5:16-17 What is the sin unto death John refers to here?
5:16-17 What is the sin unto death John refers to here?
The sin unto death that John refers to here is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which leads to (spiritual) death, because it is the only sin that God will never forgive.
True believers cannot commit this sin - it can only be committed by those who have deliberately shut their eyes to the light and call good evil, or who, after having been saved have spurned the spirit of grace and declared the blood of Christ that sanctified them as unfit to redeem (cp Mt 12:22-32; Mk 3:22-29; Lk 11:14-15; 12:10; He 6:4-6; 10:26-31; 2Pe 2:20-22).
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit includes attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, as in Mt, Mk and Lk here, and/or apostatising as in He and 2Pe, John is not forbidding believers to pray for those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, in 1 Jn 5:16, he is simply pointing out that it is useless praying for them; they will die in their sin (cp He 6:7-8 with Mt 3:10; 7:19; Jn 15:1-6).
See also comments on Mt 12:31-32, He 6:4-6, 10:26-31, 2 Pe 2:20-22, 1Jn 1:9.
5:18 See comments on
1 Jn 3:6-9.
These Studies by Br Val Boyle may be downloaded and freely distributed but not sold for profit.