Sin separates us from a holy God and ultimately leads to death. We are all sinners, by nature and by choice, and therefore in need of God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus, the Savior of all mankind.
It would be a misnomer to say there is a sin that leads to death. Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
This means that all sins ultimately lead to death unless the sinners repent and receive Jesus Christ, who is the greatest gift of God, eternal life (John 3:16, 17:3; 1 John 5:11, 5:20).
Sin brings separation from God because it contradicts His holiness. In the glorious standard of God’s holiness, even the “smallest” flaw would result in death (the penalty of sin).
Nevertheless, it is a good question to ask why Scripture mentions sin leading to death and sin not leading to death, as in the following verse:
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death (1 John 5:16-17, NKJV).
Before we learn about the distinction, let us briefly review the definition and origin of sin, and some biblical truths on this matter.
The Definition and Origin of Sin
The Greek word for sin is hamartema, which means “to miss a mark.” Sin is therefore any action (by commission or omission) and any attitude (in thought or feeling) that does not perfectly hit the mark of obedience to God’s commandments.
Sinning theologically means living in conflict with God — sin breaks our relationship with Him. Scripture reveals that sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4) and that everything that is not done in faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
Sin is originated by the fallen angel, Lucifer, who led a wicked revolt against God the Creator (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19).
First, sin was brought into existence and into God’s created universe by an unprovoked free will act of rebellion on the part of Lucifer, who degenerated into the devil and, therefore, became the source and strength of sin.
And then, sin was brought into the human race by a free will act of rebellion on the part of the first members of the human race (i.e., Adam and Eve) through the devil’s deception (Genesis 3:1-7). Hence, sin is originally caused by the failures of both Angel and humans who did not honor and obey their Creator.
God did not author sin, but He allowed sin because:
In His sovereignty, He created both angels and men with free will — to freely choose to love (or hate), to obey (or disobey), and to honor (or ignore) Him.
In His wisdom, He would display His grace to humanity through His work of salvation, which has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7).
We Are All Sinners
“Everyone makes mistakes.” This statement is commonly accepted, realizing mistakes that all we have ever made — and will still make — in this earthly life.
Now consider this statement, “Everyone sins.” Sadly, not everyone can accept this truth, although sin is far more destructive than making a mistake, failure, or weakness.
Well, I believe the fact that everyone makes mistakes/errors essentially reflects what the Bible says:
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:2-3).
For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20, NKJV).
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6, NKJV).
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23, NLT).
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8,10, NKJV).
The Bible reveals our sinfulness, by nature and by choice, which ultimately shows our desperate need for God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus.
Are All Sins Equal?
All sins are rebellion against a holy God and acts of wicked disobedience, which ultimately lead to the same consequence, namely, death.
Scripture indicates that committing a single sin is as guilty as violating the whole law (James 2:10). Therefore, there is no such thing as a “little sin.”
However, when it comes to human relationships, there are sins of greater and lesser degree with greater and lesser consequences (Luke 12:47-48, Matthew 23:14).
So, we are to forgive one another. Remember Jesus taught His disciples in the Lord’s prayer: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).
There are different types of sin. Sin may be active or passive. Sin may be due to an aggressive hostility against God’s law (1 John 3:4) or maybe the result of ignorance of God’s law (James 4:17).
Jesus reveals there is unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30), that is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is the sin of final and total rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work in manifesting Jesus as the Savior and Lord.
By definition, this sin cannot be committed by someone who has accepted Christ as Savior. A believer cannot commit the sin of rejecting Christ just as a married man cannot make the mistake of not marrying his wife or a living person who has been born can now not be born.
The consequence of this sin is spiritual death, that is the separation of the unbelievers and unrepentant sinners from God in hell forever (Matthew 25:41).
Hence, according to this view, sin leading to death (1 John 5:16) could refer to the unpardonable sin or the sin unto death. Some who hold the latter concept (the sin unto death) use it as a theological basis for interpreting such difficult passages as Hebrews 6:4-10; 10:26-30.
On the other hand, sin not leading to death is any sin we commit that we have confessed and repented from, by God’s grace in Christ Jesus. Sin not leading to death is evidenced by godly sorrow, which produces repentance leading to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Gift of Eternal Life and Repentance
Thanks be to God, He has given us His Son and His Spirit so that all who believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16; 6:63).
Here is the good news and a wonderful promise: “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).
As we repent and surrender our lives to Jesus, we surely receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), who transforms our hearts and enables us to live bearing fruits worthy of repentance.
By the power of Christ’s resurrection, death has been defeated and swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54, 57). Praise the Lord!
Sources
Willmington, Harold. L. (2011). Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 30th Anniversary Edition. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Yates, John T. (2015). Faith Bible Institute Commentary Series, Volume 6, 9th Edition. Book Three — The Doctrine of Sin.
For further reading:
Does God See All Sins as Equal to One Another?
What Does it Mean ‘The Wages of Sin Is Death’?
What Does it Mean That the ‘Gift of God Is Eternal Life’?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/francescoch
Philip Wijaya, Ph.D. currently lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife, Sandra, and their daughter, Shalom. His interest in science and faith in God has motivated him to actively write in his personal blog (philipwijaya.com), in addition to his professional research work in the area of clean energy and chemical engineering. In his leisure time, he enjoys sports, football games, music, and traveling with family.
