1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life

1 John 5:16-17

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. [1]

            What sin would lead to death? When we consider everything a person could commit regarding sin, the greatest of these is abandoning faith in Jesus Christ. To abandon faith in Christ is to commit apostasy. Our hope for eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. We are called to abide in Him, and separating ourselves completely from Christ means separating ourselves from true life, which ultimately leads to death.

            If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. What should be our response when we see our brothers and sisters who follow Jesus Christ going astray? We need to pray and intercede for them. We should pray that their hearts and minds turn fully back to Jesus Christ. The devil does a very good job of lying, deceiving, and tempting. There are times when believers may wander from the path and struggle. As those who walk closely with Christ, we should not look down on them or cast stones. Instead, we should pray and intercede for them, asking that they fully return and build their lives upon the truth in Jesus Christ.

            There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. To commit a sin that leads to death is to have a heart that has become seared and unwilling to respond to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sin is something we should not take lightly or dabble in. Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). Jesus also instructs us to abide in Him. Our connection to Christ on a daily basis will keep our hearts and minds from chasing after sin and the world. Everything the enemy presents to us may seem appealing to our eyes and our sinful nature. However, pursuing sin and indulging in it impacts the human heart and pulls it away from Jesus Christ.

            All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. The term "wrongdoing" here is the Greek word "adikia," which means injustice. It is often used in legal contexts.[2] All sin is breaking God’s law. When we commit sin, injustice occurs because the law of God has been violated. Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. The only way a person can be declared innocent and righteous is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who has walked this earth as a man without sin and willingly gave His life for humanity. All who place their hope and trust in Jesus Christ are declared righteous and forgiven. In Christ, we are a brand new creation.

            There are sins that may derail our relationship with God but will not ultimately lead to death. However, we must guard our hearts and minds daily against the wiles and schemes of the devil. The devil seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. We who are in Christ have a relationship with the Living God. He is our Lord and Savior. May we abide in Him. May we grow in our relationship with Him. May our hearts and minds be fully surrendered to Him.

Prayer

Father, I thank you this day for your love and grace. I thank you for your faithfulness and truth. Lead, guide, and direct me each day to walk in the promises of your kingdom. Guard my heart against every lie and deception of the devil. Help my heart and mind to remain open to the truth. Thank you for loving me and saving my life. May everything in my life glorify and honor you. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Jn 5:16–17.

[2] David J. Sigrist, “Sin,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).