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Sin Leading to Death

1 John 5:16

Posted Thursday, August 31, 2006 by Charlie Trimm

We are having a "question box" sermon on Sunday this week. We put out a box for the past two weeks and asked for theological and exegetical question. We get several good ones, and on one of them I wanted to gather opinions. The issue is 1 John 5:16. What is the sin leading to death? My take on the issue is that the death is spiritual death, and the first part of the verse refers to a true brother who is sinning, but not sinning in a consistent manner. The sin leading to death is the sin committed by a non-believer. This fits in with how death and life are used in the book as well as the common contrast in the book between the saved and the unsaved. But I'm still bothered by the command to not pray for the sin leading to death. The other main view takes death as bodily death. 

Friday, September 01, 2006 7:55 AM

Brian wrote: From the context, idolatry

In rereading this passage, I believe that we may trace John’s flow of thought starting in verse 13 and continuing down to verse 21. John begins with his formula, “I write to you…” to give them confidence in having eternal life. Verses 14-15 extend this confidence into the realm of prayer, and verses 16-17 apply this confidence in prayer to the matter of life (eternal, spiritual life) as it relates to death and sin. Verses 18-21 reveal what John is talking about.

John bases his conclusion. He call on things that they already know. “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.  19We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” And John goes on to give them understanding about the sin that leads to death. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

John began in verse 13 with the purpose that they might know that they had eternal life. In 16 he introduced the idea of death by a particular sin. In verse 20 he emphasizes that Jesus is the true God and the eternal life, reminding us of verse 13. This emphasis on Jesus as the true God then stands in contrast to the idols in verse 21. With an affectionate address as though to say, “Pay attention.” John warns them away from the sin that leads to death, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

While idolatry may have ceased being a major problem in Israel, God is still jealous of his worship. With many other sins you may still have an active relationship with God, but not with idolatry. This distinguishes it among sins.

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