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Hi Arthur,

Thank you for your email and your encouragement for us. I was able to reflect on the retreat yesterday morning and I'm still soaking in all that God did and said this weekend.

I do have a question for you. I've come across something in 1 John and I just wanted clarification. I thought you would be the perfect person to ask. In 1John 5:16-17, it talks about the differences between sin that leads to death and sin that does not lead to death. I thought all sins ultimately lead to spiritual death as it says in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..." I'm not sure what exactly the verses in 1 John is differentiating.

Whenever you have time, Arthur. =) Thanks!

Send my regards to your entire family!

Blessings,

Hi!

Great to hear from you. Thanks for the email, and for the question.

We, too, are still letting the different things God was teaching us last weekend marinate. Again, thanks for your service and your heart, both to the Lord and my family this past weekend. And again, if you don't mind, please pass that on to the retreat committee.

Great question. The question really is, what is meant by "death" in this context, right? So, if I may put on my teacher's hat, allow me to just walk you through a couple of steps.

First, always read any verse in question in context, which means reading before and after that verse - usually the whole chapter or something - to see the context, and to see if it sheds light on the question. In this case, after reading the chapter, it doesn't seem to help us in answering your question, in particular.

Next, I look up the Greek (NT) or Hebrew (OT) words to see what their usual meanings are (you can do this via the Blue Letter Bible link off our web site - www.td.mbcla.org). In this case, the word "death" is thanatos, which is usually referring to the death of the body. The tertiary definition is referring to death in hell.

Then, I cross reference and see how that verse is used in other passages of Scripture - you can do this via the little letters above the words in your Bible, or via the web site. After reading through the other places where this word is used, I do indeed find that it usually refers to bodily death.

So, my initial thinking is that this "death" isn't referring to spiritual death; this thought is reinforced by your correct understanding that all sin leads to spiritual death. We also know that the first expression of our sinful desire - in Adam - led to both our spiritual and physical deaths. The ongoing sin going on now is an expression of that death, and continues to confirm our spiritual deadness. I don't know that the wages of each new act of sin brings new death; but rather, sin is more in the heart, not so much in the action (remember, being comes before doing). So, the wages of our sinful, God-defying hearts expressed in our actions, is spiritual death. Are you following me? Or, did I put you to sleep? Wake up! :)

All this to say, it doesn't seem that this is what is being referred to in 1 John 5. This is more specific, and seems to be speaking of a physical death that is the result of persistent, ongoing sin. In v. 18, John says, "We know that no one who is born of God sins..." The Greek word here is actually speaking of ongoing sinning, rather than one particular act of sin.

Lastly, to test our thesis that v. 16 is referring to sinning that leads to accelerated physical death, we want to see if there are there other places in the Bible that would confirm that. Well, in 1 Cor. 11:27-34, Paul seems to say that taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner has led to physical death. And don't forget Ananias and Sapphira, who were killed instantly for lying to the Holy Spirit (apparently, a sin unto death).

So, it seems to me that v. 16 is referring to attitudes, ongoing hardness of heart, resulting in certain sinful actions that end up prompting the Lord to take the physical life.

On another note, Roman Catholic theology takes uses this verse as support for their doctrine of mortal sin and venial sin - mortal sin being sin so egregious that it kills justifying grace within a believer's soul; and venial sin being lesser sin that doesn't kill one's justification. The doctrine isn't true, and neither is their reading of this verse.

Alright, I could have just given you my answer, but wanted to walk you through the steps that I walked through, in case it can help you in the future.

I appreciate the question, and for getting me into Scripture.

May God continue to richly bless you!

Arthur

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Total Devotion is the High School Fellowship at Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

Total Devotion meets on every Friday night from 730 PM to 10 PM in Room 131 except for the last Friday of each month.