If anyone see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin. All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

1 John 5:16-17

There’s substantial result to man, of his choosing to either respect or disrespect God; I believe it’s a point addressed to the Saints who read this chapter. The importance of recognising who God is as Christ Jesus is a vital part of the foundation of the Saint’s hope, and although much has been written of it; the thief on the cross was granted salvation in the simplicity of the knowledge and expression of this fact: Luke 23:42″ Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!“. The apostle John wrote:

I’ve written these things to you, the ones believing in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:15

As Christ the Son of God is the only means to salvation; reverence of Him is critical to man’s relationship with the Father.

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Luke 9:35

A statement of the result of failing to reverence God, is often spoken of in relation to God Holy Spirit:

And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this world or in the [world] to come.

Matthew 12:32

and similarly, 1 John 5:16 speaks in part, of the gravity of the result of disrespecting God specifically as Christ Jesus. The whole chapter speaks substantially of Christ, and this’s important to remember as consideration of verse 16 progresses:

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we’ve asked of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know 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, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5

Verse 16 isn’t just “incidentally placed among other verses which speak of unrelated matters which are correlated to each other but not to verse 16”; but rather, there’s a consistent focus from the first verse of 1 John 5 through to the final verse; the emphasis is God the Son (Christ):

  • The promised Messiah, The Anointed:
    1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God….”
  • As Son of God:
    5 ” Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
  • As proven to be by water and blood:
    6 “This is He who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,…”
  • As the Word and one of the Godhead:
    7 “...the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.“
  • As visibly proven to be the Christ:
    8 “...the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree
  • As testified by God the Father:
    9 “For this is the witness of God which He has testified about His Son.“
  • As revealed by God to mankind:
    10 “He who believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself. He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he does not believe the record that God gave of His Son.“
    • Note: Whoever doesn’t believe the record that God gave of His Son, is calling God a liar in disbelieving Christ’s witness, but it’s the person who is the liar, just as their father Satan.
      1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.”
      John 8:44 “You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from [the] beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. “.
  • As the source of eternal life:
    11 “And this is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son.”
    13 “…to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.“
  • As the source of spiritual life:
    12 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
    • The life spoken of here, is intrinsically linked to Christ. Without Christ one doesn’t have “life”, and if one dies in this condition, they won’t have “everlasting life”. Ref. V20: John 8: 21 “Then Jesus said again to them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come.“
  • As God the Son, of the true God:
    20 “And we know that the Son of God has come, and [He] has given us an understanding so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and the everlasting life.”

Then verse 21 finishes the chapter with an exhortation to guard ourselves against idols; this instruction reiterates the first of the ten commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me.“. Christ is to be revered and respected fully as God, and this is notably relevant to the matter referred to in the 16th verse, and introduced in the surrounding verses of the chapter, because to have desire, respect or love for any person, experience, or thing, greater than desiring, respecting and loving Christ, is idolatry.

Considering v16 in light of the surrounding verses:

“if anyone sees his brother“; Its the responsibility of the Saints to wash each other’s feet, to be concerned for a brother who’s strayed from the path of righteousness. When the Lord asked Cain where his brother was, he replied “am I my brother’s keeper?“, this was a response contrary to the character of Christ who leaves the 99 sheep to go find one lost.
Love works selflessly in humility to bring back a brother from the error of His way, and in doing so the act of love can save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins. But observe here that the instruction in verse 16, isn’t to go to the brother; it’s to pray for him, and God will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of [His] good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13;
God gave you occasion to see your brother sin & He tells you to pray for him to be restored to life, to the fullness of fellowship with God and His Saints, to be free from sin which makes it’s servants unprofitable to God’s kingdom. Man can easily become the focus of attention by those who are being helped, but Christ is to be the focus of attention because He is the one the Father sent to be the means to obtaining a relationship with the Father, so to pray for, rather than go to the one, keeps man out of the picture and both the one prayed for, and the prayer, get to see the work of God in restitution: stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

“committing a sin not leading to death“ Considering the final result of a “kind of sin” either leading to death, or not, there’s already a distinction given in this verse between spiritual death and physical death; The verse says “If anyone see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin“; This life that’s given, must be ‘spiritual life’, because they are not yet deceased and the sin committed isn’t one that leads to death, so the life given is ‘spiritual life’, not physical life; We can ask, and God will give him ‘spiritual life’; the person is already physically alive but existing in a state of being ‘spiritually dead’ such as in the context of the son spoken of in Luke 15:24 “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.“, and also of the woman spoken of in 1 Timothy 5:6 “But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.”. The kind of life that’s spoken of being granted to Saints, is referred to in John 10:10 where Jesus said “… I’m come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly“.

