seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
The commentary I use can be found on the Blue Letter Bible site.There is sin leading to death: Because John wrote in context of a brother, it is wrong to see him meaning a sin leading to spiritual death; he probably meant a sin leading to the physical death of the believer.
This is a difficult concept, but we have an example of it in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, where Paul says that among the Christians in Corinth, because of their disgraceful conduct at the Lord’s Supper, some had died (many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep). This death came not as a condemning judgment, but as a corrective judgment (But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world [1 Corinthians 11:32]).
I do not say that he should pray about that: Apparently, when a Christian is being corrected in regard to a sin leading to death, there is no point in praying for his recovery or restoration — the situation is in God’s hands alone.
There is sin not leading to death: John takes pains to recognize that not every sin leads to death in the manner he speaks of, though all unrighteousness is sin.
I do not say that he should pray about that: Apparently, when a Christian is being corrected in regard to a sin leading to death, there is no point in praying for his recovery or restoration — the situation is in God’s hands alone.
Well, this is yet another lesson that is way above my paygrade. Is John warning us about thinking we can do God's Work for Him? I mean... when I see a human who is sinning... is it possible for me to get some kind of superpower that would pull the sin out of that human and sling it into a herd of swine, like Jesus did? Or.... is it just as important that I step away from the human and let God go to work?
I have seen people who are just not ready for Salvation. They are snarly about it! As a matter of fact, there are some people who write some pretty snarly stuff about Christianity on these forums.
I've told you about the "reverend" Jim and the searcher Michael. The "reverend" Jim ran the church in the gay bar just off the Baltimore Block and Michael was looking for Jesus. Michael got snared by "reverend" Jim. Michael knew he was getting a fake story... but, being gay, he just couldn't go to the church... They wouldn't accept him. When my ex-husband took me to the "church" on Water Street... I brought my experience with me. I was raised in church. What I knew, I shared with Michael. I didn't get out clean though. Things happened in that "church" that I will not describe here but the "reverend" was not of man of God. He was evil. I contacted Michael a few years ago. He found Jesus. He didn't find a church that would accept him but he's got a Bible and he's ok. He's still "gay" but he's a child of God.
If a human wants to accept Jesus as their Personal Savior, God is going to make sure the adoption papers get signed. As a matter of fact, even the evil "reverend" Jim could be adopted into the family of God. If God accepts him, he's in. He will drop his evil ways and become a Brother. Jim is a rapist though... he's got a lot of evil ways to deal with. God has to deal with him... he's way above my paygrade. That's not to say God couldn't or wouldn't use the likes of an ignorant woman to bring the "reverend" Jim into the family.
God will do what God will do. You can ask anything of Him. God knows what paths we are going to take. He will help us if we ask. If Jim is to find Salvation, and he needs a boost from some Christian, that Christian will show up in Jim's life at the right time. Just because God puts the prayer to work, doesn't mean it's immediate. Jim may need to stew a few years before he meets someone who can help him understand. Michael's time might have been quicker, since he was already searching. Micheal didn't decide to search because he met me. He was already searching when our paths crossed.
Don't expect God to jump right on it. The path is already set. God knows what's best for each or His Children.
God will do what God will do.
