What is “the sin unto death?” First, we need to be precise about what the passage says. The word “sin” is not preceded with the definite article, “the.” It seems to refer to the general nature of a person who is living in unbridled sin with no thought of repentance. This leads some to conclude that it is talking about a person who is not a believer, perhaps those who are trying to deceive the believers to whom John is writing (2:26). The Lord told Jeremiah, do not pray for this people, for their good (Jer. 14:11). Why would we pray for the Lord’s blessing to be on those who have chosen death by rejecting Christ? You might think that we should pray for their salvation. So this might not seem a right understanding.
Others hold that the person sinning unto death
is a believer. In 5:16 it does, in fact,
refer to praying for one’s brother in Christ.
There are passages in the New Testament that might go along with
this. The “willful sin” (Heb. 10:26-27)
refers to those believers who were considering returning to temple worship in
Jerusalem which was about to be destroyed by the Romans. Jesus, in the Upper Room, spoke of branches
that do not remain in Christ and are thrown into the fire by God, the
Vinedresser (Jn. 15:1-2,6). Paul warned
about those who sin in connection with the Lord’s Table, that some were sick and
some had died (1 Cor. 11:29-31). The
immoral man who was given over to Satan might fit here (1 Cor. 5:5). We should not pray that he be delivered but
that the chastening bring him to repent of sin.
To me, this makes more sense.
Now, let us see the end of John’s great
assurances. There is the certainty of
eternal life (5:13), the certainty of answered prayer (5:14-17), and now …
·
5:18-19: The certainty of victory over sin. This refers back to 3:4-9 where John reminds
us that God’s seed remains in us. The
new man cannot sin. The old man can and,
though dead, that old nature is still with us in influence. Satan loves to incite it. The world around us likes to highlight that
sinful nature and make it seem like it’s working. But we are certain that, having been born of
God, we are on guard and Satan cannot touch Christ who is in us! What joy!
·
5:20-1: The certainty of the Incarnation. This doctrinal term means literally, “in
flesh has come.” We know this! Christ, the eternal Son of God, has left the
glory of heaven, come to earth and become “the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). We know Him.
And we are IN Him. What we know
is that He is “the true God and eternal life.”
Because we are in Him we share that life. Everything we are now and for eternity is
bound up in who Christ is.
What a wonderful “pastor” is the Apostle John
to care for this flock. He closes with a
simple but strong word to the young lambs: Little children, keep yourselves
from idols. We know who Christ
is. Let us not worship another!
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