People of Light, People of Darkness: The Last Apostle | 1 John 5:13-21Sample

John says something here at the end that’s hard, and sobering. He says there’s a sin that leads to death, and that we shouldn’t pray for it (1 John 5:16). It stems from what he just said about prayer in the verses before which are all about asking God to do his will.

Life comes from God. Sin leads to death–physical and spiritual. The wages of sin are death, and spiritual death is a severing from the source of life that’s God. God wants us to pray earnestly for those committing sin. Prayer is powerful, and God wants sinners to have life, not death.

Let’s be clear. God loves the world. He loves the world so much he sent his Son to die for the world. He wants all sinners to be saved. But there are some people–people of darkness and death–who simply refuse to turn to Jesus in saving faith. God will not force them. He will not turn them from their path against their will. There will be those who walk away. John’s letter is about it. Love them, but know you cannot control them. If they separate, let them go.