TAKING A LOOK AT 1 JOHN

 “If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.”- 1 John 5:16-17 New Living Translation

            Bible scholars have differing opinions regarding whether the sin that leads to death is speaking of physical or spiritual death. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that some died because they took communion unworthily _{(1 Corinthians 11:27-30)}. Acts 5:1-11 tells of how Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead when they lied to Almighty God. The gospel of Mark tells us that we will die if we blaspheme the Holy Spirit _{(Mark 3:29)}. Hebrews 6:4-6 describes the spiritual death of someone who turns against Christ.

            John was possibly referring to those who left the fellowship of Christians. Since we may not know who strays from the faith, we should not make that judgment on our own. Leave that decision to God. 

            Not all sin is unto death. It is definitely for God to judge which category the infraction falls under. God doesn’t wish any would sin, falling short of God’s glory, but if anyone either knows what they are doing is sinful or not, seeking forgiveness from the Lord will remove the blemish. The key is to learn from this situation and move forward, not backward, to prove yourself worthy of the title Christian. It is our responsibility to seek to imitate Christ in all we do. That will assist us in avoiding sin that leads to death or any other sins as well. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.