Sin that leads to death, 1 John 5:16-17
The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.
THAT YOU MAY KNOW
This is it—the sixth and final message in our deep dive through 1 John, where John's powerful themes culminate. We've journeyed through this incredible letter filled with challenge and hope. But as I studied the closing verses—1 John 5:13-21—I found myself confronted with ideas that don't fit neatly into tidy theological boxes. Confidence in salvation? Boldness in prayer? Even the concept of different types of sin—some of it almost sounds more Catholic than Nazarene at first glance (remember our conversation about venial sins and mortal sins?). Today, we'll tackle some of these complex truths—ideas John considers crucial as he concludes his letter.
To begin unpacking some critical theology in this conclusion, I want to set the tone with a short video. For the next two minutes, we'll hear from one of the great preachers of the 20th century, whose words continue to resonate with clarity and conviction. Let's watch.
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13
Our certainty is based on God's promise that he has given us eternal life through his Son. This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from him. Eternal life is not based on feelings but on facts. You can know you have eternal life if you believe in Jesus.
John doesn't leave us wondering. No vague endings and no guessing games. He's not saying you'll find out later if you have eternal life. He wants you to know. With confidence. Certainty. John wants you to walk away from his letter with that clarity.
HE HEARS YOU
And then John says something even more incredible: And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Do you realize what that means? God—the Creator of everything, the One who made the stars and the oceans and your very breath—hears you. Every prayer. Every whisper. Every cry. Your words don’t just vanish into the void. They reach Him. And when what you ask aligns with His will? He answers.
This is the heartbeat of 1 John. That you would know—not guess, not wonder, but know—that you belong to God. That His life is in you. That when you pray, He hears you. And you don’t have to live in fear or uncertainty anymore. So, pray boldly. Live confidently. Because this is the life you were made for—eternal, abundant, and anchored in the unshakable love of God. And John? He wants you to know it. No doubts. No questions. Just confidence.
SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH
And then John takes us somewhere unexpected. He says:
If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. 1 John 5:16-17
At first glance, this feels heavy, doesn’t it? Sin that leads to death? Sin that doesn’t? What’s he talking about? John’s reminding us of something crucial—sin matters. It always separates. It always distorts. But not all sin is the same. There’s the sin of a believer—a stumble, a moment of weakness. That’s the kind of sin where we step in and pray, asking God to restore them, to breathe life back into their spirit. And here’s the promise: God listens. He answers. He brings healing.
But then there’s the other kind of sin—the sin that leads to death. This isn’t about someone having a bad day or struggling with temptation. It’s the persistent, deliberate rejection of Jesus as the Christ. John’s been talking about this throughout his letter, warning about the antichrists—those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 2:22, 4:3). This is the sin of being pulled away from the life found in Christ by false teachers and their poisonous lies.
Theologian Leon Morris puts it this way: “This is not so much a particular sin as it is a state of sin, a willful turning away from God, a rejection of His Son, and ultimately a rejection of the life that God offers.” It’s not just a sin against God; it’s a sin that cuts someone off from the very source of life. That’s why John doesn’t say to pray for this—because prayer isn’t about forcing someone’s heart to change. That’s God’s work. And when someone is in that state, they need a radical encounter with truth and grace.
But here’s where it gets practical. John isn’t giving us permission to shrug and say, “Oh well, they’re lost.” No. He’s calling us to act. To love. To care. To pray for those who have stumbled but are still reachable. And to reach out to those who have drifted away from the fellowship of the church—those who’ve been pulled into the false teachings of the antichrists or the more subtle but equally dangerous teachings of our secular culture. Teachings like “You can be a Christian without the church,” or “Jesus is one way among many,” or “Truth is whatever works for you.” These lies don’t just pull people away; they lead to spiritual death.
WHAT WE CAN DO
So, what do we do? First, we pray. Ask God to bring to mind those you haven’t seen in a while. Someone who used to sit beside you in worship. A friend from your small group who hasn’t returned. Start there. Then, take a step. Send a text or make a call. Invite them for coffee or lunch. Not to lecture them but to listen. Ask how they’re doing, what’s going on in their life. Let them know they’re missed—not as a number in a pew but as a person loved by God and by you.
Next, speak truth in love. If they’ve been influenced by false teachings, gently remind them of the gospel. Share Scriptures like 1 John 2:24: “You must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.” Truth matters, but truth delivered in love is what transforms hearts.
And don’t underestimate the power of an invitation. Invite them back to church or to a small group. Help them reconnect with the body of Christ. Sometimes all it takes is one open door to remind someone of what they’ve been missing.
This is what love in action looks like. When we see someone drifting, being pulled away by sin or lies or distractions, we don’t give up. We pray. We reach out. We remind them of the life that is found in Jesus. And we trust that God, who hears every prayer, will work through us to bring them back to life.
I want to book end my teaching this morning with another clip from Billy Graham in the same sermon to set up the stakes, the importance of what God is encouraging us as a church to do.
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:18-21
Because here’s the truth: We’re in this together. This isn’t a solo act. We’re the body of Christ, knit together by His Spirit. And when one part of the body drifts or struggles, the rest of the body steps in. Not to fix, not to control, but to love, to pray, to invite back into the life that Jesus offers.
So, who is God bringing to your mind right now? Who do you need to pray for? Who needs a reminder that they’re seen, loved, and invited back into the fellowship of the church?
Let’s take this seriously. Let’s take it personally. And let’s trust that God is already at work, calling people back to life.
TEACHING NOTE: WHY I INTERPRET “SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH” THE WAY I DO
Here is a brief explanation of why I understand and teach that the idea of "sins that lead to death" in 1 John 5:16-17 likely refers to spiritual death caused by persistent, unrepentant sin that aligns closely with the influence of false teachings and false teachers. Several passages throughout 1 John point to this interpretation:
1 John 2:18-23: Here, John warns about the "antichrists" who deny Jesus as the Christ, leading others into doctrinal error. He points out that denying Jesus isn't just a casual mistake—it's a direct rejection of both the Father and the Son. This kind of separation from the truth leads to spiritual death. And when John calls these false teachers "antichrists," he's not pulling any punches. He wants us to feel the weight of their sin—because they're not just wandering off; they're dragging others away from the essential truth about Jesus.
1 John 4:1-3: John urges believers to "test the spirits" to see if they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world. He explains that any spirit that denies Jesus Christ coming in the flesh is not from God and is influenced by the "spirit of the antichrist." This teaching shows how rejecting the foundational truths about Jesus can pull someone into spiritual darkness. It’s the kind of darkness John describes as "sin that leads to death"—a separation from the saving truth found in Christ.
1 John 3:4-10: John contrasts those who practice righteousness with those who habitually sin, indicating that a life of sin demonstrates alignment with the devil rather than with God. He states, "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning," and emphasizes that persistent, unrepentant sin aligns a person with evil. John’s making it clear here—sin, especially when it’s fueled by false teachings that downplay its seriousness, can pull someone away from the life found in Christ and lead to spiritual death.
1 John 5:10-12: Right before discussing sin that leads to death, John underscores that eternal life is found only in the Son. "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." Here, he points to the ultimate consequence of rejecting Jesus—the loss of eternal life, or spiritual death. False teachings often twist or deny who Jesus really is, and when people follow those lies, it pulls them away from the life God offers through Christ.
Put simply, these passages suggest that the "sin that leads to death" is about rejecting the core truths of who Jesus is and falling into a pattern of willful sin, fueled by false teachings. It’s a path that leads to spiritual death because it hardens the heart and turns away from God’s forgiveness and grace.
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