In 1 John 5:16,17 the apostle teaches, “If any man see his brother sin a sin
which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them
that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall
pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”
In this passage we are told to pray for one who sins, in order for God to
forgive. We are also informed that it will accomplish nothing to pray for the
sin which is unto death. Since this is the case, we need to understand what
John means. We have always been taught that God is a loving God and if we but
ask He is willing to forgive. But in this passage we are informed that there
is such a thing as a sin the Lord will not forgive and there is no reason to
ask.
Some people confuse what John says with the sin against the Holy Spirit. Some
have even worried for years that they may be guilty of this sin. Jesus says
in Matthew 12:31, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not
be forgiven unto men.” Again we read in Mark 3:28,29, “Verily I say unto you,
All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith
soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy
Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation...” The
seriousness of this sin can be seen in these two statements. If a person is
guilty of this sin he is lost forever, with no hope of forgiveness. But what
is this sin?
In connection with this sin Jesus explains in Matthew 12:32, “And whosoever
speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but
whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him,
neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” In Mark 3:29,30 He
says, “... he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He
hath an unclean spirit.”
This sin involves the heart. The person who rejects the Holy Spirit and the
inspired word need not expect forgiveness, because he has reached the point of
no return. He has no faith in the truth as revealed by the Spirit. He has
hardened his heart so that he cannot be touched or his heart penetrated with
the love of God. The death of Jesus means nothing to him. The blood of
Christ was shed in vain. That man is lost forever.
Now, notice what John says in 1 John 1:9. “If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10).”
Since the apostle tells us we can obtain forgiveness if we admit or confess
our sins, we must recognize that the sin for which a brother can pray in
behalf of another Christian is the sin he is willing to acknowledge. James
says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another...” (James
5:16). We can receive forgiveness is we admit or confess our sins. “He that
covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them
shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). So any sin that is repented of and the
person if willing to confess, will be forgiven. The sin for which John calls
“a sin unto death” is a sin that is not confessed and the person is not
willing to forsake it. “There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall
pray for it.” A denied sin can never be forgiven, for it is “a sin unto
death.” No use to pray for it. Remember, “If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
