Certain Eternity Part 42 – Interceding for Life
1 John 5:16-18 September 21, 2025
Introduction
How many of you have had a recall issued for your vehicle? How many have had
one recently? Car manufacturers have been collectively averaging more than
1000 recalls each year as of 2022 – with tens of millions of vehicles affected –
and the number has continued to go up each year. The rise in recalls is due, in
part, to the cheap parts that were used during the supply chain crunch from the
pandemic lockdown, as well as the advent of new EV technologies that are still
being perfected; but also because of greater regulatory scrutiny from watchdog
agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tesla, Chrysler, Ford, and Honda have been particularly hard hit as they have
tried to innovate while still keeping manufacturing costs down. (show graph
image in slide show)
Most recalls are minor and can be fixed quickly. But every year there are recalls
that come with a “do not drive” advisory (often due to braking or steering issues)
or “park outside” advisory (due to the risk of fire/explosion – more prevalent now
with EV batteries) attached to them where the danger from the defective issue
could lead to serious harm or death.
As of the end of 2024, there were recalls issued for roughly 27 million
vehicles….with about a quarter of them (9m) able to be fixed with simply software
updates. Thankfully, on average about 2/3 of people eventually get the recalls
fixed for their vehicles…but the other 1/3 keep on driving through the defect as if
nothing is wrong…or just ignoring the problem and taking the risk.
1 John 5:14-18 “14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if
we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he
hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have
asked of him. 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.”
o 3 parts: Scrutiny, Severity, Safety
Scrutiny (v16a)
1 John 5:16a “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death,
he shall ask, and God will give him life”
“Sees”
o We are called to be observant
John 7:24 “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right
judgment.”
Galatians 6:1-2 “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.”
o Not hearsay, gossip, or suspicion…but actual observation
Steven Cole “John does not say, “If anyone sees his brother sinning,
go tell the pastor so he can deal with it.” Nor does he say, “If anyone
sees his brother sinning, call up all of your friends and tell them about
it so that they can pray.” That is a thin spiritual cover for gossip. Nor
does he say, “If anyone sees his brother sinning, he should shake his
head in disgust and ask, ‘How could he do such a thing?’” That is
called “judging [or condemning] your brother.””
“His brother”
o On its face this is referring to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:12 “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is
it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?”
Any unrepentant sin will have earthly consequences that can be
categorized broadly as deadly – even if eternal life is secure,
sin has earthly consequences. Therefore, any follower of Jesus
caught in sin should be moved out of their sin to walk the paths
of life and holiness by the power of the spirit.
o But remember the context. There were several “brothers” who had walked
away from the Lord and had rejected the gospel of Jesus (1 John 2:19)
So at another level, “brothers” here quite likely refers to those who
profess to be followers of Jesus, but are self-deceived. They do not
have true life and therefore John tells us to pray that they may find
true life in the true Jesus. They may have the form of godliness at
times, but they are not in the Lord by submitted faith in the Jesus
revealed to us in scripture.
This is why John has previously called us to test the spirit in a person
(1 John 4:1). And if they do not turn from their sin, we are to
recognize the lies and deception in which they are camped and treat
them accordingly.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “1 But understand this, that in the last days
there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of
self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of
godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
“Committing sin”
o Note that the tenses here is a present continuous tense…not a one-time
offense…scriptures calls us to give grace and mercy for slip ups and
mistakes
Proverbs 19:11 “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his
glory to overlook an offense.”
o But when a persistent pattern of life emerges, it is right and appropriate to
lovingly confront the issue, lest the enemy use it to deceive more people
and divide the people of God.
Proverbs 17:9 “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who
repeats a matter separates close friends.”
This is both an admonition not to gossip if you see sin
(repeating the matter as in gossiping), but also not to allow
someone to remain in continuous sin (repeating the matter as in
the person who offended continuing to propagate the offense)
“He shall ask”
o (16a) Ask (Gk. aiteō) request or beg. The seeking by the inferior from the
superior (as in a people addressing their ruler (Acts 12:20), a beggar from
a giver (Acts 3:2) a child from a parent (Matthew 7:9) and by man from
God (Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, and 1 John 3:22)
o (16b) Pray “Gk. erōtaō) provides the most delicate and tender expression
for prayer or request with the one asking and the one being asked being on
an equal or at least very familiar level, such as the Lord Jesus asking of the
Father.
Jesus used erōtaō in prayer to His Father (John 14:16), whereas the
disciples use aiteo in prayers to God.
o So what is the first thing we do when we see sin? We go to the Lord…we
beg the Lord to intervene and draw that person through conviction to
repentance and holiness. We confidently approach the throne of Grace
knowing that our God wants life and not death.
o Before we speak to the other person, we speak to the Lord that He would
move in that person, but also to move in us to:
Make sure your own heart is humble and not condemning
Make sure you are seeing things clearly
Make sure you are measuring your words to speak life and
encouragement, not death and condemnation
Make sure you are operating with wisdom and discernment balanced
by mercy and compassion
o We are keeping in eye out to stand in condemnation over anyone…but
instead to be moved to prayerful intercession for our brothers and sisters.
o John Stott “Having written generally of answered prayer (1Jn 5:14–15),
John now gives a specific illustration and a limitation (1Jn 5:16–17). It is
not now a case of petition, but of intercession. The assurance of eternal life
which the Christian should enjoy (1Jn 5:13) ought not to lead him into a
preoccupation with himself to the neglect of others. On the contrary, he will
recognize his duty in love to care for his brother or sister in need, whether
the need which he ‘sees’ be material (as in 1Jn 3:17–18) or, as here,
spiritual: if anyone sees his brother commit a sin. He cannot say ‘Am I my
brother’s keeper?’ and do nothing.”
o Oswald Chambers “One of the subtlest burdens God ever puts on us as
saints is this burden of discernment concerning other souls. He reveals
things in order that we may take the burden of these souls before Him and
form the mind of Christ about them, and as we intercede on His line, God
says He will give us “life for them that sin not unto death.” It is not that we
bring God into touch with our minds, but that we rouse ourselves until God
is able to convey His mind to us about the one for whom we intercede.”
