1 John 5:16

[booger]

1 John 5:16 KJVA

(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.


I am having a little trouble with the first part of this verse.  First I will tell you what I got from it and go from there.


From my understanding it means that if we see a brother (or sister) in CHRIST sin we can pray for forgivness of their sins and they will be forgiven.  I got the second part about "There is a sin unto death...", talkin about the unforgivable sin against the holy spirit and all.


Now does this mean that if we see them sin and ask that they be forgiven for their sin, they will?  Also if we ask forgivness for them, is it saying that that is enough alone without them having to ask on their behalf?


All thoughts are welcome.

GOD BLESS!!

 

[ZiSunka]

"If you see another believer committing a sin that doesn't lead to death, you should pray that God would give that person life. This is true for those who commit sins that don't lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I'm not telling you to pray about that. "

I think it's saying that our prayers can empower a person to come to faith in Christ, if they aren't in open rebellion against God by doing things that thumb their noses at God. But if a person who was a Believer turns into a hater of God (the sin that leads to death), then not much can be done by simple prayer.

Like if you see me shoplift at the mall, then you should pray for me, that I will repent and be restored, and your prayers will have an effect on me. But if I go into the shopping mall and get up and start shouting that God and Christ are liars and they don't exist at all and Christianity is evil, well, my heart has turned bad and simply praying for me isn't going to do much. I'm too far gone for simple prayer to turn me around toward God.

 

[booger]

Thank you lamblove.  That is pretty much what I have gathered from it.

 

[Julie]

Let's see what the Bible says in context and not what it is presumed to teach.

 

1 John 5
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

 
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

 
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.


4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.


5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?


6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

 
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.


8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.


9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.


10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.


11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.


12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.


13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.


14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:


15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


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.


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


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.

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


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.


21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

[Serving4Christ]

Remember that this teaching was aimed at the Gnostic lifestyle and that of their denying the incarnation, persistent denial of the truth and their shameless immorality.

With that said, it is our duty as CHRISTians to pray for those who choose this lifestyle that may come to know the Truth, the Way, and the Light of our Salvation. So they too may be saved.

Lambslove, I agree with your view.