Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.16UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.1UNLIKELY
Fear
0.16UNLIKELY
Joy
0.5UNLIKELY
Sadness
0.65LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.57LIKELY
Confident
0.01UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.94LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.73LIKELY
Extraversion
0.05UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.74LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.7LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
APRIL 20, 2022
STUDY NOTES
1 JOHN 5:16-17
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
THE SIN UNTO DEATH
INTRODUCTION
Theologians agree that this is one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the NT
Regardless of the view you accept there will still be unanswered questions
I am not going to share the different views of this passage of scripture, there are several
I am going to present the view that I agree with, it is the discipline of God upon unconfessed sin
Which can be the premature physical death of a Christian who continues to live in unconfessed sin
Sin in the life of anyone one is of a destructive nature, especially sin in the life of a Christian
Yes, Christians can and do sin, 1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us.
Prayer is powerful, especially when a faithful Christian prays for another Christian, Jas 5:16 Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
(“Much” can be accomplished through God’s people praying)
Physical sickness in the life of a Christian is not always because of unconfessed sin, but it can be
Physical illness and physical death can be a divine discipline for the unconfessed sins of a Christian
Regardless, we must continually confess the sins that we commit, Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall
save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
“The Lord shall raise him up” is the restoration of physical life, deliverance from physical death
Which James also states as, “shall save a soul from death,” Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which
converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of
sins.
The “death” does not refer to spiritual death, it is the present deliverance from physical death
Premature physical death can be God’s judgment upon a Christian who refuses to repent of a known sin
1Jn 5:16 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.
Verse 16 is an illustration of what was identified in the previous verses as answered prayer, 1Jn 5:15
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired
of him.
The example that John presents in verse 16 is of extreme importance to the church of today
The day in which we see many churchgoers living an ungodly daily lifestyle, an unworthy testimony
Going to church on Sunday and leaving church without a conviction of the sins committed in their life
There is a need in churches today for intercessory prayer, praying for Christians who are living in sin
“See his brother” refers to a brother “in the Lord,” a child of God’s family, a member of the true church
Some interpret “brother” as a “neighbor” and some say it refers to a “professed believer”
Meaning that it refers to one who claims to be saved but is really lost
Scripture does not identify a brotherhood of the lost
The one who is praying is a Christian and the one he is praying for is a Christian
So, the one who has sinned is a believer, he is a Christian, he is not one who is spiritually dead
John speaks of a “brother” as one who has passed from death unto life, 1Jn 3:14 We know that
Page 1 of 5
we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death.
The “brother” who is being prayed for is a Christian who has sinned
“Sin a sin” does not refer to a single act of sin but living in a state of unconfessed sin
Living a daily life in a sinful way and not repenting of their sins
Christians can identify sin in the life of others because we understand the truth of sin
Christians know what sin is, we all have the experience of sin in our own life
Continuing in certain sins long enough can bring about a premature physical death
John first-of all speaks of sin “which is not unto death,” prayer is important in this case
John refers to sin “not unto death” three times in this passage, twice in verse 16 and once in verse 17
A “sin unto death” is mentioned only once and is found in verse 16
Since it is a “brother” who is sinning, death cannot refer to “spiritual death”
Before John began to speak of this death, he assured the Christian of an eternal life, 1Jn 5:13 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.
A Christian cannot and will not experience the “second death,” eternal separation from God
Therefore, “sin not unto death” and the “sin unto death” must refer to physical death
But what is John telling us?
All sin ultimately leads to death, Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
We will all die physically because of sin, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Physical death will eventually come to all believers, but the Christian will never experience eternal death
John speaks of a premature physical death because of a Christian continuing to live in sin
But don’t miss the emphasis of what John is saying to us, he is making a strong point for prayer
Christians are to pray for Christians who are living in sin, how often is it done today?
The emphasis is praying for a brother whose sin does not lead unto death
Listen to what John tells us to do, “if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death”
He shall ask, the one who is to ask is the one who sees the brother sin, the first thing to do is “Pray”
Christians are to pray for Christians who are living in sin
They must be prayed for and not forsaken and not condemned by the church
Too often the first thing that people do is criticize and gossip when someone is identified in sin
John said pray, prayer comes from a loving spirit and gossip comes from a critical spirit
Before you do anything else you should pray, use the tongue for praying and not for criticism
According to our prayer requests Christians are concerned about the physical health of other Christians
We must also be concerned about the spiritual health of another Christian, they need our prayers
If God calls upon us to do more than pray, it will be prayer that prepares us for what God wants us to do
Praying for a Christian who is living in a known sin may lead us to talk to that Christian, Gal 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
One important part of our spiritual preparation is prayer, first for self and then others
What is the meaning of “and he shall give him life”
Remember that comparisons within scripture must correspond with one another
Here the death is physical, and the life must correspond, “life” refers to physical life
Avoiding sin and living for God can add years to one’s physical life, Pro 10:27 The fear of the
LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
An excessive sinful life can shorten the physical life, sin has an expensive price
Keeping the commandments of God is a keeper of life, Pro 19:16 He that keepeth the
commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
Prophecy related to the sin unto death as revealed by John
Page 2 of 5
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9