SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH!

                                                         1 John 5:9-17

INTRODUCTION: One of the most controversial subjects in the Bible is the subject of once

saved, always saved. We all want to know what happens to the backslider who dies in a

backslidden and sinful condition. We must remember that none of us can judge another’s

salvation. The Bible makes it clear that our God judges differently than we do: 1 Samuel 16:7.

There are three possibilities concerning a backslider. First there is the possibility that such a

person was not actually and truly saved: 2 Corinthians 13:5. This person will go to hell, not

because he is backslidden but because he was never truly saved. Second: is that a person truly

saved, and then they follow the temptation of Satan. If they are truly saved God will begin to

chastise them and correct them in order to bring them back to Himself.: Hebrews 12:7-8. So it

is possible for a true believer in Jesus Christ to backslide and be disciplined by their heavenly

Father and return to the Lord in repentance and renewed service to God. Third: A truly saved

person may backslide and when God disciplines them but that person willfully rebels against

God and will not listen to God. When that happens that person has committed a sin unto

death: 1 John 5:16-17. The sin unto death is not the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin

is mentioned by Jesus in Mark 3:28-29. If you are unsaved and reject the Holy Spirit’s ministry

to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior that is the unpardonable sin. 1 John 5:16.

That word “brother” always refers to a fellow Christian. All people without being born again

are in spiritual death: Genesis 2:15-16; Romans 6:23. The sin unto death does not lead to

spiritual death, it leads to physical death for the Christian: 1 John 5:16; James 5:16.

I. SEXUAL IMMORALITY!

The first example of a sin unto death is found in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. This man is living in

open rebellion against God’s Word and is having sex with either his mother or step-mother.

The church is told to deliver him to Satan because he has committed a sin unto death. Later

this man does repent and so he did not die early: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11.

II. SPIRITUAL HYPOCRISY!

The second incident of this sin is recorded in Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira were church

leaders who wanted to look good to their congregation. They pretended to sell their property

and give all the money to the apostles but kept back some of it: Acts 5:3-4. They died in

disgrace because although Christians they wanted the praise of men instead of the praise of

God. Ananias and Sapphira committed the sin unto death.

III. TAKING COMMUNION IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER!

The third incident given in Scripture deals with the Lord’s Supper. The apostle Paul said that

many in the church at Corinth were sick, weak, and a number had died because of taking the

Lord’s Supper unworthily: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32. We must live committed godly lives for the

Lord’s glory because we are not our own, we have been bought at a price:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

IV. TWISTING THE SCRIPTURES!

The fourth incident is told to us by Peter. 2 Peter 3:14-16. Peter and Paul warn us that

there are men who will twist the Scriptures to justify their own sin. If you take the Bible and

twist it to justify your sinful life style you are in danger of committing a sin unto death. When a

true believer in Jesus Christ just laughs it off when the Lord and His servants are warning them

to repent, they are playing with the sin unto death. The Lord is telling us that when a personhas

been warned many times and they just keep hardening their hearts there is no more need

to keep on praying for them. They have committed a sin unto death. We must take these

warnings seriously. The Bible tells us that if you’ve sinned against God and you are a Christian,

if you are willing to acknowledge your sin, He will be faithful and just to forgive your sin and to

cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. Confession that does not lead to purity of life

and a separation from all unrighteousness is not Biblical confession. When we truly confess our

sin we repent, we turn away from our sin: 2 Corinthians 7:10.