In this, the final installment of our series, we will discuss a third passage of Scripture which might give pause for a person to ask the above question. We have previously examined a statement Jesus made about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and a statement the writer of Hebrews made about it being impossible to renew to repentance certain individuals who had abandoned Christ after fully experiencing the joys of being a Christian. In both instances, we have emphasized the fact that a person can be forgiven of any sin of which he can repent—that it is not so much a matter of forgiveness as it is a matter of repentance. Repentance forever stands at the door to forgiveness.
The third passage about which we would like to make brief comment is 1 John 5:16-17 where the apostle writes, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death” (1 John 5:16–17). In the context of encouraging prayer, John says that if we see our brother entangled in a sin not leading to death, we should pray for him. But, then, he adds that if he is involved in a sin leading to death, we need not pray for him.
What is a sin leading to death? This is sin which can be seen by others. Furthermore, as indicated by the use of a present participle, it is habitual sin (Bruce 124). In others words, it is a general way of life rather than a specific sin. Similar to what we read about in the book of Hebrews, this involves turning one’s back on the way of Christ and refusing to repent of a life of sin. Earlier in the epistle, John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Harmonizing Scripture with Scripture, we must conclude that the sin the Lord will not forgive—the sin leading to death—is the sin a brother will not confess, the sin of which he will not repent.
In the broader context of the passage, we read, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:6–7). A sin leading to death occurs when a brother ceases to walk in the light, giving preference to the darkness. Continual cleansing of Christ’s blood is unavailable to those who choose darkness rather than the light. They have chosen a path that leads to death. We are not obligated to pray for their forgiveness. We know that such sin will not be forgiven. In such cases, “it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them” (2 Pet. 2:21).
–Glen Elliott–