But for a Christian to commit the act of adultery consistently, takes a depth of rebellion / grieving / cursing the Holy Spirit where sincere repentance is simply not possible = death.
However, when looking at verse 18 it says 'anyone born of God does not continue to sin' and 'One who was born of God keeps them safe' We get a case for OSAS and Calvinism. I guess here a person believing OSAS could still sanely state that death = spiritual death, which is not our end. Rather entering a period of chastisement.
As an Arminian I would say that 'anyone born of God does not continue to sin' is saying that to sin is against our nature which is why staying in extremities of it is unacceptable. As long as we are 'abiding in Christ' John 15:4 we are fine.
Arm-a-What Brother King? Could you explain your definition of Death, used in the sense that all sin leads to death?
I have looked at the Calvinist V.S the Arminian positions. OSAS is not a Arminian position, however after examining the Arminian belief it's a bit underhanded in a way. I don't like the Calvinist position either though, but I have to admit it would make more sense if it were actually true.
What John say?
John said if you see a brother sin, then pray for them.
Rom_6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom_6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Every single sin is death. All of them, and in fact the payment for any sin is death. Death is the opposite what Jesus came to give us as He came to give life and give it abundantly. (
John 10:10) Jesus said I am the way, the truth and Life. (
John 14:16)
Life that is opposite of what Jesus came to give us is living under the death.
Rom_5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness
unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Serving the Lord produces life, in our life. Not serving the Lord produces things in our life to die. It's called the curse of the law, and the curse was designed to eventually destroy us. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal 3:15) and (Deut 28 last half with list of curses)
So we can obey the Lord unto Right standing with God and blessings (Righteousness) or we can obey sin which produces cursed things in our life or death.
What did John say again?
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. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is (a)
sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
(
1Jn 5:16-19)
1) There is sin that is not unto death. That would be all of them but one here.
2) There is a sin unto death, John said don't pray for that one.
3) Who is born of God does not continue to miss the mark. (Sinneth literally means to miss the mark, or stay off the path of righteousness "Thayer") In other Words a Person Born of God the seed remains the person will want to get back on track.
4) Sin gives place to the devil to kill, Steal or destroy. This is why obedience to sin, makes Satan your temporary Lord by whom you serve and Satan will take a shot at you once you give him that place. Don't give that rat a place!!!!
Since we know better to take One scripture and make any conclusion or doctrine we need to compare line upon line to find out what this sin is that John was talking about. We also just don't take part of a chapter and not read the rest. I know everyone follows this rule, but for the new people in the Lord I thought I would mention it.
Example: Did Angels have sex with humans and produce Giants? We have ONE scripture in Gen 6 that would make it apparently so, but we don't have any other scripture to compare that says the same thing. Circumstantial evidence by our interpretation does not make is so either. We need ONE more witness in the Word of God that says the EXACT SAME THING to make it a doctrine of truth. There are Zero more scriptures that give that information so we file it off as interesting, but not fact.
John said..............................
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
(1Jn 5:21)
John mentions ONE SIN and warns about it. Is this the sin John was speaking about? It's a sin only a believer can commit as John said if you see a "
Brother sin"
For it is impossible
for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
(Heb 6:4-6)
Here is one sin, like John spoke of. Is it turning away from Jesus, despite the Spirit of Grace (Holy Spirit) to serve another god? Like turning from Jesus to Allah? Once the person understands what they are leaving behind? Is this it?
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Here is the sin again............. It's wilfully, it's after the person knows the truth. What sin is that?
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
No other sin matches this but to deny Jesus, deny the blood covenant, deny the Holy Spirit and all the gifts and to go to serve another god. That is to willfully turn to Allah, Budda, New Age, whatever to get power and help from another source and to worship another god.
Anyone that wants to leave God and counts what Jesus did not good enough, John said don't pray for them.
Michael.