The Sin Unto Death
By: Pastor Byron Richardson
I John 5:16-17

1 John 5:16-17 " 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."

The above text is a rather shocking portion of Scripture and the sin of which it speaks must be of a serious nature for the text suggests that prayer should not be made for it. What is that sin? Whom does it concern? Does it concern the Believer or Unbeliever?

We offer for your consideration some views that are held and advocated.

One view is that these spoken of are those who refuse to trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Men and women who have been divinely enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and still reject eternal life would fall into this category. Very often the text in Hebrews 6:4 is used to support this view. Here the writer of Hebrews declares "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit," etc, It is supposed that these divinely enlightened ones have been made conscious of their lost condition and made to realize that there is salvation in Christ, yet turn away spurning the hope that is in Christ. It is suggested that for such prayer should not be made. With this teaching Heb. 10:26 is quoted: "For if we sin willfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins'. A careful exegesis of these Scriptures, that is, Hebrews 6:4 and 10:6, will show they are not related to our text as such and the interpretation or view held cannot be supported by such Scriptures.

It is a serious matter for an unregenerate to spur the love of Christ and continue in unbelief. Christ did not die for the sin of unbelief and man must believe to be saved and 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved'. Yet we do not believe that this above given view is that which was in the mind of the Apostle John as he wrote this portion of his letter.

Another view is that these are they who have become apostate. There is such a thing as apostasy. Many scriptures teach this, among them is that found in 2 Thes. 2:3-5. The view held is, that some have believed and truly received Christ as their personal Savior, walked with Him in trust and fellowship and then gradually fall away into unbelief. The present writer does not believe that this is possible. A person may lose fellowship with his Lord but not relationship. He cannot apostatize to the place of absolute unbelief.

Who are these then, that apostatize? Generally in Scripture when it speaks of those apostatizing it is the corporate citizenry of a professed Christian world. There are many thousands who have given mental approval and consent to so- called Christian faith. Current events, a Christian rationalism, etc. has caused them to join the Christian world, but to have been born of the Holy Spirit into the family of God, this is something different. Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick has often been referred to as one who once believed but became an apostate. The above view would hold that 1 John is speaking of such and should not be prayed for, for he has committed 'sin unto death'.

Still another view and popular among Bible-believing Christians is that these of whom John speaks are those who have been genuinely saved but purposely live in open and public sin. It is held that such become hopeless backsliders and for the sake of Christian testimony God removes them from earth's scenes lest they bring ill repute to such Christian witness. Scriptures as Romans 8:13, 1 Cor 5:5 seem to indicate this. The experience of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 could well be a judgment of this nature. We do believe that there is such judgment from God even in this day of grace but we doubt that this reference in 1 John supports this theology.

The more plausible teaching and intent of John is in reference to such as would receive anti-christ as the Christ in the time of the great tribulation. These are they who commit "sin unto death'. If it were possible for us to project ourselves into the time and experiences of 'Jacob's trouble' or the time of the great tribulation, we could then better understand our text. At this time of history the one-world church and one-world government will be in existence. Wars will have ceased and a false millennium will have been inaugurated by the Rider of the white horse of Rev. 6:1-2 . Most of earth's populace will look to this man as the long-waited for Christ. The Jews will own him as their Messiah and to not accept him as such will be disgraceful. Those who do not receive him, giving him due allegiance will be severely persecuted. They will likewise be know to all having not received the mark of the beast. See Rev. 13:16-17; 14:9-10; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20 and 20:4. On the other hand those who have received anti-christ as the Christ will be under the severe judgment of God. Revelation 19:20 indicates this. The writer believes these are they of 1 John 5:16 for whom there should be no prayer. They have committed" a sin unto death'. They have sealed their doom by receiving the mark of the beast. Verse 18 of this chapter indicates that those who have been born of the Spirit cannot and do not commit this sin for the seed of eternal life abideth in them. It is as this same verse declares
'he keepeth himself and that wicked one (anti-christ) toucheth him not'. We have presented the above for your consideration. We realize the difficulty of interpreting such passages, partially because of traditional teachings, and because we are so apt to seek applying all Scripture to our own times and persons. Nevertheless give prayerful consideration to this presentation and may God, the Holy Spirit bless you with His Word.

Amen and love,
Pastor Lloyd Peterson