Consequences (v5)
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Scripture Reading
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
REVIEW
REVIEW
The Seven Tests
Seven times in John’s letter he provides insight into the life of a person who claims they are born of God. Each time John seeks for us to answer honestly. Each time John elicits a response—requiring us to consider our relationship to God, one another, and to not to fall into the trap of self-deception.
1:6: “ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” False fellowship.
1:8: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” False sanctity/holiness.
1:10: “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” False righteousness.
2:4: “Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” False allegiance.
2:6: “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” False behavior.
2:9: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” False spirituality.
4:20: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.” False love to God.
Look back over the seven.
In the first the person is not honest with others.
In the second he is not honest with himself.
In the third he is not honest with God.
In the fourth he is not honest with Christ.
In the fifth he is not honest with the world.
In the sixth he is not honest with his Christian brother.
In the seventh he is not honest to God or others.
John’s list reminds me of the AMOS CYCLE
ILLUSTRATE
AMOS CYCLE: On mission with God, stumble into sin, repent, be restored, back on mission...
Failure to repent results in discipline, then severe discipline, then death and accountability...
The trap of pride makes someone think they are better than others, or better-off than they really are. Or they are exempt from God’s discipline. Ever been there? Have you ever thought you were just fine and then discovered you were messed up?
Sin has a way of deceiving us into thinking our problems are everyone else’s fault! We live in a time when everything that is wrong, is because of someone else, and people fail to own their mistakes.
The greatest sin a believer commits is that of self-deception. It leads them down a path of self-destruction!
The Devil’s first road into the life of any person begin with the small deception that ultimately results in rebellion and death.
John’s remedy to avoid this type of destructive pride is prayer. (Vs14-17)
John’s remedy to avoid this type of destructive pride is prayer. (Vs14-17)
It has well been said that prayer is not a way of overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold of His willingness.
If we know God’s will, we can pray with boldness. This is “praying in the Spirit” (), allowing the Spirit to give us the inward witness of God’s will, supported by the witness of God’s Word.
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Judw 20
v16John mentions praying specifically for another believer who has NOT sinned in a way that might result in death—then he mentions a sin that LEADS to death. Of all the interpretations, none seem to answer all the questions concerning this verse. The best understanding I have found is to compare Scripture with Scripture.
30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
1 Cor. 11:30).
This “sin unto death” is NOT some “unpardonable sin” that a believer unwittingly falls into, but a deliberate sin in defiance of God...
9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
Sometimes other believers can see and recognize a brother or sister who is rebelling—John says we have an obligation to PRAY for them. But God may also tell us to STOP PRAYING, because they have gone too far!
for example… Jeremiah was told not to pray for the rebellious Jews
Jeremiah was told not to pray for the rebellious Jews
16 “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you.
(7:16; 11:14; 14:11; , ). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse ().
14 “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in distress.
; ; , ). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse ().
11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for these people anymore.
; , ). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse ().
14 Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord.
, ). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse ().
20 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their righteousness.
, ). When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse ().
When we show true repentance and confession, the Father is quick to forgive and cleanse (); but when we rebel and refuse to repent, we risk severe discipline.
says there comes a point when God can no longer allow a believer to continue in unrepentant sin. When that point is reached, God may decide to take the life of the stubbornly sinful believer.
There is an argument among theologians as to whether or not “death” is physical death or eternal. By comparing biblical accounts, I conclude it is “physical death” and I have several Biblical reasons for doing so...
God at times purifies His church by removing those who deliberately disobey Him.
Even Moses suffered consequences when he disobeyed God and he was NOT allowed to enter the Promised Land.
The apostle John makes a distinction between the “sin that leads to death” and the “sin that does not lead to death.” Not all sin in the church is dealt with the same way because not all sin rises to the level of the “sin that leads to death.”
In and , God dealt with intentional, calculated sin in the church by taking the physical life of the sinner.
This is perhaps also what Paul meant by “the destruction of the flesh” in:
1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother. 2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.
3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. 5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
Scripture is filled with stories of persons who rebelled against God, and they died; yet, for the child of God, death was God’s mercy to ensure their salvation!
• Ananias and Sapphira in
• Individuals who partook the Lord’s Supper for the wrong reasons ).
—God has called His children to holiness (), and God corrects them when they sin.
—God has called His children to holiness (), and God corrects them when they sin.
—We are not “punished” for our sin in the sense of losing salvation or being eternally separated from God, yet we are disciplined. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” ().
John says that we should pray for Christians who are sinning, and that God will hear our prayers.
However, there may come a time when God decides to cut short a believer’s life rather than allow them to continue in sin. Prayers for such a person would not be effective.
THE BIBLICAL TEXT IS REASON I lean to my understanding of the passage; another is from my personal life:
ONE REASON I lean to this understanding of the passage is from my personal life:
ILLUSTRATION: My call to ministry and near death (1976)
—If I had failed to respond positively to God, I believe my death would have occurred in 1976. My rebellion would have resulted in the only use God had for me.
True prayer and surrender is much more than saying words to God. It involves a heartfelt commitment that searches God’s Word, and allows the Spirit of God to lead us into God’s Will and purpose for our lives!
Every Child of God has a purpose and meaning in life! To understand that meaning, requires us to surrender to Him.
When we surrender, we begin the journey of discovery. We discover the very things we have a passion for, are part of the reason for our existence.
I was determined to make the military my life career—I wanted to be the Sergeant Major or Commandant of the Marine Corps—God had other better ideas that merged passion with mission!
CONCLUSION
I believe today, time has not changed God’s plan fo me! He still has one use for me, and that is in His service. If I choose to walk away, my usefulness ends.
I am not on this earth to make people happy—I am here to serve. The day I walk away from Him, I believe will be my last.
If you are practicing sin as a believer—you are at great risk! If you are reaching that point of no return—you know it! The Lord is convicting you, disciplining you, calling you back from edge of early death. He loves you so much He will not allow you to perish!
God is calling you to STOP, repent and surrender before it is too late.
If you are struggling with sin, and you earnestly try to live right—perhaps, you commit sin, find yourself confessing it, determined not to do it again, and then stumble it again. John reminds us (v18) “do not practice sin”
John calls others to pray for you. The Lord longs for you to walk with Him in truth. He also knows your struggles and loves you—he will never leave or forsake you. He calls you to keep surrendering, don not give, for you have the power to overcome the world!