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Introduction: Throughout this epistle, John has given a message of love and hope. In the preceding verses, we learn that obedient faith is imperative if we are to be saved. We saw that eternal life is in the Son!

A. We may know that we have eternal life!

1. When we "keep on believing" we have eternal life in prospect and in promise. This takes away the sting of death.

2. This passage does not teach once saved, always saved.

B. It does necessitate faithful living and continued obedience in our service to the Lord.

A. Because we believe in the promise of eternal life, we have confidence that he hears our prayer, whenever we ask in accordance with His will.

B. He does not always say yes!

1. Jesus in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39; Luke 22:42).

2. Paul’s thorn in the flesh (II Cor. 12:7-10).

C. Sometime we do not know how to ask or we ask for selfish reasons (Rom. 8:26-28; James 4:3).

1. Another thing to consider is this: We may ask unselfishly for something that is not best for us and/or the Lord’s church.

D. Some lose their faith when they ask for something and do not get it. They feel that God just doesn’t listen to them.

A. The connection of these verses and those preceding it is very close.

1. We are to be concerned for our brethren and pray for them.

B. The passage is not to be confused with the "Sin against the Holy Spirit" as mentioned in Matt. 12:22-32. Explain this!

1. The Pharisees were the ones primarily in mind in Matthew while this reference is made to a brother in Christ.

C. An analysis of this passage reveals: (1) A child of God can sin. (2) There is sin that is not unto death. (3) We are instructed to pray for those who are sinning, with the assurance that our prayer is heard and answered. (4) There is sin that is unto death. (5) Those who are guilty need not to pray because it would be futile and useless.

1. It is obvious that John did not contemplate any particular sin. The passage does not designate a certain sin, but merely sin.

2. It was such a sin that a brother could see it and identify it.

3. The death is not a physical death, but a spiritual death—a separation from God.

4. It was a sin of which only children of God could be guilty.

5. It is clear that this was not a capital sin, such as murder, theft, etc., although these sins are forgivable with repentance and confession.

6. It was possible for the one who was praying to distinguish between sin unto death and sin not unto death.

1. The Lord will forgive every sin, of whatever nature, that a brother confesses (I John 1:8-10).

2. There is a sin that the Lord will not forgive (I John 5:16).

3. Therefore, the sin that the Lord will not forgive is simply a sin, any sin, and every sin of which a brother will not repent and will not confess.

4. The confession is to be public if the sin is before the church (They see it). It is private if the church does not know about it; therefore simply confess it to God.

Conclusion: The sin unto death is a disposition of heart, perverseness of attitude, an unwillingness of mind to repent and confess the sin(s) and turn away from this disobedience (James 5:16).

A. This is a fatal disposition if we hope to receive a reward of eternal life in Heaven with God. On the Day of Judgment, we will be judged by our deeds done in the body (Rev. 20:11-15).