What is the sin unto death?

For years I thought the sin unto death in I John 5:16 was a specific solitary sin. What was most confusing, I did not know what that sin was. Others have regarded the sin unto death as the unpardonable sin. That is the sin that is discussed in Matthew 12:31-32. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. These are two separate matters.

So, back to the original question, what is the sin unto death? Well, before I answer that question, let us read the text. “If anyone sees a fellow believer committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should ask, and God will give him life – to those that commit a sin that does lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying one should pray for that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death” (1 John 5:16-17).

How do we make the distinction between a sin unto death and a sin not unto death since the writer John does not provide an example of each in his letter? That is why it is very important to be well versed in God’s word. A sin not leading to death is one whereby a believer is confronted about their sin, they repent, and they are restored into a right relationship with God and with the saints (Galatians 6:1).

As John said, fellow believers can intercede on behalf of the sinning believer and God will grant the offender life because it is not a sin that leads to death.

A sin unto death is when a believer has a premeditated, unbroken habitual pattern of sinful behavior – oftentimes against the Body of Christ. Ultimately, they are living as if they are unsaved. A very serious offense!

A few things can happen when believers are in sin. 1) the sinning believer will be severely chastised by the Lord which is a good thing (Hebrews 12:5-11). A Godly spanking does hurt but it will also bring about healing, deliverance, growth, and holiness. As children of God, sometimes we need to be punished for our sins so that we can feel ashamed and endeavor to do better. We all run-off-the-rails sometimes and tough loving discipline from our Heavenly Father puts us back in right relationship with Him.  2) the offender can be put out of the Church so that their current evil ways do not corrupt other believers. Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). God must maintain the purity of His church (Matthew 18:15-17). This Godly discipline should make the offender ashamed of themselves which should bring about contrition and wholehearted repentance. We must continue to admonish them in love (2 Thessalonians 3:15). 3) God could allow Satan to take the life of the person. In their current state of sin, they are absolutely no good to anyone. They are a current embarrassment to the Lord, the Church, and themselves. They are a liability to the kingdom, and not an asset in their current state of rebellion (1 Corinthians 5, whole chapter).

The last matter, of course, is a case where one is not to pray for. Why? In the fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians a man is fornicating with his father’s wife – most likely his stepmother.  That is a gross sin against another believer! Paul said to give one over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord (vs 5).

The matter is bitter-sweet in these instances. Why? Because the believer decides not to repent of their sin(s), they could die early – never fulfilling their role in the Body of Christ. They also will suffer I believe great loss at the judgment (Bema) seat of Christ. They will lose in terms of rewards because they deprived themselves of the joy of serving the Lord and others while on earth (1 Corinthians 3:13-16). The sweet part is that since they are eternally secure, they will not lose their salvation – their soul has been saved.

Concluding, a sin unto death could be any sin that is pre-meditated, unconfessed, habitually repeated with no remorse. When we see someone in that state of mind and we know it because we have talked and pleaded with them to repent to no avail, prayer will not help them.  God will deal with them most severely – perhaps even to the point of ending their lives.       

Our Great Salvation

To describe our salvation in a million words would not be enough. So what I would like to do is cover some of the wonderful features of our salvation and why we MUST praise God for it always. One can view our salvation as trinitarian. Why? Because it has three tiers or components to it. They are justification, sanctification, and glorification. Permit me to spend a little time on each.

Justification - The act of pronouncing one righteous. To be acquitted. In salvific language, it means the sinner is absolved of all guilt of their sins forever when they believe in the substitutionary act of Jesus Christ who came to the world to take away our sins (Psalm 32:1-2; Matt 1:21; 9:2b; Luke 7:48; John 1:29; Eph 1:7; 1 John 2:2). God the Father punished His own Son for our sins which satisfied or propitiated God's wrath against sin. When one believes in what Christ did for them, they are given a declaration of righteousness. The sinner is not essentially righteous, they are still a sinner. The blessed difference is that they are now a sinner saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Romans 4:25, "Who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised up for justification."

Sanctification - The Greek word is hagiasmos. It means to be separated to God, to be set apart. A synonym of sanctification is holiness. Sanctification is the believer's responsibility to conform into the image of Jesus Christ through holy righteous living. God through the Holy Spirit assists us in this effort. Philippians 2:12-13 says this, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."This is the reason why we have been chosen or elected to be in the kingdom of God. Romans 8:29 says, "For whom He (God) foreknew, He predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son..." This is the primary reason for being chosen to be in God's family. We are to mirror the life of Christ on the earth. Sanctification is a life long process. As we grow in Christ-likeness, we should love to hate our sin. Sanctification is holiness in action. It is the visible enduring fruit of our justification in action.

Christians must live their lives out loud. Not just in words, but in righteous and holy deeds. We must be clearly distinct from the world around us. We can longer do what they do and say what they say. The apostle Peter described us like this: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who were once not a people but now are the people of God, who  had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Peter then continues his discourse urging us on how we are to behave in this world:

"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they observe glorify God in the day of visitation."

The word Pilgrim comes the Greek parepidemos. It is an adjective meaning to sojourn in a strange place - that is this world, particularly this world's anti-God ideology.  Christians from God's point of view are aliens and strangers in a foreign land. We do not fit in here; at least we are not supposed to. The worst thing a believer can do is get comfortable here. We are on a mission to reach souls with the love and truth of Christ. We are not here to pitch our tent permanently. This current earth is disposable, it will burn up (2 Peter 3:10-13)!

Glorification -  The Greek word endoxazo is in the passive voice which would relate specifically to the verb form of the word glorified. In relation to the believer, it is the reality of when our salvation is complete; meaning we are immortal (1 Cor 15:51; Phil 3:21; Thess 4:13-18. We are perfect, no longer subject to pain, suffering, sin, and death. The former things have passed away forever (Revelation 21:4). This is the third and final tier in our great salvation.  This is presently our future hope.

In our present evil world, the above is very hard to imagine or believe. Thank God we have the revelation of His word which comforts our weary souls or we would have no hope. Paul the ultimate first-century adventurer for Christ talked about his affliction in serving the Lord. He provided these encouraging words, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Listen carefully to this man's penetrating words - Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For things that are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Only God Almighty could cause a sinful man to speak in such superlative language! Truly the Spirit of the living God dwelt in Paul (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

In Romans 8:30 we read, "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

Every person that enters into the kingdom of God is guaranteed a future glorification. That is why it is such a great salvation. God promised to grant this blessing to all the elect before He created the universe It was a done deal in the mind of God from eternity past.

How does our salvation conquer sin?

When we were justified, we were made free from the penalty of sin instantly; that is eternal separation from God. In our current status of ongoing sanctification, we are battling the power of sin; so it will no longer have dominion over us. And finally, when we are glorified, we will forever be free from the presence of sin. In our glorification, we can never be tempted to sin any longer. Why? Because we will be just like Jesus; we will have our glorious resurrected body. Since we are in Him, and He conquered death, sin and the grave, we have inherited that same victory. Our race is over. We have successfully labored into God's eternal rest (Hebrews 4:11).

I can hardly wait!

Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20b)!