What does it mean that some sins lead to death and others don’t?

All sin leads to death (Romans 6:23). And since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we are all doomed to eternal death. Yet Jesus provided a way out by offering His perfect life in exchange for our sinful lives.

Part of receiving Christ as our Savior is to repent. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). We also must confess. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Notice the context of 1 John 5:16: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14, 15).

If we see someone struggling in sin and prayerfully lead that person to God’s throne of grace, we know that person will be forgiven. But if a person adamantly refuses to listen to God or one of God’s representatives, the Lord will not forgive him. We cannot ask God to forgive another on their behalf. They must themselves confess and repent of their sin.

God respects a person’s choice and will not force someone to accept Jesus. When a person continues to turn from the wooing of the Holy Spirit, they are in danger of committing the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31). While we should continue to pray for all those we love, not knowing whether they have reached this point, we cannot prevent others from sin leading to death if that is their final choice.

Key Bible Texts

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16 KJV)