Now to consider the second type of sin mentioned, which is one “that leads to death” it appears to me that this is referring to physical death:

  1. If they commit “a sin that leads to death” (physical); There are a number of points to consider:
    • a) Physical death is already a result of the first sin:
      Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:“
    • b) The practice of sin and the action of some sins, can expedite the onset of sickness and subsequent physical death: In John 5, a man who had an infirmity (sickness, weakness) for 38 years, was healed by Jesus, who later said to him in verse 14: “Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you.“; he was told to “sin no more, lest…“, so whatever his sin had been, it appears to have been the cause of his long term sickness, and if he disregarded the warning and continued sinning, then a worse thing than being substantially physically incapacitated, would come to him. While other scriptures tell of a quicker punishment to death if a person practices a type of sin; such as in Exodus 15:12 “You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.“, or as warned by God to those who don’t turn away from sinning, as in Luke 13:4-5 “… I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.“. and as follows:
    • c) Specific sins recorded as leading to physical death:
      • Lying to Holy Spirit (God): Ananias and Sapphira:
        Acts 5:3-5 “…Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart [for] you to lie to the Holy Spirit,4…you haven’t lied to men, but to God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost“: Peter didn’t intercede in prayer for them, he revealed to them the depths of their sin and he informed them openly of God’s immediate judgement to death. There wasn’t any room given for them to repent or for prayer to be made on their behalf, God’s will was enacted almost immediately, including for the purpose of the Church and others realising the gravity of that type of sin in the Church; v11 “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” .
      • Despising or disrespecting Christ when participating in the communion of the body and blood of Christ:
        1 Corinthians 11:29-30 ” For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That’s why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. .” Again here, we’re not advised to pray for those committing this type of sin. The responsibility and judgment for their actions is individually theirs; they were told to examine themselves before participating in the communion, and rather than obeying the instruction with the warning, they determined to take it unworthily. God’s voice is clear and man has no grounds of pleading ignorance before Him.

        We’re told of the depths of the hardness of man’s heart throughout scripture, and if God determines to apply judgment to man because of man rejecting His instruction, then God’s will, will still be done on earth as it is in heaven, and on these occasions, although we may sigh and groan over the sin of men, we have no place interceding for them in prayer, because God judges according to His perfect determination; for example:
        Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.“
        Ezekiel 9:3-11 “… And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4 And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house. 7 Then he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. 8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?” 9 Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.” 11 And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”
      • Despising or disrespecting Christ’s blood by sinning wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth: Hebrews 10:26-30 “For if we sin wilfully after we’ve received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful looking for judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries* (*those opposed to God). 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”.
        In this case, God’s delivered knowledge of the truth to a person who then in opposition to God, sins wilfully, insulting the Spirit of grace, and counting the blood of Christ unholy. These people aren’t to be prayed for with intercession, The Lord will judge them, vengeance belongs to Him. “It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31, according to Moses law, they died without mercy; are we to intercede in such a case?
        “Of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? “
      • Fornication with incest:
        1 Corinthians 5:1-5 “It’s reported commonly that there’s fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. …4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction* of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
        Some interpret the verse as relating to the person coming to an end of the flesh’s desires, then being restored to fellowship, this may be an application of the verse, or it may be the body has deceased (destruction* which is translated from the Greek word olethros: ruin, destroy, death of the flesh) as a result of Satan assisting the person in pursuing their sinful desires, so that all that remains alive is the spirit which may be saved. Should they be prayed for? Consider: While the person was in the presence of God’s people, God directed them through the preaching of His word, but rather than receiving His instruction, they’ve continued in their own desires, so they’re to be put out of the fellowship, There’s no admonition in this verse to pray for the person, or to work with them for restoration. God’s work continues even despite man’s failure in obedience, and even Satan can’t rob Saints of their eternal salvation, he’s only able to exercise his will to the extent of God’s permitting it, and by the grace of God, the Spirit will be saved through Christ. After the initial disassociation from the church, this person will be subject to the judgement of God through means other than the Church, as described later in the same chapter:
        1 Corinthians 5:11-13 “But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous, or an idolator, or slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? don’t you judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked (evil) person.”

