Sin Leading To Death
The apostle John, near the end of his first epistle addresses sin in God's people, and our reaction to it. He wrote:
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. (1 John 5:16-17)
Recently I received an e-mail from a brother, asking what this text is about. Certainly, one can see how it might cause confusion, as John seems to say that not all sin results in death. And yet, the apostle Paul plainly taught that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23), without exception.
John does not diminish the serious nature of sin. In fact, he affirms that "all unrighteousness is sin", and affirms that "whoever is born of God does not sin, but ...keeps himself..." (1 John 5:18) Again, he wrote, "Whoever abides in Him does not sin." (1 John 3:6) And John plainly reveals one of his reasons for writing is "so that you may not sin" (1 John 2:1)
All this being the case, we can safely conclude that John was in no way minimizing sin by referring to a sin which does not lead to death. But what is this, and that which he contrasts it with - a sin leading to death?
There is no list of sins which are "sins leading to death" and an alternate list of "sins not leading to death." That is not the distinguishing factor. In fact, a sin (ie. violating the speed limit) may be a sin leading to death in one person, while in another individual, it may be a sin not leading to death. The element which determines whether a transgression is a sin leading to or not leading to death is the willingness of the offender to repent.
John tells us to pray for the one who has sinned, who has a humble heart, for they will be willing to repent, and God is certainly willing to forgive such a person and to give life. Pray for this person. James told us that
the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. (James 5:15-16)
“The element which determines ...a sin leading to or not leading to death is the willingness of the offender to repent.”
It is important that God's people pray for one another, and especially that we might be victorious over sin. When a Christian stumbles and is overcome by temptation, we should pray for that one. When a Christian enters sin unaware, we should pray for that one. Such individuals have sinned a sin, as John identifies it "not leading to death."
On the other hand, the one who has committed a "sin leading to death" is unwilling to repent; they have transgressed the will of God willfully. John says it is inappropriate to pray that God grant life to that one - their heart is filled with wickedness.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation... (Hebrews 10:26-27
John is not saying we should have no concern for those who have sinned willfully, but the process to follow is different. Those who have sinned through selfish arrogance or disdain for the will of God must be "delivered to Satan" (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20). There is a pattern of Biblical discipline instituted by God to bring the wayward Christian back to faith. They will not come to repentance on their own - else God would not have given such detailed instructions about how to deal with the one who has sinned a "sin leading to death" (see Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 3:10-11; 2 John 9-11)
Those who have sinned a sin leading to death need to be disciplined, lest they die in their sin. Those who have sinned a sin not leading to death, when they realize their sin, will turn from it and repent earnestly. Let us do our part to help those who have fallen into sin, whether that leading to death (impenitent) or that not leading to death (penitent).
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
When did Jacob rename Luz to Bethel? Was it before visiting the land of Padan Aram (Genesis 28:18-19) or after (Genesis 33:18; 35:6-7)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
The author of GENESIS reveals that Jacob renamed Luz with the name Bethel on his way to Padan Aram. Genesis 28:18-19 says
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan Aram until Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother... Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.
This text would seem to clearly indicate that the renaming of the city was done while Jacob was on his way to Padan Aram. If that is the case, what shall we make of the other texts mentioned by the questioner? Do they pose a problem so far as the time at which Luz was renamed by Jacob?
Genesis 33:18 is clear that Jacob has returned from his journey to Padan Aram. The question is right to reference this text in order to place the events of Genesis 35 into their contextual framework. So, what does Moses record in Genesis 35 about the naming of Bethel?If we start in Genesis 35:1, God told Jacob to "go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God..." According to God's command to Jacob, the place was named Bethel PRIOR TO Jacob's second time there. Genesis 28 revealed that Jacob named it Bethel previously.
In Genesis 35:2-3, Jacob commanded his family to put away their foreign gods, and then, they would "arise and go up to Bethel." Jacob was already referring to the place as Bethel, even before he arrived there the second time.
In Genesis 35:6, Moses records both the former name (Luz) and the name Jacob gave the place (Bethel). The mention of Luz does not nullify the former naming (Genesis 28). Moses is simply being detailed in his record. In Genesis 35:7, Jacob adds to the name of the place. No longer did he just call it Bethel (house of God) but now added the prefix "El" (God).
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response Skeptic's Annotated Bible.