In Jesus' Name; First John

May the mumbling commence!

Effective prayer is bound to obedience to God.  We learned that yesterday from First John.  In case we missed it, a similar message is given in First John chapter five (NIV):

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of him. 

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and 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. 

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. (Verses 14-17)

The author of First John puts some explanation of what it means when we say that we pray in Jesus’ name.  It means that we seek to pray according to the will of Christ.  And that means obedience to the heavenly Father.  When we pray in this way, our prayers are heard.

And when we know that we have been heard (there’s the belief part again); then, we know that we have what we asked of God.  It is a simple but difficult path for successful prayer.  Successful prayer depends upon our relationship with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters.  It is a narrow path.

The last part of this passage has troubled me over the years.  I warmly embrace the idea that we can pray for one another when we sin, and that our prayers can lead God to grant our brother or sister life…  But this passage speaks only of sins that do not lead to death.  It also says there is a sin that does lead to death.

Paul tells us in Romans that the wages of sin is death (6:23).  How can there be sin that does not lead to death?  That verse in Romans continues to say, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.  So, what can keep us from this gift?

Thinking about the whole of First John, I believe that the sin “that leads to death” is the habitual sin that we ignore and do nothing to turn away from it.  There is at least one other potential clue from other scriptures.  Read from the gospel according to Matthew chapter twelve:

“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Verses 31-32)

These are the words of Jesus that responded to the Pharisees who accused Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the devil.  To call the work of the Holy Spirit the work of the devil is serious business.  To speak against the Holy Spirit is serious business. 

Perhaps, this sin is what the author of First John refers to.  First John’s author speaks against those who deny that Jesus is the Christ or that Jesus did not come in the flesh.  To deny the work of God through Jesus is to deny the work of the Spirit – to call it something else.  And that is speaking against the Holy Spirit.  When we hear these things, we should tremble with fear for those who say them.  The author of First John forbids us from praying for them.  In all other things within the will of Christ, PRAY!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out