What sin does not lead to death?

"There is sin unto death": rather than "a sin." "Every unrighteousness is sin." Every act of inconsistency with our new relationship is sinful. We are now left here to do the will of God. But it is only when aggravated by special circumstances of affront to God in private or public that such an evil act becomes sin unto death. Ordinarily it is not so.

1 John 5:16. The things that we ask of God may not be for ourselves, as this verse shows. Here is the case of seeing a brother in sin; not a sin that necessitates his being removed from the scene of testimony in which he has dishonoured the Lord; but a sin from which he can he recovered to take part in the testimony of God again. How great the privilege to seek before God the restoration of such; to ask the Lord to restore to health and strength one who has been laid low because of serious failure; and to have the conviction, yea, the assurance from God that there will be restoration. God is the giver of life, the One Who recovers; but the recovery is given to the erring one through him who intercedes with God on his behalf. But there are cases that are so serious that God must remove the offender from the earth. Ananias and Sapphira were two such; also those of whom we read in 1 Corinthians 11:30, "On this account … a good many are fallen asleep." It is not any particular sin that is in question, but one that God deems of such a character that the brother can no longer be left on earth to represent Him before the world. It may be that the offender knows that God is taking him away; but no doubt the Lord will make plain to those in close touch with the brother, and who are in communion with Him about him, what His mind is.

1 John 5:17. Every act of unrighteousness is sin: it is inconsistent with the nature and character of Him Who has called us by grace to be for His glory in this world. But not every sin is so heinous in God's sight as to require the removal of the sinner by death. The case mentioned in James 5:14-15 is of a sin not unto death; indeed there the discipline may or may not be because of sin. Many have lied since the days of Ananias, and many have behaved disorderly in the assembly since the early days at Corinth, and have not been removed in consequence; it is not any special sin that determines whether it is or is not a sin unto death, but rather the circumstances in which the sin is committed, and perhaps the motive and state of the one who commits the sin.

Then comes the conclusion. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life," And there he stops. What is added as the last clause of verse 13 only spoils the verse. It was put in by man. "And this is the confidence," — it is not a question of life only, but of confidence. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." Thus after life comes confidence, and then the formal close of all follows, as we see in verses 18-21. "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him." But is there not such a thing as sin? Yes. "If any one 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: concerning that I do not say that be should make request. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."

Let me make a brief remark on this. The "sin unto death" has nothing to do with eternal death, but with the close of this life. It means not some extraordinarily grievous act, but any sin whatever under special circumstances. For instance, when Ananias and Sapphira lied in presence of the grace that the Holy Ghost was then bestowing on the church, this was "sin unto death." Many a man since then has told a lie which has not been so judged: it was not therefore a "sin unto death." The circumstances of the case have an important influence in modifying it and giving it character. So with any other sin. I mention this because it is there precisely where spiritual power is necessary very often; and all children of God might not see the bearing of a sin and its peculiar heinousness under a given state of things; but when once it is shown, they can understand it perfectly, because they have the life of Christ in them, and the Holy Ghost too. "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death." We must not think that all sin is unto death; but any sin under peculiar circumstances might be.

(Vv. 16, 17). Furthermore, this confidence in God leads us not only to pray for ourselves, but also to intercede for others. Many a sickness that comes upon the people of God is by no means a chastisement for sin, but, as in the case of Lazarus, for the glory of God (John 11:4). Nevertheless, there is the governmental dealing of God with His people, and, if we see a brother chastened of God by some sickness because of a particular sin, we can intercede for such an one, provided that the sin is not to death.

All unrighteousness is sin and carries its governmental consequences, but these consequences may not always be to death. Whether the sin is to death or not depends upon the particular circumstances. Many a believer may have been led into telling a lie without coming under the severe chastisement of death; but in the case of Ananias and Sapphira the lie was aggravated by the circumstances and became a sin to death.

