1 John 5:16-17, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
The Apostle John is writing to other Christians. In this passage there are two types of sin in view, and two types of people in view. The two types of sin are “a sin leading to death…and…a sin not leading to death.” The two types of people in view are a “brother” (i.e. fellow Christian), and those who can commit a sin leading to death (i.e. not a Christian).
All sins are inherently mortal (i.e. leading to death). As soon as Adam sinned, he himself was a dead man. Not immediately dead, as in drop to the ground dead, but death came upon him and subsequently tainted the human race. Some sin has resulted in an immediate earthly corporal (bodily) punishment, such as the sins of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10), whose sin of lying to the Holy Spirit brought about their immediate corporal death. Paul tells other Christians that some of them become weak, sick, and even die because of their abuse of communion (1 Corinthians 11). However, for most Christians, their sin does not bring about an immediate corporal death. Consider David who was guilty of murder and adultery, and Peter who repeatedly rejected Jesus; they didn’t die fall over dead for these sins.
When we suspect that a fellow believer is engaged in a sin that may bring about weakness, sickness, or early corporal punishment, as Ecclesiastes 7:17 says, “Do not be excessively wicked…why should you die before your time,” then more mature Christians can intercede for that believer, such as is instructed in James 5:16, “pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” In some cases, God may restore vitality. Spiritually vibrant Christians ought to engage in a ministry of intercession and confrontation for weaker Christians, as the Word tells us in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,” and Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” John is reiterating these truths here in 1 John 5:16, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death.”
Contrasting this, there is a sin leading to eternal death, hell, which is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This is the unpardonable sin. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the total and complete rejection of the Holy Spirit and His work. A person who maintains this rejection throughout their life is guilty and unforgiveable. This sin though is not present in Christians and cannot be committed by Christians. Additionally, this unpardonable sin is a sin where intercession won’t be heard; at least not in the same way as one can intercede for another as we see in James 5:16.
1 John 5:16-17 is likely a passage written as an encouragement for weaker brothers who, upon hearing that there is a sin that leads to death, might live in fear that perhaps they’ve committed such a sin. Although all believers are guilty of much unrighteousness, they don’t have to worry that their sin is a sin leading to eternal death and separation from God.
In Mark 3, we see the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem accusing Jesus of doing the work of Satan. The scribes were trying to discredit Jesus’ ministry by claiming that He doesn’t have authority from God, but it’s only by the authority of Satan that Jesus is able to cast out demons from people. Mark 3:22, “The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” The name Beelzebul is a name for Satan, meaning Lord of the House. Jesus uses that reference, “Lord of the House,” to give a parable about how one is able to plunder a house when the Lord of that house is home. You can read about that in Mark 3:22-27. Jesus followed up the parable by saying, “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin ” – because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” A major warning is given against those who would suggest that the operation of the Holy Spirit, here through Jesus, was actually the work of Satan. This is “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” which is a unique sin all its own. Many would blaspheme Jesus, the Son of God, such as those who mocked, spit, and laughed at Him on the cross. But even then, there would be opportunities of forgiveness for those terrible sins, as Jesus offered up a prayer saying, “Father, forgive them,” Luke 23:34. Many will take the name of the Lord in vain, as is strictly commanded against, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain,” Exodus 20:7. Though this sin will be punished, there’s forgiveness available. However, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is so severe, that no forgiveness is offered.
When someone claims the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the work of Satan, this is an example of totally dismissing the Spirit. A person can go throughout his whole life minimizing and dismissing the Holy Spirit, rejecting the Spirit’s prompting on his heart, and can go to his death with no repentance. The one who does this cannot be forgiven, but will spend eternity separated from God in hell. Those who choose to live apart from the Lord in this life, will do so in the next life.
“Isn’t suicide the unpardonable sin?”
I wish I knew who started this rumor, but it’s an incredibly old lie. In fact, in almost 25 years of pastoring, the question of, “If someone commits suicide, do they automatically go to hell?” is in the top three questions I’m most frequently asked (The other two being, “Can you lose your salvation?”, and, “What’s God’s will for my life?”). The only reason a man spends eternity in hell is because he sinned, and subsequently rejected the Lord. The only reason a man is in heaven is because he has entrusted himself to the Lord for the forgiveness of his sin. The cause of the man’s death is irrelevant and has no bearing on eternal destination. “Suicide guarantees hell” is totally un-Biblical. This rumor suggests that even a Christian, if he dies by suicide, loses his salvation and goes to hell. To suggest that suicide could remove one’s salvation is to say that salvation is works based, and that those who made it to heaven were good enough to keep their salvation, which is no gospel at all. Additionally, to suggest that suicide could remove one’s salvation is to say that Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross is not sufficient to cover all sin, but only most sin. This too is not the gospel. More can be said on this, but the bottom line is that suicide doesn’t guarantee hell, nor is it the unpardonable sin. By the way, if you’re contemplating suicide as a solution, please talk to someone about that immediately. Jesus wants to give you victory over whatever you’re battling!
Conclusion
Is the Holy Spirit prompting you? Are you experiencing the quickening on your heart, where He is calling you to repentance for your sin? If so, entrust yourself to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin. This invitation is available to all who believe that Jesus is God and that Jesus alone conquered death and sin. Jesus bore our sin on the cross, died, and rose back to life. Therefore, since He alone conquered death and sin, He can rightly boast that nobody can enter the kingdom of heaven but through Him. All other religious figures are dead and buried. Jesus alone offers life and forgiveness. Call upon the name of Jesus today, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12.