From the beginning of the book of First John, our teacher and spiritual father John the apostle has been sharing with us the idea that God loves us and we should love one another. We have learned of God's provision for our sin which separated us from fellowship with God, and how Jesus came to die in our place for the penalty of sin. But what happens when we see someone we know, a brother, or perhaps a sister in Christ, sin? What do we do when they sin? John the apostle takes up this matter in today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse sixteen. He wrote:
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.
John the apostle draws our attention to loving others in another way at this point in his writing. Basically a question that could be formed is, “What happens when we see a Christian brother or sister sin?” Notice first, there is firsthand knowledge of the sin. So often we can receive misinformation about another person, and we must be careful that our information about sin (missing the mark) is correct.
Secondly, notice that there appears to be degrees of sin to which John refers...”a sin which is not unto death” and later “there is a sin unto death”. The truth is that we all have sins. None of us are completely without sin, but there is one sin that will keep us separated from fellowship with God. That sin is to never receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and God will never force salvation upon anyone. When we see each other sin, we should have a spirit about us that desires to restore one another in fellowship with God. There should never be a “high and mighty” attitude that makes ourselves superior to another person, but we should bring sins to the forefront when we see them in others. Paul the apostle gave us guidance in this area in the book of Galatians in chapter six and verse one. He wrote:
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.
When we see a brother or sister in Christ sin, we must always keep in mind that the next time it may be us. We are all guilty of sins at one time or another, and sometimes we are blind to them ourselves. We help one another. We lift one another up, and we do our best to elevate one another rather than tear one another down. This is in keeping with the teaching of John about loving one another.
However, we are not to pray that God will save someone against their will. When people reject the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, they are sinning the sin that is unto death. Without the forgiveness of their sin through faith in Jesus, they will perish forever in separation from God. Jesus Himself declared that the world is already in a condemned state in the gospel of John in chapter three and verse seventeen and eighteen:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And we shall continue our study on this idea at a later time, so continue to read, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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