If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
1 John 5:16-17
As we move along through this letter, we think we have John all figured out, and then we come to these two verses, so near to the end of the letter. At first, they don’t seem to belong, what is John talking about? Where did this come from?
So let’s see if we can follow him… if a brother sins, we are to pray for him, and God will give him life. OK, I think I get it; God will forgive the sin, and straighten the guy out. Hold on, that is if the sin isn’t a sin that leads to death; but I thought death was the price of all sin! John’s making it sound like any sin can be forgiven, except one; and this one sin can be committed by our “brother or sister.” Obviously old John needs to brush up on his Calvinism!
All kidding aside, John could have at least mentioned what that sin is… leaving that little detail out makes this hard to follow, at least for me. I wonder why he would do that. Maybe he didn’t think he needed to mention it, maybe he thought he’d already covered that some where; could that part have been lost over time or something? Let’s think.
What was the letter about? Oh, yes, it was about false teachers, in fact it was about a certain kind of false teacher, gnostic false teachers, who claimed that Jesus didn’t come in the flesh. Hold on, John came up with a special word to describe them: Antichrist! Aha! now this is beginning to make sense, the antichrist is not to be forgiven, you don’t need to pray for this. When your brother stumbles, pray for him, when you stumble ask God and He will forgive. Stay away from the antichrist.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also 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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
1 John 5:18-20
John is winding up the letter now, as he recounts some basic facts of Christian life. A follower of Jesus is not to continue in the old ways. He or she has been buried with Christ, and arisen again as a new creation, leaving the old behind. The “One who was born of God” which is to say the Lord Jesus, keeps us safe from the evil one. This is a pretty important statement for us to keep in mind, especially when we are looking for somebody to blame for our mistakes. John points out that the whole world is under the control of the evil one, and you will no doubt recall that he has already warned us not to love the world, now you know why.
Now, John drops in a comforting and powerful thought: Jesus has given us understanding so that we may know who is true; it is Jesus who is true. If we have the understanding to know who is true, we can also discern who is not. Maybe this is why the arguments and understanding of this world can be so attractive to the world, and appear so idiotic to a follower of Jesus… and vice-versa. Hmmm, might want to ponder that for a bit. God is the one who is true, and the giver of eternal life.
Lastly, John reminds us in verse 21 to stay away from idols, and the letter closes.
A Final Thought
I think this is the part where I’m supposed to come up with a brilliantly slick two sentence wrap up that will astonish everyone with my incredible insight. Sadly, however, I’m not that slick, and my insight isn’t all that great. I’m just a guy trying to serve the Lord like anyone else; nothing special or remarkable that’s for certain! So many have done a vastly superior job of discussing this book, and many more have avoided it, but in spite of my obvious limitations, I hope that you have gotten something from following along with these posts. You might have disagreed with my thoughts from time-to-time, and that’s fine; take away anything useful and don’t worry about the rest. Oh, Good Lord willing, maybe one of these days most of our brethren will learn to do that instead of fighting and dividing all the time! I think John would like that, and I know the Kingdom would be better served.
I’ve been trying out a different format of teaching (if teaching is the right word) in these recent posts in both First John and Colossians, at least it’s new for me. I’ve tried even more than normal, to get away from the academic sort of approach that I’m trained for, moving instead to a more narrative style. Some of you have noted that I’ve left the Systematic Theology out almost completely, in favor of Applied Theology alone. I’d be curious to hear your comments on that. If you are a new reader here, and many have joined us recently; thank you, you can take a look at almost any post titled “Sunday Class Notes” for a more traditional approach for making comparisons if you like. Again, I would greatly appreciate any comments on this so that I may better serve you going forward!
-Don
Life Project Blog 
I wish I had an amazing comment to help you out with how to move forward, but words are failing me. I just know that every day I look forward to this blog and your insights. I was even marveling this morning while away from my computer how much I enjoy your blog and how I wish I could write as well for Him.
Not sure if this helps, but it is good to tell you. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you, Skye, that means a lot!
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Systematic Theology, in my opinion only, usually amounts to religious sport. For that reason my natural inclination is to applaud you at Applied Theology . Good work.
LOL, I know what you mean, it can be like that. I use it to show how I came to a conclusion, and then show application after that, at least most of the time. This way is less cluttered for those who get lost in the details, and it’s easier to write. What I really like about it is that new people get more out of it this way, at least I think they do.
