SIN UNTO DEATH
(1)-DEFINITION: the sin unto death is maximum punitive discipline from God to the
believer who has constantly been negative to the learning and application of the Word
of God and the plan of God. This discipline includes maximum self-induced misery
and maximum pressure terminating in the physical death of the believer. Ps
118:15,"The Lord has disciplined me severely, BUT HE HAS NOT GIVEN ME
OVER TO DEATH." Referring to the sin unto death. I Jn 5:16,"If anyone sees his
brother committing sin that does not lead to death, he should pray that God will
give him 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 he should pray about that."
(2)-There are three areas of divine discipline to the believer.
A-Warning discipline: Ps 118:18.
B-Intensive discipline: Psalm 118:18.
C-The sin unto death:(I Jn 5:16.
(3)-Continual negative volition toward the Word of God and the plan of God leads to
the sin unto death. Jer 9:16,"I will scatter them among nations that neither they
nor their fathers have known, and I will pursue them with the sword until I have
destroyed them."
Jer 44:12,"I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to
Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or
die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine.
They will become an object of cursing and horror, of condemnation and
reproach." Keep in mind that the Jews in Jeremiah's day were negative toward the
Word of God and the plan of God. And it was during Jeremiah's ministry that the Jews
were taken into slavery.
Phil 3:18-19,"For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with
tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction,
their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on
earthly things."
Rev 3:16,"So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit
you of my mouth."
(4)- Turning positive toward the Word of God and the plan of God eliminates all
discipline connected with the sin unto death. I Cor 11:30-31,"That is why many
among you are weak, and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep in death.
But if we judge ourselves,(this refers to confessing our sins to God) we would not
come under judgment." I Jn 1:9,"If we confess (acknowledge, name, cite) our sins
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness."
(5)- Case histories of the sin unto death. Each one is different, but each one has one
thing in common. A negative attitude toward the Word of God and the plan of God.
A - Lying to the Holy Spirit, which is a negative attitude toward the Word of God.
Acts 5:1-10. Lying to the Holy Spirit involves doing a good deed for the wrong
reason. In other words, people who are negative to the Word of God are motivated by
other sources to do good such as: approbation lust, religious pressure from other
Christians or ministers, and could involve such things as soul winning, giving money,
praying, attending church services, or helping the needy. All of those things are proper
and good, but only if they are motivated by the knowledge of the Word of God. The
learning and application of the Word of God must always come first in the Christian's
life or he is totally out of line spiritually, and flirting with divine discipline.
B - Incest, which is connected to negative volition toward the Word of God and the
plan of God. I Cor 5:1-5.
C - Failure to confess sins before communion. I Cor 11:27-31.
D - Negative attitude toward the Word of God resulting in the refusal to kill the
enemy. King Saul in I Sam 15:1-35. Because he disobeyed the Word of God and
refused to kill the enemy, he died the sin unto death. I Chron 10:1-14.
E - King Hezekiah turned negative toward the Word of God in his government
leadership and that led to the sin unto death. Is 30:1-3, & 31:1-3. But King Hezekiah
recovered. He turned positive again, which removed the sin unto death. Isaiah chapter
38.
F - Negative believers often blaspheme and are antagonistic to those who teach Bible
doctrine. I Tim 1:19-20. This passage tells of two men: Hymeneus and Alexander,
who opposed Timothy. They were negative toward the Word of God and they died the
sin unto death.
G - Balaam died the sin unto death for his continual negative attitude the Word of
God. Numbers chapters 22, 23 & 24. Num 31:8
(6) - The sin unto death does not mean the loss of salvation. II Tim 2:12-13,"If we
endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us. If
we are faithless, HE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL, for he cannot disown
himself."
I Cor 5:5,"Hand this man over to Satan, so that the flesh may be destroyed and
his spirit saved on the day of the Lord."
(7) - The cancellation of the sin unto to death. James 4:8,"Come near to God and he
will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you
double minded." "Coming near" to God refers to the learning and application of the
Word of God on a continual basis. "Wash your hands" refers to the confession of
sins on a regular basis. James is using the terminology of the tabernacle in explaining
these spiritual issues.
(8) - The sin unto death is not a specific sin. It is the end result of staying out of
fellowship with God for a long period of time. Thus, Matt 12:31-32, which mentions
the "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" is not the sin unto death. In fact, it has
absolutely nothing to do with Church Age doctrine.