Read with Me
1 John 5:16-17 (HCSB)
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t bring death. There is sin that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not bring death.
Listen with Me
Theologians have debated this topic of sin that leads to death and sin that doesn’t for centuries. But it is clear that John did not find the distinction as confusing or troublesome as many have since he wrote.
The key lies in what he has written throughout this letter. Many in John’s day were in rebellion against God and against his word. Some were denying that Jesus was and is God’s eternal Son who was made flesh, leading others astray. Others were continuing to live in sin, believing that obedience was either not important, or not possible, so they didn’t even try, and they encouraged others to not try either. Such sin leads to death, not because it is “serious” on some scale and other sins “trivial” in comparison. It is deadly because it is rooted in rebellion against God, against His clear commands, and against His authority.
Merely praying for such a person will not result in forgiveness, because the root of the sin, rebellion, still remains in their heart. And until that rebellion is actively repented of and rooted out, the wall between them and God, a wall of their own making, will remain, and as a result, they will remain lost.
On the other hand, there are sins that don’t lead to death, that don’t lead to a separation between the sinner and God. Such are sins of ignorance, sins of immaturity, and momentary lapses that are repented of as quickly as they are noticed.
One way to see this difference clearly is to think of a toddler who spills his or her milk at dinner. Such an action might result in light discipline designed to teach correct behavior., but it does not create a rift between parent and child. Nor does the same spill by a teen or an adult as the result of a lapse in attention, especially if they immediately helping to clean up the mess they have made.
However, if an older child, a teen, or an adult intentionally dumps their drink during dinner out of rebellion, or throws their drink in a fit of anger, that spirit of rebellion can and does create a rift that cannot just be glossed over by someone else cleaning up the mess. Before the rift can be repaired, the rebellious one must repent, be restored, and exhibit a resolve toward better behavior in the future.
Pray with Me
Father, this is much simpler than I thought when I look at it from the standpoint. Since You know my heart, You can clearly see when a sin is inadvertent or when it is one that stems from a momentary lapse, and thus can be addressed through discipline and forgiveness when I repent. And You also know when a sin stems from rebellion against You and against Your authority, resulting in a hard separation between me and You that must be remedied by a real change of heart on my part. Lord, help me to stay far away from rebellion and any intentional sin, so that I can always grow more mature in you, and never cause a separation between You and me. Amen.