Severity (v16b-17)
1 John 5:16b-17 “16b 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.”
John MacArthur “At first glance, verse 16 appears to introduce an abrupt
change of subject. But upon further consideration, the connection of verses 16
and 17 to verses 14 and 15 becomes clear. By giving one important exception,
John illustrates in a contrasting manner the extent of God’s promise to answer
prayer. When a believer sees a brother (a real or professing believer) committing
a sin not leading to death, the apostle writes, he shall ask and God will for him
give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. On the other hand, there is
a sin leading to death, and the apostle did not advise Christians to make request
for this sin.”
All sin ultimately leads to death (i.e. broken fellowship with God), if it is continued,
especially if “presuming” upon God’s grace
o Romans 2:4-5 “4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and
forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to
lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart
you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s
righteous judgment will be revealed.”
All sin leads to death in the sense that fellowship is broken with God (not
necessarily eternal death)…but praise God that as long as you draw breath, sin
can be repented of relationship with the Lord can be restored.
o 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Yet, as we are tempted by the enemy, we must always keep watch over
ourselves and over our brothers and sisters that we do not fall into a pattern of
unrepentant sin.
o James 1:14-15 “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and
enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth
to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Sin leads to death:
o Spiritually
Only Jesus can give spiritual, eternal life. Do not be deceived (by
antichrist spirit), there is no other way. And if we don’t believe the
testimony of the Holy Spirit that eternal life only comes from Jesus,
then we have committed the only unforgiveable sin.
Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy
will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will
not be forgiven.”
o Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unforgiveable sin
because it is committed upon our death when we have
completed our rejection of God. Therefore, it is sin that
leads to spiritual death, upon our earthly death, when we
have no further opportunity to confess, repent, and turn to
the Lord is faith-filled submission.
o Physically
Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11)
o Emotionally
Romans 1:21-23 “21 For although they knew God, they did not honor
him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their
thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be
wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal
God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and
creeping things.”
Hardened hearts lead to foolishness, idolatry, and death.
o Relationally
See 2 Timothy 3:1-5 passage previously referenced
Walter Kaiser “John has no intention of our living in fear that we have sinned
“the sin that leads to death,” for the very fear is an indication of our repentance
and thus that we have not sinned such a sin. John has every intention of calling
us to lead lives open to each other so that we give and receive correction and
thus not only keep each other from deliberate rebellion and its consequences,
but also assist each other in walking in close fellowship with the God who is
light.”
But why does John say not to pray for sins that lead to death?
o Jack Arnold “John’s point is that if a professing Christian goes on in
rebellion and shows no signs of repentance, there is nothing we can do and
there is no need to pray [for repentance from the specific sin]. There is
nothing you can do but let God’s judgment wake him up. Perhaps God in
grace will deal patiently with him, give him a time of sickness or weakness,
and that will bring him to his senses.”
If someone is persistent in their sin…persistent in walking the way of
death rather than the way of life, prayers for the specific sin are
missing the mark. Our prayers need to instead be focused on that
person’s heart, that the hardness would be broken, that the Spirit of
God would move in that persons life to bring them to true submission
to the Lord, no matter what it takes – that they would be broken and
brough to the end of themselves.
Notice that John does not say not to pray for the person, just
not to pray for the sin that leads to death. The person can
always be lifted up….but the intensity of the work that need be
done in their life may well be far greater than merely dealing
with a particular sin….their whole being may need to be broken
in order to save their soul. If that be the case, let it be so; for it
is better to broken here on earth and whole with Jesus in
eternity.
Safety (v18)
1 John 5:18 “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.”
o We studied this in depth in Part 27….John is talking about your practice,
your habit, your lifestyle….and if you are born of God, it cannot be to
continually live in sin because the Holy Spirit of God will not allow it. He will
convict you, He will refine you, He will mature you, and He will discipline
you – because God loves you enough to give you what you need, not what
you want.
When we are in Christ, we have life….because He preserves us. That is why we
can have such certainty, such confidence. Because it is the Lord keeps us
eternally secure.
o 1 John 5:12 “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the
Son of God does not have life.”
o Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet….”
Conclusion
How many recalls have you ignored? How many times have you simply thrown
the notice into the trash and ignored it or dismissed it as no big deal. That’s bad
news for your vehicle, but if that’s the attitude you take spiritually, its even worse.
o Whether for yourself when the Holy Spirit loving provides conviction of your
sin, or when He reveals to you some defect in a brother or sister’s life that
can be fixed through confession, repentance, and a return to the Lord in
worship – we cannot ignore it. The process always begins with prayer….not
ignoring the issue or downplaying it…but bringing it before the Lord and
asking Him to do something about it.
o Then we trust God to move. We trust the Lord to do what only He can do
and soften hearts to humility and open minds to truth, that life can be
enjoyed now and forevermore.
Amen. Amen.