm 55:23.)
Hebrews 3:17—But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
Likewise, the Christian who hardens his heart today against God’s Word and refuses to believe in the promises or character of God can find himself facing this same fate.
1 Corinthians 11:30—For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (See also Psalm 118:18; 1 Corinthians 10:1–11; 1 Corinthians 11:27–32; 1 John 5:16.)
11. God told the children of Israel that entering into the land would be entering into His rest by faith (Hebrews 3:18, 19).
Likewise, sinful Christians today can enter into God’s rest by turning their hearts back to God.
1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:9–11—There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (See also Psalm 38; John 14:27.)
The choice is yours. You can easily see that God is a lot more serious about our Christian life than He is about the Sunday-only nod which most people reluctantly give to Him.
Psalm 119:75-77a—I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live.
The following chart attempts to depict the rebellious believer’s Christian Walk:
Chronological Development
This chart depicts a believer who remains spiritually immature and wanders in the place of testing—the desert. Without God’s Word and power, he repeatedly fails the trials of the flesh (his own sin nature) and the tests of the world (false philosophies). Eventually, he dies the sin unto death after rejecting God’s attempts to revive him.
The following Chart depicts the spiritual life of a beliver growing to maturity:
In the preceding chart the bottom line represents a person’s time on Earth. The diagonal line represents the optimum path a believer could follow from salvation to maturity to fullfilling God’s Purpose for his life. The lower section called, the desert, is the time of learning and testing. The upper section indicates a believer reaching maturity and crossing over the Jordan into the land fo milk and honey—and giants and Satan waring with God.
Fugate, J. R. (1999). What the Bible Says About ... Suffering: Biblical answers for today’s pain and suffering
“sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death” John has listed several categories of sin. Some relate to one’s (1) fellowship with deity; (2) fellowship with other believers; and (3) fellowship with the world. The ultimate sin is rejection of trust/belief/faith in Jesus Christ. This is the sin unto ultimate death! W. T. Conners in his Christian Doctrine, says:
“This does not mean, however, unbelief in the sense of a refusal to accept a doctrine or a dogma. It is unbelief in one’s rejection of moral and spiritual light, particularly as that light is embodied in Jesus Christ. It is the rejection of God’s final revelation of himself as made in Christ. When this rejection becomes definite and wilful, it becomes the sin unto death (1 John 5:13–17). It thus becomes moral suicide. It is putting out one’s own spiritual eyes. It does not take place except in connection with a high degree of enlightenment. It is deliberate, wilful, malicious rejection of Christ as God’s revelation, knowing that he is such a revelation. It is deliberately calling white black”.
WHAT IS SIN UNTO DEATH?
A. Hermeneutical considerations
1. proper identification must be related to the historical setting of I John
....a. the presence of gnostic false teachers in the churches (cf. 1 John 2:19, 26; 1 John 3:7; 2 John 7)
........1) “Cerinthian” gnostics taught that the man Jesus received the Christ spirit at his baptism and that the Christ spirit left before his death on the cross (cf. 1 John 5:6–8)
........2) docetic gnostics taught that Jesus was a divine spirit, not a true human being (cf. 1 John 1:1–3)
........3) gnosticism revealed in the writings of the second century reflected two different views about the human body
...........a) since salvation was a truth revealed to the mind, the human body was irrelevant to the spiritual realm. Therefore, whatever it desired it could have. These are often referred to as antinomian or libertine gnostics.
...........b) the other group concluded that since the body was inherently evil (i.e. Greek thought), any bodily desire should be shunned. These are called ascetic gnostics.
....b. these false teachers had left the church (cf. 1 John 2:19), but their influence had not!