Thanks to Mike H., I get to see the photo you used here every so often during our time of singing at MCC. And, thanks to the Holy Spirit of God breathing His Word into John who faithfully penned it for us, and your clear and practical explanations, I have a better comprehension of the Word. Thank you. Though I appreciate both of “systematic” and “applied” methods, the applied is more enticing, making me more curious what will come next. Sometimes I even guess correctly how you are going to explain something that I had not previously given a lot thought; maybe I’m sort of catching on to this “it’s really simple” idea!
Also, thanks to the commenters, though I know very few of them personally, I’ve gotten to know better how others think about these things, and are working to apply them. It’s quite exciting to see how persons near and far are striving to know our Lord: to know what their Master knows, so they can do what their Master does, to be like their Master. (Mat. 10:24-25a and John 14:12)
(Mat 10:25b and John 14:13 show the stark contrast of the results of whom one chooses as their master.)
Hey Dennis!
Funny you should prefer the applied; I always thought you liked the details of systematic… shows how much I know! I appreciate your remarks, as always. Yes the result of who we choose to follow are stark to say the least, but we have chosen to follow the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Seems like a good thing to me!
Any “system” is of little, if any, value if it cannot be, or is not, applied. Though, the better we know the system, the better we SHOULD be able to apply it. The Bible is mostly expressed as pictures we Western thinkers aren’t use to dealing with as must as Eastern thinkers. Maybe having lists, data, charts and graphs makes us feel more “in control,” or something; we can manipulate these things. But, this doesn’t much help us “get the picture” being presented. I have only in recent years begun to understand this. I can stay awake much better reading a good story than reading a pharmacy journal, no matter how important the information in the journal is to my work, or how interested in it I am! Being interested does help some, and that’s another characteristic that helps the good writer make and keep an audience.
Music to my ears!
Good article!
Appreciate it!
I’m new and I enjoyed this format
Thanks, and welcome!
“If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.” This is one of my favorite verses and has encouraged me countless times as I’ve prayed for others. Thanks so much!
Great comment, thank you!
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Don. Thank you so very much. I remember my question. I remember your answer. And the trip I have just shared was so much more than I expected.
LM’s podcasts have on each page “teaching ministry” and having listened to a few, it is also an “applied theology” style. What I love about your style (and I struggled with the Sunday Notes) is the gentleness. Reminds me of Jesus’ style. “It is what it is” and then I take what I think it is. Gentle. Loving. Simple. Invitatational. What I love about the comments and 92 pages is fellowship. That is teaching.
I have seen you long for “making disciples” so often. Well, I am confident The Lord guided me to your I Don’t Debate Any More for phase two’ing. You are making disciples every time you write. At least on this this computer screen. I know I am not alone. And I am now guessing that this blog is just the tip of your wonderful iceberg.
And a final thought. You made a comment four eternities back, that your Sunday Notes were being read in a number of distant countries. That you were surprised and humbled and encouraged. God’s family has many different learning preferences. Mine is applied. Maybe others is systematic.
Now where is that brown sauce?
Thanks Paul, I really appreciate your kindness. To be honest, I’ve sensed the same thing, but I like to test these things to make sure I’m perceiving them correctly, since words on a screen lack the interpersonal and nonverbal elements. Somewhere in the back of mind is an vague idea that it would be really cool to set up some way where we can really gather around that kitchen table and share, rather than just post comments. Maybe through live chat or one of the VTC options freely available out there… One of these days, I might just do some research! But what the heck, if the Boss and I can do that with friends and family in other parts of the US, why couldn’t it be done with good folks who blog? out own little “small group.”
Satanist pray for them or not? From personal experience, I really don’t want to pray for them. I like the “hand them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved.” This is the spirit of Anti Christ right? Someone told me I should pray for them, that if they end up in hell Satan wins but I am not feeling it. Knowing hell is exactly what they were planning for me. Any thoughts?
Interesting.I think that it’s important that we keep in mind that John is saying this about antichrists, as opposed to some poor soul who is lost and confused. For the antichist, the priority is not for their salvation, which is arguably not even possible; certainly it isn’t likely. In such a case, the priority is on protecting the flock, not saving the wolf.
I like this comment; I always have a fuzzy curiosity about that deadly sin. How abt including a readers experience in your material? That is to engage them throughout rather than at the end of the post. W
I’m intrigued by this. Could you possibly expand on it a little more so I might understand it a little better?
You write material that pertains to life instructions; incorporate questions to the reader as you write instead of waiting until the final paragraph to invite comments. I.e doing a post of Beatitudes: blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted; ask for times when this has happened for the reader before moving on to the next point. thirst after righteousness: when has this ever happened to you? before moving on to the next point etc.
Hmmm… I’m intrigued by this… Thanks!
🙂