What Shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?

On 29 Feb 20161 Mar 2016 By biblicaldiagnosisIn eternal life, Spiritual growth1 Comment

There are at least two occasions where Jesus, when He was on earth, was asked this question directly: “What shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?” If we think about it, today, we essentially ask the same question, just differently: How do I know I am saved? Or, Can I lose my salvation? Christ is the only gate to Eternal Life. Therefore, shouldn’t we treasure the answers that our Lord Himself gave to this question? Who – we may ask – better than Christ Himself is qualified to answer this question? Shouldn’t Christ’s words on the matter – the One in whom Eternal Life resides (1 John 5:11) – be esteemed for what they really are: the authoritative answer on the subject of Eternal Life?

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We hope that you will join us in studying the scriptures for yourself, and examining this article. We look forward to your comments based on your own study of the scriptures, telling us whether or not we have misinterpreted the verses we are using in this study.
[Note: We are using the New International Version (NIV) Bible. The numbers in parenthesis next to each Greek word is the Strong’s Concordance number]

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Some may argue that Christ’s answers are not necessarily applicable today, in the administration of Grace in which we live, since He spoke those words before His death, resurrection, and the advent of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in those who believe. But to that position, we strongly disagree, and we shall submit to you our reasoning for believing that the answers Jesus-Christ gave back then are just as true and relevant to us today as they were to the people who heard them more than 2,000 years ago. But first, let us examine the two records where the Lord Jesus-Christ was asked this question.

Record 1: Mark 10:17.

Mark 10:17 – And when he [Jesus] was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

The following was Christ’s first response:

Mark 10:18, 19 – “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’

Please note that Christ linked Eternal Life to the observance of the royal commandments that God gave on the two tablets of stone. It is also worth noting that Christ made absolutely no reference to the Law of Moses. And it gets even more interesting from that point. The man responded as follow:

Mark 10:19 – “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

And to this response, the Lord Jesus said:

Mark 10:20 – Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

First it says that Jesus “looked” at him. The Greek verb translated “look” is emblepó (1689) which means that Jesus did not just look, but He stared at him with a “locked-in gaze”; He looked at him in a sustained, concentrated way, with special “interest, love or concern”. This was not your regular look. If this man did not have the Lord’s attention before, he certainly had it now. And the verse says that after looking at him in such way…He loved him! Oh Father in heaven…what does that mean?? Father, what do you mean that Christ loved him? Why, Father, did you judge it necessary for us to know that Christ loved this man before answering him again?

After loving him, Christ finally unveiled where the man was falling short. He fully exposed the deepest fleshy passions of his own soul: The man was too attached to his current life. Jesus invited him to leave his current life behind, and to follow Him. And what followed is nothing but pure sadness…

Mark 10:21 – At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The English translation does not capture completely the gravity, the intensity, of this moment. The word here translated “sad” is the Greek word lupeó (3076) which means severe sorrow and pain. According to the definition, it is the same word used to express the pain of childbirth! Just imagine the grief in this man’s soul! Perhaps – just perhaps – this is why Jesus first looked at him so intently and then loved him, because He knew the excruciating pain the man was about to experience once He fully exposes his fleshy passions. But you see my friends…our Christ is The Christ, He cannot change Himself, He cannot deny who He is (2 Timothy 2:13)…He will tell us the truth. Nothing is hidden before His face.

But here it is…here was the answer: Question: What should I do to inherit Eternal Life? Answer: Give up your life that you hold so dear, and follow me. It is worth noting that Christ demanded that the man lives his life behind before asking him to follow Him. The reason why this is critical is recorded in Matthew 6. First, we decide to leave the current life behind, then, and only then, can we fully apply ourselves to follow another.

Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

But what does it mean to follow Christ?

