OceanSide church of Christ
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A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (32)
A Sin Not unto Death and A Sin unto death
1 John 5:16-17
Victor M. Eskew
When we read 1 John 5:16-17, we are introduced to two types of sins: a sin not unto death and a sin unto death. “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. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” John does not explain his words in detail. Thus, when we seek to interpret his words, we must take into account what the Bible says in other places about sin and the forgiveness thereof. Let’s see if we can come to some understanding of the apostle’s words.
We will begin this study with THE DEFINITION OF SIN. The Bible teaches us that sin is the transgression of God’s law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). In the text we are studying, John tells us that “all unrighteousness is sin.” Psalm 119:172 reveals that all of God’s commandments are righteousness. Thus, all transgression of those commands is unrighteousness, and all unrighteousness is sin. The sentence against sin is death. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…” (Ezek. 18:20). The phrase, “It shall die, “ in the Old Testament refers to a bloody, violent, physical death. Sin will also result in spiritual death in the hereafter. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).
With these thoughts in mind, we now contemplate THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN “a sin which is not unto death” and “a sin unto death.” If the sentence against sin is death, how can a person sin a sin which is not unto death? The Bible gives only one answer to that question. The person who has committed the sin must be willing to repent of the sin. In Acts 8, we are introduced to a man, Simon the sorcerer. When Philip came to Samaria, he preached Christ unto them (Acts 8:5). Those who believed Philip’s teaching “were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (Acts 8:13). Simon was even more intrigued by the ability of Peter and John to lay hands on individuals and impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit unto them. His interest turned into an offer of money. “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:18-19). This offer was sinful in nature. Peter immediately rebuked Simon. “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20-21). In Acts 8:22, he commanded him to repent and pray to God for forgiveness. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Simon’s heart was tender. He responded to Peter’s rebuke, saying: “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me” (Acts 8:24). Simon had sinned, but his sin was not a sin unto death. He was willing to repent of his iniquity and to plead for forgiveness from God. The Bible is clear that if a person will take these steps, he will be forgiven. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; see also Luke 13:3, 5).
On the other hand, if a person sins and refuses to turn from his evil way, he has sinned a sin unto death. Judas, one of the Lord’s apostles, sinned when he betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15). His betrayal led to the arrest and trials of Jesus. When the trials before the Jewish were finished, Jesus was condemned to death. “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood…” (Matt. 27:3-4). He even cast the money upon the floor of the temple (Matt. 27:5). Judas repented himself, but his repentance involved “the sorrow of the world” and not a “godly sorrow” (See 2 Cor. 7:10). He was not sorry for betraying the Lord. He was only sorry that his actions led to Jesus’ condemnation. After he cast the pieces of silver down in the temple, he “departed, and went out and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5). When the apostles began to search for a man to replace Judas, Peter had this to say about the betrayer: “…from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:25). Sadly, Judas sinned a sin unto death. Instead of repenting and leading a changed life for the Lord, he hung himself. Because of his unwillingness to seek reconciliation, he could not be prayed for in order to obtain the remission of sins. This is what John was referring to when he said: “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
Lastly, we want to mention THE DILEMMA if what has been written is not the proper interpretation of John’s words. The dilemma is this. We do not know and cannot not know what the “sin unto death is.” If we do not know what it is, we cannot know if we have committed it. It we have committed it, we cannot be forgiven of it. If we can’t pray and be forgiven of it, we will die with that sin to our charge. And, we know what Paul has said: “The wages of sin is death.” Can you imagine being condemned for a sin about which you are ignorant because God never revealed the sin to you?” This would be the height of injustice and cruelty. It is not that you did not know. It is that you did not know because you could not know. God’s word revealed that such a sin existed, but it did not reveal what the sin is.
Whether a sin is a “sin not unto death” or a “sin unto death” is determined by the reaction the sinner has toward his transgression. If he is willing to repent, he can be forgiven. Peter sinned. Following his transgression, however, he “went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). He was forgiven by the Lord. He maintained his position as an apostle. He did wonderful things as a servant of Jesus Christ. Peter’s sin was not unto death. Ananias and Sapphira, on the other hand, sinned by lying to the Holy Ghost. They were not penitent. Thus, their sin was unto death. Being willing or unwilling to turn from one’s transgressions is the different between a sin not unto death and a sin unto death. This is made clear in Revelation 2:5. Jesus told the church at Ephesus, a church that had left their first love the following: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”