1. The text of this lesson is found in 1 John 5:14-17.

"And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us {in} whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not {leading} to death, he shall ask and {God} will for him give life to those who commit sin not {leading} to death. There is a sin {leading} to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not {leading} to death."

2. The passage we have just read is a very difficult Bible passage.

• What is "the sin unto death?"

• Why does John not require prayer for "the sin unto death?"

What The Sin Unto Death Is Not

 1. The words "sin unto death" do not have an article in the Greek.

• It is not "a" sin or "the" sin, but "sin unto death."

• "Sin" is abstractly considered.

• John does not seem to have exclusively one specific sin in mind.

2. The KJV, ASV, NASB all have the literal rendering of "sin unto death."

3. The RSV has "fatal sin."

4. The words "sin unto death" likely refer to sin that is fatal. (Jno. 11:4).

5. The word "death" in 1 John 5:16 almost for certain is spiritual death - separation from God. See Romans 6:23.

1. It likely was not a sin the church might punish with death by asking God to visit the sinner as God did Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-11).

• The church did not pray for their deaths.
• This was God's divine judgment on them.

2. It does not mean one could be forgiven of sin while in actual commission if a brother prays for his forgiveness.

• The words in ASV "sinning a sin" are present participle and denote a state of sin not some sin in actual commission or any other sin the brother has not confessed.
• Such an interpretation is repugnant to reason and divine revelation. (Lk. 13:3,5; Acts 17:30).

3. The "sin unto death" is not some sin such as murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and idolatry.

• These are serious sins.

• These sins are all forgivable. (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

4. It is not likely a sin which caused the church to withdraw fellowship from the sinner. (1 Cor. 5:1-13).

• One reason for withdrawal of fellowship was to save the soul of the sinner.

• Surely the church would pray the lost brother would come back to the church.

5. It is not likely the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 12:14-24; Mk. 3:29,30).

• There is no evidence those committing the "sin unto death" were attributing Christ's power to the devil.

• John does not mention a specific sin.
• The reference in the gospels is primarily to the wicked Pharisees who were calling the Spirit in Jesus Satan.

1. The text suggests it was a sin that one brother could see another "brother" committing.

"If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not {leading} to death" NASB

2. The text suggests it was a sin that a brother could determine if it were a "sin unto death" or not.

"If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not {leading} to death" NASB

3. On the basis of 1 John 1:7,9 we learn that a Christian can be forgiven of all sins he or she confesses.

4. This leads us to the conclusion that whatever the "sin unto death" is that it a sin a brother will not confess.

1. One of the sins John deals with in his letters is the denial of the Deity and humanity of Christ.

2. Let's take a look at what John wrote about this sin.

• Humanity (1 Jno. 2:22,23; 4:1-3; 2 Jno. 7; 3 Jno. 8-11).

• Deity (1 Jno. 2:22,23).

3. The "sin unto death" may not be limited to the sin of denying the humanity and Deity of Christ, but it most certainly would have included it.

• This was an observable sin.
•  It was sin a brother could absolutely detect and was not a mere judgment.

• This was a sin which would damn a man's soul

• It was a sin that would damn the souls of others.

Why Did Not John Encourage His Readers To Pray For The One Committing the "sin unto death."

1. It is impossible to answer this question with absolute certainty.

2. It was likely because John did not feel it would help.

• These false teachers may have been so evil and so corrupt that they were beyond redemption. (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29).
• God was willing to forgive them (1 Jno. 1:7,9), but they were unwilling to repent.

3. The Christian is very concerned for others.

• He is conscious of the physical needs to the brother. (1 Jno. 3:17,18).
• He is very concerned about the soul of his brother and all men.

• The Christian would naturally pray for all even his enemies. (Matt.5:43, 44).

4. John does not forbid praying for such as commit "sin unto death," but he does not command the Christian to pray for those brothers and sisters who were hopelessly lost because of their refusal to repent.

1. It is my personal belief that is very difficult for a Christian to apply this passage with absolute certainty today.

2. We do not know for sure what the "sin unto death" was.

3. It is interesting to suggest what might be the correct interpretation, but it is dangerous to be dogmatic about what the scripture has not defined.

4. It is extremely difficult to know for certain if sin is "sin unto death."

• There are some Christians who have turned from Christ and deny His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious death, His resurrection, and His deity.

• These people are without hope because nothing seems to persuade them to repent and come back to Christ.

• We may not be commanded to pray for such as these, but I do because I can not be certain they will never repent and come back to Christ.

• I do not condemn those who do not pray for them.