FHBC Sermon Notes

This is tied into Sunday's sermon on 1 John 5. Verses 16-17 are an example of what it means to pray in God's will, in 14-15. The aside we look at tonight will look at the question, what is the sin that leads to death, or the sin that do not live to death?

Some questions:
What is the sin that does not lead to death?

Who is the brother?

He will give him life. Who is the He? The word in he is Greek and not God, so who is it?

Let us assume that the one being prayed for is a Christian? So is it possible that someone can repent be given life, and then lose it to need to receive it again?

Let us assume the person is a non-believer. What is the sin that doesn't lead to death?

How does the person who is praying no that the sin will or will not lead to death?

What is the nature of the life being received?

Romans 6:23. Doesn't all sin lead to death?

Does this imply that there are unforgivable sins? Sins for which pray would avail nothing?

What others have said about this passage.
1) The sin is a sin that leads to physical death. They associate this with Numbers 20 when Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it. Or with Ananias and Sephira. 1 Corinthians 5 - hand the man for the destruction of his flesh, but of course he is restored in 2 Corinthians.

Jim says he doesn't believe that that is what this is about. He says these events were to show the grievousness of sin in the church. Note the timeframes when each of these occurs. Doug says they were sinning against an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Also to interpret this as physical death, changes the context of how life has been used here in 1 John.

2) the opinion that there are two categories of sin. Mortal sin, and non-mortal sin. In the OT law there is a separation between sins that are intentional and unintentional. Also that some sins a unforgivable, leading to immediate death. Numbers 15

Jim points out that there is no division in the new testament.
Matthew 12:22-32 - the only mention of a sin that is unforgivable, for which atonement has not been made.

3) The opinion that the sin that leads to death is simply a permanent apostasy.

Jim says that this assumes that the person is a Christian brother. This goes against all the John previously writes here, which has been on the assurance of ones salvation.

What Jim believes is correct
Doug points out James 2 (I think) as a passage to compare to this.

1 John 2:19 There are those that appears as brothers, that then prove that they are not truly of the faith. Let us consider Judas in this case.

V.17 all wrongdoing is sin. All sin is serious. There is no sin that is acceptable. John is preaching that we cannot remain in sin. Even if we do sin, we in Christ will be grieved of this and will repent and return.

John purpose is to reassure the believer in this passage.

Jim believes this brother is a Christians, that this sin he is in, that it is inconsistent with the life he has been given. so what are we to do in this. We are to first and foremost pray. Perhaps eventually like in James 2 confront the brother.

So the question is what is his life? If one is in possession of the life in Christ, why does he need to give it back?
Sin does hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, and yet this passage is also letting us know the sufficiency of the sacrifice, that even as a believer may commit a sin, God has (1:9) paid for that sin. The future tense used here, demonstrates Jesus sacrifice can cover all our sins, for those that are born of God.

John 11:4 - the story of Lazarus. His sickness will not lead to death.

So what about the sin that leads to death?
Let us remember that context of this letter from John. The false teachers of the time were preaching that Jesus was not the Son of God. The cross to them was not the means to salvation, but the secret knowledge was the way to salvation.

In this Jim believes that this refers to unbelievers, those that have demonstrated where they are by preaching a They have been shown the cross and rejected it. It is similar to Matthew 12, and the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.