Suppose that you are ready to drive to a city 250 kms away for a special event. You ask your friends to follow you in his or her own car. Everything else being equal, if upon arriving at the destination you look around and your friend is nowhere to be found…did your friend follow you? The correct answer is NO. Does it matter that your friend started to follow you and then stopped at some point? Even if he/she followed you for 200 kms then took an exit, does it matter? No, it does not matter, because when someone asks you to follow him (or her), it is understood that wherever that person will be, and wherever that person will end, you too are expected to be there. Therefore, when Christ asks us to follow Him, it is understood that we should follow Him forever (that is, until we die).

Record 2: Luke 10:25

Luke 10:25 – On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

One cannot escape both the similarities in the questions but also the stark contrast in attitude between this person in Luke with the one in Mark 10. The first was genuine in his question, he came running to the Lord, and kneeled before Him. He called Christ good master. He truly wanted to know what He should do to inherit Eternal Life. By contrast, the one here “stood” before speaking and as an expert in the law, his purpose was to “test” Jesus. In other words, he thought he already knew the answer. Nevertheless, here is the Lord’s answer:

Luke 10:26 – “What is written in the Law?” he [Jesus] replied. “How do you read it?”

Very interestingly, Christ points directly to the Law. Which Law? The Law of Moses or the royal Law of God graven on the tablets of stones? The next two verses make it plainly clear that Jesus was referring to the royal Law of God, just as He did with the man in Mark. Note how He, Jesus, approves the answer of the expert.

Luke 10:27, 28 – He [the expert] answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Here we have, Question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? Answer: Do the royal Law of God.

However, in the next verse, because the man was seeking to justify himself, he replied “And who is my neighbor?” The verb translated “justify” in verse 29 is the Greek verb dikaióō (1344) which means that he sought to demonstrate that he was “already” righteous. The fascinating answer Jesus gave is recorded from verse 30 to 37.

Luke 10: 30-37 – In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Now; while the two individuals in the two records above had two very different attitudes toward Jesus, and very different motives for asking about how one may inherit Eternal Life, there was an implacable consistency in the Lord’s answers, as well as a common theme behind where these two men fell short. The consistency: Do the Law of God, and you will inherit Eternal Life. Christ said in unambiguous terms that to inherit Eternal Life, one must observe the Law of God.

On the other hand, while these two men could not be more different, they had one critical thing in common: They both thought they had fulfilled the Law of God (not the Law of Moses) and both of them were wrong. The man in the Gospel of Mark was wrong because he failed to recognize that when Christ was asking Him to live his current life behind and to follow Him, He was asking him nothing more than to apply the very first commandment of the Law of God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”. Christ was not adding anything to that Law. He simply translated it in terms that were directly applicable to that man. The man in the Gospel of Luke was wrong because he had failed to understand what the Law meant by a “neighbor” when the Law states: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. In either case, Christ did not add or subtract anything to the Law of God. He simply emphasized the aspect where each of the two men was falling short.

Oh, how perfect is our Lord! What He said elsewhere must really be true my people:

Matthew 5:18 – For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Can’t we see people? The Law of God that Jesus gave as answers will remain absolutely intact until everything is accomplished and until heaven and earth themselves disappear! We might be under the administration of Grace but it is obvious that neither heaven nor earth has disappeared! So the Law of God stands my people…It stands!

Are Christ’s answers regarding Eternal Life applicable today?

We believe the answer is a resounding YES! First, one should consider that although Christ gave those answers more than 2,000 years ago, Eternal Life is still a future reality today, in the same sense that Christ’s return is still a future reality. However, let us suppose for moment that the answers Christ gave do not apply to us today, because we are in the age of Grace. Let us consider as well what Christ told Peter and the remaining 11 disciples regarding Eternal Life:

Mark 10:28-30 – Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life.

