The last chapter of John’s first epistle contains a passage that confuses many. Verses 16-17 state:

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

This inevitably conjures up Matthew 12:31, which speaks of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  But we are assured that God forgives all sin that we repent of (1 John 1:9). John is simply telling us that it does no good to pray for someone who rejects God and rejects repentance.

/Bob’s boy

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click links below to read or listen to audio of one of this week’s chapters in Colossians and Luke

1 John 5, 2 John, 3 John, Rev 1, Rev 2

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All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.