If there was a crime worthy of death, what would it be? Would it be murder, rape, spouse abuse, adultery, theft, gambling, or perhaps lying? Many of us would say that murder is worthy of the death penalty; and if any of us had a child that were raped, we would probably believe the person who committed the crime should be hunted down and shot. We might feel that treason is a crime worthy of death; however, I would dare say that most of us would never suggest a person die for something like lying.
In a moral society the things I just mentioned are called “crimes,” and in a religious society they are called “sins.” We usually rank crimes and sins by their degree of severity. Some are deemed worthy of minor punishment, while some are so horrendous we feel as though they’re punishable by death. The Bible tells us that there is one sin that is indeed worthy of death, and it may not be what we expect. In fact, this one sin will exclude us from ever going to heaven and receiving eternal life. So, what is this sin? Well, let’s find out as I expound upon 1 John 5:16-18:
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
There Is Sin Not Leading unto Death
Let’s begin by looking at verse 16. We’re told here, “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” According to the New Living Translation, this verse says, “If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life.” So, can there be such a thing as a sin that does not lead unto death?
Romans 6:23 clearly states that “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 5:12 tells us, “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned,” and then we read in James 1:15 of how “sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” From the verses I just shared with you, we can see that sin leads unto death, and what’s being referred to is a “spiritual death,” which is eternal separation from God and never-ending torment.
However, in our main passage, we read in verse 16, that there is “a sin which does not lead to death,” and verse 17 also states that “there is sin not leading to death.” Verse 17, in the New Living Translation, is rendered with a slight variation, for it states, “Not all sin leads to death.” Is there any way that “a sin” (singular), or “sins” (plural) will not lead unto spiritual death? Well, according to the Scripture there is! “So, how can this be?” you might ask.
The way in which a sin does not lead unto death is for it to be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Right? Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” In Colossians 1:14, we are told concerning Jesus, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” 1 John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” and Revelation 1:5 tells us how “Jesus Christ . . . loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Our sin doesn’t have to result in spiritual death; and it won’t if it’s covered by the blood of Jesus Christ; however, this does not happen automatically in our life.
Our sins are forgiven through our profession of faith in Jesus as Savior and our confession of sin. 1 John chapter 1, verses 7 and 9 together, tell us that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin . . . If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,” meaning, forgiven of your sins. Therefore, sin does not have to lead to death, as long as it’s been confessed and forgiven; therefore, a sin not leading unto death is one that has been forgiven.
Sin Not unto Death Can Be Forgiven
Those who have had their sins forgiven are believers in Christ; or rather, Christians. Notice in verse 16, how it specifically states, “If anyone sees his brother sinning.” The key word here is “brother.” The New Living Translation renders this description as “Christian brother.” A “Christian brother” is able to commit sin which does not lead unto death because he’s already saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, we “do” commit sin after having received Jesus as Savior. That’s why it’s somewhat perplexing when we read in verse 18 where John says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” I believe that what John is saying, is that whoever is saved “tries their hardest not to sin.” In the New Living Translation, it states, “We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them.”
We do, unfortunately, sin as believers in Christ; however, it shouldn’t become a regular practice or habit in our lives. Paul declared in Romans 5:20 and 6:1, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more . . . What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” Paul made it very clear that just because we’re forgiven doesn’t give us “a reason” or “an excuse” to go out and sin as much as we want. The thing we need to understand is that we do sin as believers, but it does not lead unto spiritual death because we are covered by the blood of Jesus.
We also read here, “Ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” Christians are indeed covered by the blood of Jesus Christ; however, they still need to confess their sins to the Lord. We’re told here that we can pray for our Christian brother so that he can receive life. We can pray that the Lord will help him to see the error of his ways; but it really all boils down to his own individual prayer. It must be “his own” prayer (a prayer of confession) that arises out of his own heart, in order for him to receive the Lord’s forgiveness.
Now, this passage may be speaking about believers, but I think it can also be applied to unbelievers. If a person doesn’t know Jesus Christ then his or her sins will lead unto spiritual death; however, that can all change if the person will decide to invite Jesus into their heart. Jesus took all our sins, and the penalty for our sins, on Himself when He died on the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 declares, “And you, being dead in your trespasses [or sins] . . . He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses . . . and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
I believe verse 16 also shows us the importance of “praying for unbelievers” that they will accept Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of sins. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a), but this doesn’t have to be the case if we will allow Jesus to cover us with His precious blood, for “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).