Please note that this exchange between Jesus and Peter took place right after Jesus invited the man in Mark 10:17 to leave his life behind and to follow Him. Christ repeats the exact same thing here, when Peter states that they indeed had left everything to follow Him. Christ confirms that none who does such will fail to receive Eternal Life. But here are some questions: Are not those the same Apostles who later delivered us the message of Grace? When they entered themselves in the age of Grace, did Christ’s message to them regarding salvation become irrelevant to them? Did the cross, where Christ’s work was completed (not started and then completed, but completed!) negate all the work He did during His ministry? Wasn’t the cross the “confirmation” and culmination of all that work? Did not Christ charge His Apostles to teach us today those things He taught them face to face? How therefore could Christ’s answer regarding how one inherits Eternal Life not be applicable to us today? Did the requirements for inheriting Eternal Life change for those people (like the Apostles) who once walked with Christ but also lived long enough to enter the age of Grace? Doesn’t the Holy Spirit remind us of “all” the teachings of Christ, as John 14:26 asserts?

John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

If Christ’s answer is not applicable to us today, then is the Holy Spirit not only reminding us what Christ said, but also telling us that in reality the message regarding Eternal Life that He gave really does not apply to us? Is that what the Scriptures teach?

On the evidences above, we believe there is simply no ground for discounting Christ’s answer regarding Eternal Life. This is how we inherit Eternal Life, and there is no other way: We follow God’s Law, not falling in the same trap of misunderstanding that the two men in the records above fell. We leave our formal life and we follow Christ (to the end), loving our neighbor as ourselves.

May our Lord speak to our souls my people. Let us remember that Christ was asked the same question we ask today, and He gave a clear answer: Do the Law of God my people, the Law of God! To follow the Law of God is to follow Christ, and to follow Christ is to do the Law of God. But just like Peter was promised Eternity although he was not perfect, today following Christ is not a matter of perfection, but of genuine commitment: a commitment to leave a life behind, and to reach for another; a commitment to look in a different direction, and to follow a new path in our mind, in our words and in our actions; a direction where Christ is Lord and where we obey His voice, for how can you call someone Lord if you do not obey His command? The Holy Spirit, my brothers and sisters, is here to help us. He has been sent more than 2,000 years ago to stay with us, to help us stay on that new direction, if we submit to Him. Let us listen to that Spirit, for He reminds us of the Word of Christ and of His Apostles. And yes, He teaches us about Eternal Life, in the exact same way Christ taught His disciples. Glory to the Amen, Glory to the Son, and may all who call on His name depart from iniquity. Amen.

Does Every Sin Lead to Death?

On 1 Jun 201413 Nov 2014 By biblicaldiagnosisIn Bible translations, prayer, Sin, Sound bites from the Word of God3 Comments

Dear brothers and sisters,

The question of whether every sin leads to death (not simply physical death, but instead, eternal separation from God) is one which has very serious implications. Chief among them is the inevitable question of whether a true Christian (someone who is born again) can end up losing the promise of eternal life. Needless to say, this is a hotly debated topic, and it is not the subject of this article. However, it makes it clear that sin is an important subject, and this article seeks to address the specific question of whether any sin leads to eternal death.

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We hope that you will join us in our study, by slicing, dicing and examining this article, as we seek answers to some very important questions. We look forward to your comments based on your own study of the scriptures, telling us whether or not we have misinterpreted the verses we are using in this study.

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1 John 5:16,17 – 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. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

The Apostle John seems to be extremely clear on the subject, and his answer is: No, not all sin leads to death. There is a sin that leads to death, but not all sin do. We also believe that the context makes it quite clear that John is indeed referring to the eternal separation from God, not just the physical death we know. Yet, the Apostle James seems to contradict him.

James 1:13-15 – Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God…14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Not only does James attest that all sin, without exception, leads to death, but he also describes the process by which death takes place. Furthermore, it is evident that he is addressing brothers in Christ. Just see, from the very next verse (i.e. verse 16), to whom he is speaking: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren”.

If there is no contradiction, then it may be that the Apostle John is often misunderstood

We believe the Apostle John is often misunderstood when he says “…there is sin not leading to death”. Let us revisit what he says and pay attention to a few key points.

1 John 5:16 – 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.

Here is a question: If there is a sin that does not lead to death, why is John saying that anyone who will petition for that brother who commits such sin will give that brother life, as if he had lost it? Isn’t it a strange statement? Why is there a need to give life to someone if that person never lost it?

