Some of us read this verse and worry about the “sin” that leads to death.

1 John 5 “¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. ¹⁸ We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.^“

John said that the believer does not commit this unforgivable sin and the devil cannot snatch us. The sin of the believer has been forgiven.

John was writing to the church because there were people who taught that Christ did not come in the flesh and that they didn’t commit any sins (1 John 1:1-9). They were unbelievers, most likely Jews who were under the Law.

John was saying that such people were committing “sin” by their false belief. He said to pray for them since there was still a chance for them to be saved if they believed in Jesus Christ.

But what is the “sin” that leads to death? It was willful permanent unbelief.

John 3:16 “¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. ¹⁸ He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”

The unbeliever perishes (eternal death).

But the believer has come out of death into life and is forgiven all sins – will never be judged.

John 5 “²⁴ “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.“

Colossians 2:13 “¹³ You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,”

We should not be worried because if we believe in Jesus then we are ALREADY FORGIVEN.

Romans 6 “²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

The wages of sin is death – and that is why Jesus died for our sin to give believers the FREE gift of salvation. The believer cannot commit the sin that leads to death because Jesus already died for us!

Jesus told unbelievers that that EVERY sin can be forgiven if they believe in Christ.

Matthew 12 “³¹ Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.^“

But the person who blasphemes the Holy Spirit is FULLY controlled by the devil like Judas and the Pharisees who crucified Jesus and the Apostles. That person is in a state of permanent unbelief. That person DOES NOT HAVE the Holy Spirit – they are unbelievers.

Most unbelievers do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit and yet they will be judged only because of unbelief.

But do not fear – the believer CANNOT blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

We may make many mistakes, and lose faith at times but deep in our heart, we love the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We have an undying love for Christ in our hearts.

Ephesians 6 “. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.”

Our love for Christ CANNOT fail because HE LOVED US FIRST and will never stop loving us!

1 John 4 ” ¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.”

The believer has the Holy Spirit and that is why we believe in Christ.

1 Corinthians 12 “³ Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.”

If we believe in Jesus Christ for salvation then we have ETERNAL LIFE – salvation is eternal and therefore it cannot be lost.

1 John 5 ”  ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. ¹¹ The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”