Although all unrighteousness is sin, in the Bible in 1 John 5:16-17, John spoke about two kinds of sins, namely a sin unto death and sin not unto death. But what did John mean by that? What is the difference between a sin unto death and a sin not unto death? What is a sin unto death and what is a sin not unto death?
What is the difference between a sin unto death and sin not unto death
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. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death (1 John 5:16-17)
In order to understand what John meant, we should go back to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, there are two kinds of sins mentioned, namely unintentional sin (sin not unto death) and intentional sin (sin unto death).
When a person or congregation had sinned through ignorance; an unintentional sin, then the sin was made known to the person or congregation. Through a sin offering, atonement was made for the soul of the person or congregation and God would forgive the person or congregation for the unintentional sin. This unintentional sin didn’t lead to death (Leviticus 4, 5:15-18, Numeri 15:27).
But whenever someone intentionally sinned, which means that a person made a premeditated sin, then there wouldn’t be any atonement for that intentional sin.
The soul of that person would be cut off from among the people of God. Because the person had despised and rejected the words of God and had broken His commandment.
Therefore the person would be found guilty of his evil intentions and would carry his own iniquity. This intentional sin was a sin that leads to death or in other words a sin unto death.
And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken His commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him (Numeri 15:27-31)
Rebellion against the Divine order
The will of Jesus, which is equal to the will of God, has been made known in the Bible. Whosoever rebels against and opposes God’s will and His Word, rebels against the Divine order and doesn’t yield to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. When you are born again and become a new creation, you will have a desire to live after God’s Word and apply His words to your life. Because the Word is a mirror for the new creation; the sons of God.
But if you rebel against God’s Word and habitually keep sinning and persevere in doing things, which are an abomination to God and go against His will, then there won’t be any atonement for you left.
The blood of Jesus made atonement for those, who hate their sins and their life as a sinner and want to lay down their own life; their sinful nature; the old man and be reconciled with God and live after God’s will.
And not for those, who love the world and their own lives, and are not willing to die to their flesh and lay down their sinful nature, but instead want to keep living after their flesh and delight in sin.
Those, who adjust the words of God to their own lusts and desires, so that they can keep living in sin, as the old man, in the lusts and desires of their flesh.
It doesn’t matter if you call yourself a Christian or not. Every person, who rebels against God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, Who reproves the world of sin and speaks the truth, shall die and enter eternal death.
That’s what happened with the devil when he rebelled against the Divine order, because he wanted to be like God. Because of his pride and rebellion, the devil fell and we all know what his final destination will be.
Those, who have the devil as their father and have the same nature and character as the devil, shall walk in the devil’s footsteps and shall follow the devil to the same destination.
What is a sin not unto death?
During the process of sanctification, everyone can make a mistake unintentionally. If you are born again and have received the Holy Spirit, then God’s will is written in your heart. The Holy Spirit dwells in you and because of His holiness and righteousness, the Holy Spirit shall correct you and shall reveal to you the sins; the mistakes you’ve made. Then it’s up to you, what you do.
If you regret the mistake you’ve made and truly repent, you will remove the sin from your life and you shall be forgiven. This sin won’t lead to death. Because you unintentionally sinned and through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, you’ve repented, turned away from that sin, and removed the sin from your life.
What is a sin unto death?
But if you know that something is evil and goes against God’s will, but you do it anyway and persevere in it, then you sin intentionally (willfully).
If you stay disobedience to God and persevere in sin and don’t repent then your behavior and this iniquity will lead to death. There will be no atonement left, not even the atonement of Jesus Christ (Read also: Can you keep sinning under grace?).
The Words says, that if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:26-31)
Who will receive life and who will receive death?
In the Book of Revelation it is written, who shall receive eternal life and who shall receive eternal death.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:7-8)
God has given everything; He has given His Son Jesus Christ; the Living Word and His Holy Spirit. But everyone has been given an own free will and decides what to do and what not to do.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