There is one limitation (ver. 16); and we must look at it. The apostle tells us there is such a thing as sinning unto death. The question has been asked, "What is the sin unto death?" Some have supposed it to be some specific or particular sin. It is a misapprehension, however. But it is sinning under such circumstances that holiness and righteousness require that the one guilty of it should be cut off by death. It is a most serious thing so to outrage the government of God that it must vindicate itself. For warning to others, for the good of all, the outrage must be marked with God's judgment here upon earth. The cutting off of the offender is necessary to the maintenance of the dignity and character of God's government. Even repentance does not sufficiently satisfy the claims of a holy and righteous government. In such a case, Christian sentiment, based as it is on what is due to the glory of God, would feel that it is antagonizing the rights of divine government to plead for any relaxation of the penalty incurred. Hence the apostle says, "I do not say that he shall pray for it." Liberty is not given us to pray concerning a sin having this character. We could not expect God to hear us. How could He surrender His right to punish sin, to the dishonor of His authority?

The reader must remember that we are not now speaking of the government of God in relation to the final and eternal issues. We are speaking of it in connection with its present exercise, here upon earth. There are present results flowing from God's government of His people. All unrighteousness is sin (ver. 17), but the government of God has penalties short of death in cases where it is not outraged in some extreme or shocking manner.

It is a great comfort to be assured that when we see a brother sinning, not unto death, we have liberty to pray for him. It is also comforting to know that God in such cases will deliver from the extreme penalty. All bodily affliction of course tends to death; but every bodily affliction does not indicate sinning unto death. To discern the case that is sinning unto death will require great nearness to God. In any other case we may without hesitation pray for the brother's life to be spared.

Now a direct, practical example is given us as to prayer: 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.” Let us observe that this single example as to our praying is one that is calculated to exclude selfish motives. No personal advantage is involved here at all, not even the honor of being used of God in the conversion of a soul or some such good work seen by other eyes. But sin in the case of a brother, a child of God, is seen to be dreadfully serious, so as to call for the real concern of our own hearts. But some sins are more serious than others, some “unto death,” some “not unto death.” Possibly sickness may take place in the latter case, however, and in answer to prayer, God will “give him life,” that is, restore to a measure of health at least. Not all sickness is because of some sin however. Epaphroditus was “sick nigh unto death” for the sake of the work of Christ (Philippians 2:27‑30). And no doubt it would be much easier for us to pray for an Epaphroditus than for a weak, wayward brother. But we must not ignore such painful needs.

On the other hand, if the sin was “unto death,” that is, of such grievous character that God had purposed to take the offender’s life from the earth, no amount of prayer could change this. A believer may have gone so far in such a case that the only resource of God’s mercy would be his removal from the earth. Certainly, this would not infer that we cease praying for the person, for his spiritual good, and for his restoration of soul to God; but to pray for his recovery to health would be ineffectual.

“All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” The perfection and beauty of our eternal relationship with God and with His children has been declared to us fully. Unrighteousness is simply inconsistency with relationship. The least thing inconsistent then with this holy relationship is sin, however it may be glossed over as an error, a slip, or whatever else. God intends no trifling or excusing of sin. Yet on the other hand, “there is a sin not unto death”: the degree of seriousness differs: and we are called upon to be exercised to discern things which differ; for there is no list of things put in either category: this will require communion of soul with God.

Now, in the sight of God "all (or every) unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death" (1 John 5:17), that is, not calling for that severe discipline. There is much need to be reminded of this. Every unrighteousness toward God or man is sin. We own to failures, inconsistencies, slips and mistakes; but to drop these euphemisms and to substitute "sin," would quicken the moral sense. In how many things, even religious things, do we need to have our senses exercised to discern good and evil (Heb. 5:14)!

328 Verses 16, 17. What is this sin unto death? It is sin, but sin aggravated by particular circumstances. The sin of Ananias was a lie which the surrounding circumstances rendered more serious. Every sin may become a sin unto death.

But what is the sin unto death (verse 16)? God chastises the sinning believer often through sickness. And the chastisement may lead to the physical death of the child of God. Such was the case in Corinth (1 Corinth. 11:31). It is the same case as James 5:14, 15. If the sin is not unto physical death as a chastisement, we can pray for the brother and he will be restored. But there is a sin unto death. Ananias and Sapphira committed such a sin. No prayer in such a case does avail anything. God in His governmental dealings takes the offender away as to his life on earth. It does not affect the salvation of the soul, as those teach who think that one who has believed, has eternal life, and is a member of the family of God, can be lost again.