2. proper identification must be related to the literary context of the whole book
....a. I John was written to combat false teaching and assure the true believers
....b. these two purposes can be seen in the tests of true believers
........(1) doctrinal
..............a) Jesus was truly human (cf. 1 John 1:1–3; 1 John 4:14)
..............b) Jesus was truly God (cf. 1 John 1:2; 1 John 5:20)
..............c) humans are sinful and responsible to a holy God (cf. 1 John 1:6, 10)
..............d) humans are also forgiven and made right with God by
....................i) Jesus’ death (cf. 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9–10, 14; 1 John 5:6–8)
....................ii) faith in Jesus (cf. 1 John 1:9; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:1, 4–5, 10–12, 13)
........(2) practical (positive)
..............a) lifestyle obedience (cf. 1 John 2:3–5; 1 John 3:22, 24; 1 John 5:2–3)
..............b) lifestyle love (1 John 2:10; 1 John 3:11, 14, 18, 23; 1 John 4:7, 11–12, 16–18, 21)
..............c) lifestyle Christlikeness (does not sin, cf. 1:7; 2:6, 29; 3:6–9; 5:18)
..............d) lifestyle victory over evil (cf. 1 John 2:13, 14; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4)
..............e) His word abides in them (cf. 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:14)
..............f) they have the Spirit (cf. 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:4–6, 13)
..............g) answered prayer (cf 1 John 5:14–15)
........(3) practical (negative)
..............a) lifestyle sin (cf. 1 John 3:8–10)
..............b) lifestyle hate (cf. 1 John 2:9, 11; 1 John 3:15; 1 John 4:20)
..............c) lifestyle disobedience (cf. 1 John 2:4; 1 John 3:4)
..............d) love the world (cf. 1 John 2:15–16)
..............e) deny Christ (denies Father and Son, cf. 1 John 2:22–23; 1 John 4:2–3; 1 John 5:10–12)
3. proper identification must be linked to specific items in the relevant text (cf. 1 John 5:16–17)
....a. does the term “brother” of v. 16 relate to both those committing a sin not leading to death and to those committing a sin leading to death?
....b. were the offenders once members of the church (cf. 1 John 2:19)?
....c. what is the textual significance of
...........a. no article with “sin”?
...........b. the verb “sees” as a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL with AORIST ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE?
....d. how can the prayers of one Christian (cf. James 5:15–16) restore eternal life “zōē” to another without the sinner’s personal repentance?
....e. how does v. 17 relate to the types of sin (unto death, not unto death)?
B. Theological problems
1. should an interpreter try to link this text with
....a. the “unpardonable” sin of the Gospels
....b. the “once out” sin of Heb. 6 and 10
........The context of I John does seem parallel to the unpardonable sin of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day (cf. Matt. 12:22–37; Mark 3:2–29) as well as the unbelieving Jews of Heb. 6 and 10. All three groups (Pharisees, unbelieving Jews, and gnostic false teachers) heard the gospel clearly, but refused to trust Jesus Christ.
2. should modern denominational questions be a theological grid to view this text?
Evangelicalism has overemphasized the beginning of the Christian experience and neglected the ongoing lifestyle evidences of true faith. Our modern theological questions would have shocked first century Christians. We want “certainty” based on selected biblical “proof-texts” and our own logical deductions or denominational biases.
Our theological questions, grids, and distinctives reflect our own insecurities. We want more information and clarification than the Bible provides, so our systematic theologies take some small chunks of Scripture and weave huge webs of logical, western, specific doctrines!
Jesus’ words in Matt. 7 and Mark 7 were adequate for the early church! Jesus looks for disciples, not decisions, long term lifestyle faith, not short-term emotional faith (cf. Matt. 13:10–23; John 8:31–59). Christianity is not an isolated past act, but an ongoing repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance. Christianity is not a ticket to heaven, purchased in the past, nor a fire insurance policy taken out to protect one from a lifestyle of selfish, godless living!
3. Does the sin unto death refer to physical death or eternal death? John’s use of zōē in this context implies the contrast refers to eternal death. Is it possible that God takes home (physical death) sinning children? The implication of this context is that (1) the prayers of fellow believers and (2) the personal repentance of the offender combine to restore the believers, but if they continue in a lifestyle that brings reproach on the believing community, then the result may be an “untimely” or early physical departure from this life (cf. When Critics Ask by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, p. 541)
“God will for him give life” The theological and lexical problem here is the meaning of the term “life” (zoā). Normally in John’s writings this refers to eternal life, but in this context it seems to mean restoration to health or forgiveness (i.e. much like James’ use of “save” in James 5:13–15). The person prayed for is called “a brother” which strongly implies a believer (by John’s own use of the term for his readers).
The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series
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