What is the sin unto death that we shouldn’t pray about?

Thanks

D____

Hi D____,

Thank you for your question. The verse you refer to is:

1Jn 5:16 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.

What John is referring to becomes clear as you finish this chapter. Our emphasis is always on the “sin unto death.” John’s emphasis is on the “sin not unto death. Notice the next verse:

1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

John emphasizes the fact that although “all unrighteousness is sin: but there is a sin that is not unto death.”

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

John is not arguing that we are no longer in corruptible flesh. He even acknowledges that “there is a sin that is not unto death.”

This “sin unto death” is not a particular sin that is common to all men. But as we read the next few verses, it becomes obvious that this “sin unto death” is the result of not possessing a “love of the Truth.”

Look at the next verse:

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

John considered himself and those who thought as he thought, those who had the same mind that he had, to be “of God.” In the next verse he acknowledges that it is only because of ‘Christ in him’ that he has been “given [ this] understanding.”

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life

This sounds very much like what Christ said about “life eternal:”

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is the warning in the last verse of this chapter that indicates what John means by “a sin unto death:” Here is that solemn warning:

1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

It is ‘Idolatry that is or at least causes this “sin unto death.” Here are the scriptures:

Eze 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

“Idols of the heart,” clinging to the false doctrines of the Christian Babylonish system, are called “stumbling blocks of iniquity.”

Those found to be in this condition are said to be deceived by God Himself:

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet,

Now we can understand where Paul got the truth that he points out to us:

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

To whom does God send His “strong delusion? To the very people he was addressing in Ezekiel 14. Are these those people of the lost world? Well, not quite. The people to whom both Ezekiel 14 and 2Th 2 are referring are the leaders of the people of God, not the so called ‘lost world.’

Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Jer 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Jer 29:9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold,

And who was it that came to Ezekiel that provoked this entire fourteenth chapter?

Eze 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

This Old Testament phrase “idols of the heart” is simply another way of describing those who are “sent strong delusion” in 2Th 2:11-14. With these ‘heart idols’ these men yet come to ‘enquire of God.’ In truth they don’t care what God has to say; they already have an ‘idol of the heart’ that has no intention of being influenced by the Word of the Lord. So it is with every denomination of Christianity today. They all have their by- laws that make them who they are. Those by- laws far supersede God’s word! The scriptures are not about incorporated churches and denominations and by- laws! They are one and all “idols of the heart.”

Here are Paul’s words describing these same elders in the early Christian church of his day:

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish [ Greek-‘are perishing’]; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

“The Truth” is a title given to Christ:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Consequently “the Truth” is not synonymous with denominational by laws. In fact they are directly opposed one to the other.

God’s Word is not confined to any by- laws. They always either “add to” or else “take away” from God’s word. Here is what happens to such people:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

When God Himself has deceived a person (Eze14:1-9), and we see that this person is under “God’s… strong delusion,” “setting up… idols of his heart” in the stead of the truths of the scriptures, under those circumstances, I would definitely say ” There is a sin unto death: I do not say that [ you should] pray for it… Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (Joh 5:16-21).

I hope this is of some help to you,

Mike