“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.”
There is sin leading to death.
There is a sin where prayer is not effectual. This is an exception to the general rule that God answers all prayers prayed in His will. It is useless to make a request about a person sinning unto death because he is under God’s sentence of death.
The reference here is not to the sin that leads to spiritual death – that is, eternal separation from God. All sin ultimately leads to death (Ro 6:23), but that is not the meaning here. The idea here is that a Christian can die a premature physical death because of prolonged and intransigent carnality.
I do not say that he should pray about that
The word “pray” is a different Greek word than the word “ask” earlier in the verse. The idea of “pray” is request, inquire. John does not encourage his readers to inquire about the healing of an intransigent Christian because the carnal Christian is volitionally shut down to God. That is a matter between the carnal Christian and God. God has His way of dealing with the obstinate.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians living in protracted sin can reach a point of being under a sentence of physical death.
APPLICATION:
Most sins that Christians commit do not result in immediate physical death or a sentence of physical death. That is why we can pray for them.
He 13:18, “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.”
Jas 5:14-16, 14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Prayer will not prevent the “sin unto death.” There is no sense in praying for someone who is implacably and incorrigibly obtuse. Some Christians enter into such a state of carnality that they head for divine discipline that takes on the nature of physical death (5:19-20; Pr. 10:27; 11:19; 13:14; 19:16). Prayer for the carnal Christian is not the same thing as praying for the Christian under God’s death sentence.
1 Ti 5:24-25, 24 “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.”
First of all, pretty good stuff.
However:
I feel there could be some more elaboration on the words for death in 1John 5:16 and Romans 6:23. That was the first thing that came to my mind reading the part about all sin not bringing death. I am under the impression (in accordance with your commentary) that the difference is spiritual death and physical death. I would just like some more concrete support than a best guess the meaning. Maybe some context on why John would have written it as he did? Much like the commentary on the first few chapters being related to the Gnostics (I don't know if you did that or not, but I've read it before).
Thanks!
Brennan,
Thanks for your comment. Your points are well taken.
Here is my summary of death in the Bible:
SEVEN DEATHS OF SCRIPTURE
Dr. Grant C. Richison
The essence of death is separation.
The difference is determined by the context. The context or argument of First John is how to have fellowship with God (1:3,4). The immediate context deals with the Christian who has eternal life, not temporal life (5:13-17). The issue is if anyone sees a “brother” commit a sin unto death. I would suggest reading my commentary on Romans 6:23. The sin of premature physical death is a highly specialized sin imposed on certain intransigent believers who have reached a stage of outright rebellion against God.
The argument of First John also addresses the issue of incipient Gnosticism. Fully blown Gnosticism did not develop until many years later. However, John began his epistle addressing the importance of the true humanity of Christ (he does not deny His undiminished deity) with references to His physical body (1:1). True fellowship does not occur with a supra-spiritual being (as per incipient Gnosticism) without true humanity. His life was “manifest” so that we might have fellowship with Him.
Dr. Grant,
In point no. 4 in the comments section, when you say separation from true believers at judgement, do you mean separation of unbelievers from true believers at judgement?
Thank you once again for all your efforts in expounding the scriptures. Your bringing together of various deaths (I was only aware of some of the deaths) that’s mentioned in the scriptures was revelatory to me. The wording of point 4 mentioned in the comment above was little confusing. Apart from that was truly blessed. Do you have any other article on this?
Rose, point 4 referenced those without Christ, who will be cast into the lake of fire.
Rose, here is an article that is in the same general category: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/7-future-judgments/
Thank you Dr. Grant for the link. Like you gave a summary of various kinds of deaths in the Bible, are there mention of various kinds of life in the Bible? From what I understand there is physical life, spiritual life, eternal life and from this commentary I understand fellowship with Him is also called life. Also, we read that in Him is life or that life is from Him. Is there any other kind of life mentioned in the Bible?
Rose, I have not done a systematic, but an individual study of life on individual passages such as John 1:4.
Thank you Dr. Grant