What is the sin not unto death?
~There is a sin NOT unto death ~
There is a lot of conjecture within the body of Christ in regards to a seemingly elusive sin that the Apostle John mentions stating that it isn’t unto death and that there is a sin unto death that we should not pray for. This almost appears to be contrary to the message of the Gospel itself; for we are to bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law or Christ. Why shall we not pray for them?
John writes,
“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.” – 1 John 5:16 KJV
For whatsoever is not done in faith is sin, yet Jesus still came to Thomas who doubted the resurrection of Christ; there is a sin not unto death, this is doubt. Doubt is a carnal emotion, but the Spirit brings life. All a brother has to do is minister unto the doubtful by the Spirit in love that the evidence of things unseen may be made manifest to the unbelieving. John tells us what sin he is referring to, but it is usually overlooked. So, to better understand the reason John states this, we have to see what God says about this sin. To do this, let us look in 2nd Kings.
“For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them;
and they followed vanity, and became vain,
and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.” – 2 Kings 17:7-15 KJV
Following vanity. they were in sin. Not obeying the Lord who sent them time and time again words through His prophets and seers that Israel, whom are God’s chosen people are today, would come back to Him. But they refused to turn away from their direction on the broad way to destruction, headed straight unto both the first and second deaths. In order to understand how this applies, we must first understand how sin operates. The Apostle James tells us this and reminds we are blessed when we resit the temptation of sin.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” – James 1:12-16 KJV
The prophet Ezekiel says the same thing, but shows us that accepting the enticement of sin is inequity for all those who were once considered righteous. Becoming wicked thereby wicked in God’s eyes; still if those in error repent and turn from their new found glorious ways, humbling themselves, they shall live.
“When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.” – Ezekiel 33:13-20 KJV
Remember God is not a respecter of persons, nor is His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are to show no partiality in respect of persons in confronting sin.
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 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.
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.“ – 1 John 5:13-21 KJV
Idolatry is largely misunderstood in Christianity. Just as some men can’t wait for the church service to end so they can get home and watch the game on Sunday, we can make the people in out lives idols. This is actually more common in regards to immediate family. Therefore, Jesus warned us that anyone who loves their father, mother, wife, and even their own children more than him, is not worthy of him. We are to treat everyone the same in equality showing no partiality.
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” – James 2:8-11 KJV
Do not judge someone, because they sin differently than you; such would make you a hypocrite, woe unto you. The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 5:21 to end the chapter, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Do you think your brother loves their vehicle so much you think it is an idol in their life, placing it before Jesus in their heart? Mention it to them, then let it go and tell Jesus. If it is so He will send someone else to do the same for out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let the Lord’s words be established. Do not fall into temptation to judge them for the sin you see when you do not know your own heart. Do you love your children more than Jesus Christ? Judge not lest ye be judged for we are warned we shall reap what we sew. Falling to that temptation will shine light upon your sin as well and the Lord will allow such to humble you, because He loves you and resist the proud.
To reiterate how sin works, in the first chapter in the book of James it is explained:
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
1) Temptation to our individual lust.
2) Then once this enticement is accepted,
3) We act upon the Lust.
4) This then becomes sin.
5) Sin operates to completion, putting you to seep in the flesh from the spirit.
6) Carnality is death which is enmity with God
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” * James1:14-15
Back to 1st John 5;
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 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.” – 12-16 KJV
John is saying that if you see a brother following after an idol they will be doubtful at this, stubborn, and not believe they are wrong for stubbornness is as the sin of idolatry, he shall ask the Lord and the Lord shall give the brother who is in error the words of life just as he did in the book of 2 Kings to Israel. But if the brother will not receive the words of life sent to him as Israel stiffened their necks, then they have chosen to stay in conformed to the statues of their idols and sin thereby unto death. Therefore, we are told not to pray for the Lord to continue appealing to Him for when they reject Him, He rejects them as well.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” – Hosea 4:6 KJV
This is corroborated throughout the Bible, notably by the Apostle Paul.
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” – Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV
Therefore, repent brothers and sisters in recognition that people easily become idols just the same as golden calves. From warnings of seducing spirits working through ungodly men told unto us in 1 Timothy and 1 John 2, to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ glorified in righteousness of the spirit through His resurrection; in the book of Revelation addresses the church in Thyatira, holding it against them that they allow that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach, seduce His servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols… For she is that very thing, an idol just as men with seducing spirits become to those who receive them against the word of God. When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch.
Even though the law is fulfill to those who allow it to be, God changes not and when He said “Thou shall have no other gods before me”, He meant it.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always, God bless and take care.