There Is Sin That Leads Unto Death
The second part of verse 16 says, “There is sin leading to death.” All sins, if they are not forgiven by Jesus, lead to spiritual death; however, we cannot say that any one particular sin will send us to hell; “save one,” which we will get to in just a moment. There is no hierarchy of sin in God’s eyes. Human beings tend to rank sins from the greatest to the least. For example, murder is probably seen as the number one sin in the eyes of most people; adultery might be right up there near the top. Lying or stealing might be a little lower down on the totem pole. Keep in mind that these are people’s standards, not God’s. The Lord sees all sin as sin; “except for one.”
There is in fact “a sin that leads to death” (NLT), or you might call it “a sin leading unto hell.” What is that sin? Well, listen as I read some verses: Mark 3:28-29 states, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” Luke 12:10 says, “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.” In Matthew 12:3, we read, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.” We discover here that all sin can be forgiven except one, which is the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.”
What exactly is this thing called “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?” Allow me to share from two Bible dictionaries. Easton’s Bible Dictionary states, “Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon.”(1) The New Bible Dictionary states, “The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit carries with it the awful pronouncement that the sinner is ‘guilty of an eternal sin’ which cannot be forgiven. [It] is a solemn warning against persistent, deliberate rejection of the Spirit’s call to salvation in Christ.”(2)
Therefore, this one sin that leads unto spiritual death in hell, that’s called “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,” is simply rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our life. Hebrews 10:29 reveals this, for it says, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” emphasis being on “insulting the Holy Spirit.” All sin leads unto death, but only because we have committed the primary sin that condemns us to death, which is rejecting Jesus Christ.
Many times we hear someone make the statement, “I can’t believe that a loving God would send somebody to hell.” And what should be our reply? God doesn’t send people to hell. We send ourselves to hell whenever we refuse to acknowledge the Spirit’s call and confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Sin unto Death Demands Repentance
Verse 16 goes on to state that we should not pray about the sin that leads unto death. We read here, “There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that” (v. 16b). This seems almost as confusing as when we read in Matthew 13:13-15 where Jesus told us He spoke in parables, “lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15), as if He didn’t want them to turn and be healed; and commentaries provide a similar answer as to what both of these passages mean. I want to read for you what the Inter Varsity Press New Testament Commentary says about verse 16.
Concerning the first part of verse 16, which talks about “praying for” a “Christian brother” who commits a sin not leading unto death, this Commentary says, “Verse 16 implies that one asks for life for the brother or sister who sins . . . Here, one asks for the confessing sinner to be held steadfast in eternal life. Such a prayer can be made because this person continues to be a faithful member of the community [of faith], which implies that this person holds the . . . confession of Christ and acknowledges the sin to God. They have life, and prayer is made that they continue to receive life.”(3)
Now, concerning the second part of verse 16, which tells us that we “should not pray” about the sin that leads unto death, this Commentary states, “What one may not ask for with respect to those whose “sin is unto death” is that they be given life apart from their repentance, confession and [turning] to following Christ . . . One can pray that unbelievers may repent and come to fellowship with God. But if God were to forgive them as they persist in their sin, then that would not be forgiveness: it would be denial of human sinfulness which . . . is an abhorrent lie.”(4)
So, what we’ve just learned is that it’s okay for us to pray for a non-believer to repent and turn to Christ, but we should never pray that they be given life in their current state of sinfulness and disobedience. Until someone turns to Christ, they will never have life – that is eternal life; and as long as they reject Christ, they are committing the one sin that leads unto death; and as I have already stated, this is spiritual death, or spending eternity in the flames of hell.
Time of Reflection
Just as there is “a sin leading unto death,” there is “a way leading unto life,” eternal life in heaven with the Lord. Jesus declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Concerning Jesus, Acts 4:12 says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Denying Christ leads unto death, and accepting Him as the only way leads unto life.
Have you persistently committed the one sin that leads unto eternal death? Is Jesus knocking on the door to your heart asking to come in (Revelation 3:20), and you keep on turning Him away, refusing to trust Him as Savior? If you’re denying Jesus Christ you will not inherit eternal life should you die today and your spirit enter into the hereafter. The choice is yours. Do you wish to live forever in heaven, or die forever in hell? Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.” You have a choice; to deny Jesus and receive death, or to believe in Him and receive life. So, what’s the choice going to be? I encourage you to choose life.
NOTES
(1) M. G. Easton, “Blasphemy,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: 1996), taken from Logos 2.1E on CD-ROM.
(2) “Blasphemy,” The New Bible Dictionary (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1962), taken from Logos 2.1E on CD-ROM.
(3) “1 John,” Inter Varsity Press New Testament Commentary, taken from Bible Gateway on the Internet in November 2006 at http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=14&source=1&seq=i.69.5.2.
(4) Ibid.
