How Then Should We Pray? Part 2
1 John • Sermon • Submitted
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How Then Should We Pray?
How Then Should We Pray?
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Two kinds of Sin-
Two kinds of Sin-
Non-Deadly vs. Deadly
Deadly
What is meant by these qualifications/classifications?
There is a good deal of discussion about this passage. These few verses seems to be very difficult to interpret with a great deal of certainty. Primarily, because at first, it seems to contradict other passages of Scripture. Even after considerable reflection and study of the original language, the exact meaning is uncertain and debated among theologians.
For example, Christ and the apostles taught very clearly that sin= death. Any single infraction against the law of God is an infraction against the whole law.
verses for this example should be added.
Some commentators believe “the sin which leads to death” is a reference to sin that brings about physical death of a brother or sister in Christ. In other words, it is a sin which has been intentionally committed by a child of God, which is of such a severity, or in such repetitive nature, that the Lord requires that they are no longer able to live and breathe, physically on this earth.
One commentator illustrated it this way. A mother’s child is playing outside with a group of other children in the neighborhood, and a disagreement erupts into an argument and the child doesn’t respond as they have been taught to respond. The mother sees this behavior and scolds the child, the child repents, goes back to playing, and yet after repeated warnings, the mother tells the son to come inside, because he can’t be trusted to represent the family well, while playing with the other children in the neighborhood.
Other commentators, and I agree that this isn’t about physical death of a believer, but is referring to spiritual death, which is the result of unrepentant, rebellion or denial of faith in God. Some have listed possible “sins that lead to death as: A specific and particularly egregious sin, or apostasy, or the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. These are in my opinion, each valid possibilities, but most likely is what I believe to be the sin of the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
I believe it is more likely that John is referring to spiritual death of someone who verbally claims the name of Christ in Word, but inwardly have never truly come to know Him as their Savior, which to us would be someone that has either turned their back on the Gospel after walking as a Christian, or they were simply living a life of deceit in their confession of Christ.
I base my opinion upon the immediate and extended context of John’s letter. He is writing to assure believers, that they have eternal life, by faith in Christ, not by works, not to assure them they will live a long life, if they obey or act a certain way.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
How then should we pray? Outwardly
How then should we pray? Outwardly
Whether this is referring to physical death or spiritual death, we can certainly agree that this is a call to intercessory prayer, for another person to be given life, by God, despite the fact that there is evidence of sin in their lives.
How then should we pray? Earnestly
How then should we pray? Earnestly
It is a matter of life and death, for someone. It is likely that it is also someone that we love. John in this passage calls them a brother, which is a close family member who is loved and cared for. Listen how Paul and the writer of Hebrews describes the what the process of restoration ought to look like.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
How then should we pray?
How then should we pray?
Let’s continue on to verse 18, for further understanding of how we ought to pray.
1 John 5:
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
How then should we pray? Dependently
How then should we pray? Dependently
That is how I envision this happening in the life of a believer. The Lord runs blocks for us, so the devil cannot latch on and drag us down.
That is how I envision this happening in the life of a believer. The Lord runs blocks for us, so the devil cannot latch on and drag us down.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Several things in this verse need to be clarified. Keep your eyes on verse 18, here.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
John uses the terms “everyone who has been born of God” and “he who was born of God” in this verse. The first phrase, “everyone who has been born of God, is in a different tense that the phrase “he who was born of God”. I would suggest, that this isn’t simply a matter of saying the same thing a different way. I believe when John says, “Everyone” he is referring to anyone whose heart has been changed by the Gospel message, anyone that has come to the place where they recognize they are a sinner, the punishment for their sin is spiritual death, and have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. The second phrase, “he who was born of God, is referring to Jesus, the Messiah, the begotten Son of God.
Another point that I believe is important to be made here is that the word “touch” in this verse is better translated “attach to” or “latch onto” “to harm”, or “fasten to”, So as we read this verse with those points in mind, I believe it is safe to say that, in this passage John explains to us the process of us helping to protect our loved ones. As we pray for them Jesus, whom we are prayerfully dependent upon, interferes for our brother and becomes a protective surrounding for those who are born of God. He sets them in a safe place away from the interference of the Devil.
In this passage John explains to us the process of us helping to protect our loved ones. As we pray for them Jesus interferes for our brother and becomes a protective surrounding for those who are born of God.
How then should we pray? Outwardly, Earnestly, Dependently
How then should we pray? Outwardly, Earnestly, Dependently
We need to pray outwardly, interceding for our brothers and sisters, our loved ones, that they might possibly escape the snare of the devil and avoid being lead away, drawn away into sin, a sin that may lead to death.
We pray earnestly because this is a life and death situation. This is a battle for people’s souls, in order that they may receive life.
Finally, we pray dependently. We are dependent upon Jesus the Son of God, the Sovereign Lord, our Master and Sustainer. We ask Him to go before our beloved fellow man, creating a layer of protection against the deadly leech, called Satan, the Evil One.
This is a message that may cause us to become anxious and fearful, but that it not the intended message of John’s letter. It is a message of hope, a message of assurance, a message of life.