Sin Leading or Not Leading to Death

“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 NASB1995)

This is a subject which has different interpretations, but if we read the New Testament Scriptures in their context, I believe we can simplify what this is saying, and that we don’t have to stress over it and overcomplicate it. And we can begin with the teachings in 1 John. All quotes in the NASB1995:

“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)

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected..” (1 John 2:3-5) (“keep” is active tense, i.e. “keeping”)

“Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil.. No one who is born of God practices sin..” (1 John 3:7,8,9)

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry.. and things like these, of which I forewarn you.. that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.. And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21,23) (“does” is active, i.e. “doing”)

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Romans 6:16) (“obey” is active, i.e. “obeying” and slavery is being controlled by sin)

Do you see a common denominator among these passages of Scripture in answer to the question as to the possible meaning of today’s Scripture passage? 

It all has to do with what we practice, with our habits or addictions. As followers of Jesus Christ, if we should commit a sin, Jesus Christ is our advocate we have with the Father (1 John 2:1-2). But if sin is what we practice, if sin is our habit, something we do deliberately and habitually against God and against his commands, then we do not know God, we are not in fellowship with God, we do not have forgiveness of sin, and we will not inherit eternal life with God, for we are of the devil, and not of God.

And this really comes down to the gospel message which we are believing. For many people today are not paying close attention to what they are accepting as the gospel of Christ, and they are not testing what they are hearing and believing against the Scriptures, as a whole, and in their correct biblical context. So, many have believed that they can make a profession of faith in Christ and that assures them forgiveness of all sin and a place in heaven when they die, but while sin is what they practice, not obedience.

And so they believe a lie which is convincing them that their habitual sins will not count against them for eternity. Even if they may make some attempts at stopping their sinful habits, they are trying to do it in their own flesh unsuccessfully, and so they keep repeating the same sins over again. Why? Because they refuse to die to sin and to follow Jesus in obedience to his commands. They won’t let go of the evil stored up in their hearts, and so they just keep repeating the same evil. And that sin will lead to death.

Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, 

Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you'll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don't know

I pray we'll find your light

And hold it in our hearts

When the stars go out each night

Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer

When shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

To a place where we'll be safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqFCbtRz1Z0

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Sin Leading or Not Leading to Death

An Original Work / August 19, 2025 

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love