THE SIN LEADING THE SIN LEADING TO DEATHTO DEATH

(I John 5:16-17)(I John 5:16-17)

Someone is committing the sin that does NOT lead

to death

Pray for them

They will be given life (forgiven)

Someone is committing the sin that DOES lead to

death

Don’t pray for them

THE SIN LEADING TO THE SIN LEADING TO DEATH?DEATH?

SUICIDESUICIDE CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCAPITAL PUNISHMENT GOD STRIKES YOU DOWN (Ananias and GOD STRIKES YOU DOWN (Ananias and

Saphira)Saphira)

- These all assume that the “death” These all assume that the “death” referred to is physical.referred to is physical.

- These seem too obvious to require a These seem too obvious to require a statement that there is a sin that does statement that there is a sin that does not lead to death.not lead to death.

- These have no contextual support.These have no contextual support.

WHAT IF THE DEATH IS WHAT IF THE DEATH IS SPIRITUAL?SPIRITUAL?

Suddenly, the surprising Suddenly, the surprising statement is the sin that does statement is the sin that does NOT lead to death.NOT lead to death.

Romans 6:23 says that the wages Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, what sin does not of sin is death, what sin does not lead to death?lead to death?

SIN IS DEADLY, BUT IT SIN IS DEADLY, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO KILLDOES NOT HAVE TO KILL

I John 1:7 – if we walk in the light the I John 1:7 – if we walk in the light the blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sinsin

I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins we I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins we are cleansed from ALL unrighteousnessare cleansed from ALL unrighteousness

I John 2:1 – We have an AdvocateI John 2:1 – We have an Advocate I John 2:2 – He is our propitiationI John 2:2 – He is our propitiation These passages do not limit us in a These passages do not limit us in a

type of sin, but the limit is in our type of sin, but the limit is in our response to the sinresponse to the sin

SINS THAT KILL A SINS THAT KILL A CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN

Sins that are practiced (I John Sins that are practiced (I John 1:6; 3:4-10; continued in – Heb. 1:6; 3:4-10; continued in – Heb. 10:26-27)10:26-27)

Sins that are not repented from (II Sins that are not repented from (II Cor. 12:21)Cor. 12:21)

Sins that are denied rather than Sins that are denied rather than acknowledged (I John 1:8,10)acknowledged (I John 1:8,10)

The sin that leads to death – the The sin that leads to death – the sin that is continued, denied or sin that is continued, denied or not repented fromnot repented from

The sin that does not lead to The sin that does not lead to death – the sin that is stopped, death – the sin that is stopped, confessed and repented fromconfessed and repented from

Someone is committing the sin that does NOT lead

to death

Pray for them

They will be given life (forgiven)

Someone is committing sin then repents

Pray for them

They will be given life (forgiven)

James 5:16-17

Someone is committing sin and

will not repent

Don’t pray for them

Someone is committing the sin that DOES lead to

death

Don’t pray for them

SIN NOT LEADING TO DEATH = SIN NOT LEADING TO DEATH = THE SIN REPENTED FROMTHE SIN REPENTED FROM

Puts proper emphasis on the sin Puts proper emphasis on the sin NOT leading to death.NOT leading to death.

Fits the context of I John (making Fits the context of I John (making the book begin and end with the book begin and end with similar thoughts)similar thoughts)

PRAYING FOR THE LOSTPRAYING FOR THE LOST ““Father forgive them” (Lk. 23:34)Father forgive them” (Lk. 23:34) ““Lord, do not hold this sin against Lord, do not hold this sin against

them” (Lk. 7:60)them” (Lk. 7:60) ““My prayer to God for them is for their My prayer to God for them is for their

salvation” (Rom. 10:1)salvation” (Rom. 10:1) I Timothy 2:1 – we should pray for all I Timothy 2:1 – we should pray for all

menmen John doesn’t say “don’t pray for them”, John doesn’t say “don’t pray for them”,

he says, “I do not say that he should he says, “I do not say that he should make request for this”make request for this”