        The above directive, is a principle which benefits those who apply it in the Church, and in the home. The basis of being able to apply this instruction, is trust in God, and obedience to Him, rather than acting on natural emotion and fear. What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? If God’s instruction isn’t applied, then v6 “a little leaven leavens the whole lump”, but when obedience to God is applied from a trusting Saint, we’re a vessel to honor, sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, trusting that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus! The judge of all the earth will do right, and as long as we rest in that fact and act on His instruction, we’ll have the peace that passes all understanding, instead of being in a state of natural emotional grief and “paralysis” coupled to a house or Church that’s being leavened by allowance of corruption rather than it’s application of God’s instruction which brings peace.
        In a congregation of professing Christians where the leadership is participating in any of the actions described in 1 Corinthians 5:11 … fornicator or covetous, or an idolator, or slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner…” and they deny the evil nature of their actions, remaining unrepentant, I believe it is time to leave that gathering, according to God’s instruction in this verse they are now to be viewed as outside the fellowship, and so are subject to God’s judgement v13, as are those who remain with them if they are supporting their evil/wicked actions and words.
    • d) Why are we discouraged from interceding for any who’ve sinned to death? I believe the scripture teaches that those who’ve practised sin as described above, or who’ve blatantly rejected Christ, are now outside our sphere of responsibility, as shown in 1 Corinthians 5:13 “God will judge those outside…”. God’s ways are higher than ours; if Uzzah had considered this, he may have acted differently:
      2 Samuel 6:6-7 “Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.”.
      God could intervene miraculously in any of mans foolish ways if He so chose, but although He does many miraculous things in this world for the benefit of man and His own glory, He also allows man to choose each day who he’ll serve, and man is accountable for such decisions whether they are good or evil. How much better it is to make decisions of righteousness and be blessed with the fruit of it “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:18
  2. Given that one can intercede for another to give them life, what is spiritual death?
    Thayer describes one association of the word “death” from the opening passage, as: “in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth,…“; it could be said that a person who’s dead though living, is existing without the experience of the fruits of righteousness such as Godly love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self control, knowledge, wisdom and truth. Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that to who you yield yourselves [as] slaves for obedience, you’re slaves to him who you obey; whether it’s of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.”. Those who’ve committed “sin not leading to death“, have in the spiritual form of the term ‘death’, become as the son who’s spoken of in Luke 15, who wasted his inheritance selfishly in a far country. It’s said of Him on his return to His father, “this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.“; Note: He “is alive again“, he was “alive” at some point of being in his fathers house, then while seeking to fulfil the desires of his sinful nature, he became “dead”, but through the process of God’s providence, including v14 “a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.“, he’s come to an end of himself, he’s recognised his own depravity and just like Nebuchadnezzar, he’s lifted his eyed to God and his sense has returned v17 “But when he came to himself …”, vv18-20 ” Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.… And he arose and came to his father. “, God’s given him life again, v22 “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him,” Christ’s righteousness is the best robe, and now he’s restored to the fellowship of the Father and family, vv22-23″ put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.” . This is restoration to life, God’s way.

I believe there’s a condition of spiritual death that comes about from sinning, which a person can be recovered from on this earth, and which doesn’t result in suffering the second death (being thrown into the lake of fire. Ref. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.), but I believe the type of sin which causes this condition of spiritual death will be subject to a measure of judgement in heaven, as spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad.”; Consider the parable of the talents in Luke 19:12-27 in particular verses 16-19 regarding reward for diligence 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

I also believe the scriptures teach that there are sins that lead to physical death which we aren’t to intercede for, and among these sins, some will result in eternal separation from God. 

Belief, recognition, respect and submission to God as Christ, are fundamental (forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.) elements to salvation and relationship with God the Father. May our prayer and experience be to walk in humility, reverence and obedience, joy and peace before our Lord God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit, for His glory.

“He who has the Son has life;
he who doesn’t have the Son of God doesn’t have life.“

“I’ve written these things to you,
the ones believing in the name of the Son of God,
so that you may know that you have eternal life. “

1 John 5:12 & 15







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