It is also noteworthy that, save for the expression…which does not lead to death in 1 John 5:16 above, the Apostle John seems to be in perfect agreement with the Apostle James.

James 5:19,20 – Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Both John and James appear to convey the same idea that someone who petitions for or brings back a brother who has been living in sin will give that brother life (James says…will save a soul from death). Yet, in stark contrast, when it comes to a brother who has committed that “special” sin (for lack of better word) that leads to death, John goes so far as forbidding us even to pray for him. As a side note, see how both John and James refer to that person living in sin (any sin) as a brother (John says “…brother” while James says “…among you”, both of which meaning the same thing). Both John and James seem to be referring to those living in sin but yet are part of the church.

The evidences appear to suggest that Death (i.e. Eternal separation from God) is a process, not a sudden occurrence

How should you and I respond when we see our brother or sister committing sin? For all sin, we should intervene…we should pray, petition, and confront that brother or sister. But for one specific sin – that “special” sin – we should not do anything, because that brother or sister will absolutely die, be eternally separated from God! This is what John is saying. But what is that “special” sin? We believe that our Lord Jesus spoke specifically about it.

Matthew 12:32 – Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

We believe this is the sin John makes reference to, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. What is the point of petitioning for someone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit if the Lord Jesus-Christ Himself says that such person will never, ever be forgiven? It is pointless to intervene because that person will not repent, and because God will not answer our prayer. John simply says…don’t pray for it! On the other hand, it is important to note that James indicates that eternal separation from God (i.e. death) is a process, not sudden occurrence. He himself gave the steps in the process in James 1:14, 15: First, we get enticed and drawn away by our very own desires. Second, our desire then gives birth to sin. Third, our sin grows. And fourth, when our sin has reached full maturity, death takes place.

The Lord Jesus-Christ Himself appears to confirm the fact that death is indeed a process. Consider Revelation 3:2.

Revelation 3:2 – Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

We believe that Christ was warning the church in Sardis to confront those who were living in sin within the church because their sins were getting close to reaching full maturity…they were indeed ready to die.

Understanding that death is a process and not a sudden occurrence probably explains why both James and John are speaking of giving life to a brother who is sinning. During that process, death is slowly but surely coming. But is only fully realized when sin has reached full maturity. Nevertheless, when you and I – my dear friends – intervene for our sister during that process, confronting her, praying and interceding for her, etc. we effectively block that process and prevent sin from reaching full maturity. Therefore we will be giving life to that sister who was in effect losing it. John says “…he will give him life”, and James “…he will save a soul from death”. These in our opinion, speak of the same thing.

The process of sin leading to death is analogous to a cancer spreading in the body.

Think of cancer, any cancer. The stages through which someone with cancer goes are not very different than the process of death described above. From the very moment someone gets a cancer of any kind, that person is in effect dying, although it may not appear to be so in the beginning. But if that cancer is left unchecked, it will eventually reach full maturity and will absolutely kill that person. That is an absolute certainty. However, the sooner the cancer is detected and addressed, the higher the chance of completely restoring life to that person. But the more advanced the state of the cancer, the more effort is required to undo its effect in the body, even though there is still hope.

As any doctor will tell, there is indeed a point when nothing else can be done, and the person will die. True, that point where nothing else can be done may be much further than any doctor would dare to believe (and many accounts of miracle healing are here to prove it), but the fact remains that such point does indeed exist, especially if nothing is done. Similarly, the point where sin reaches full maturity may be really afar off, all because of the great mercy of our Father, but the Apostle James assures us that full maturity of sin is an absolute reality. This fact truly speaks of the mercy of God: While life is not a process (it is instantaneous), death is a process, it takes time. Death is the process of losing life. One cannot help but realize that God does really have a huge bias toward giving life than letting someone die. Oh, His mercy my people…His Mercy!!!!

Is full maturity of sin equivalent to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit?

We believe the answer is “No”, those two are not equivalent. This is our position because on one hand, John asserts that someone who is born again cannot blaspheme against the Holy Ghost (if we understood his expression…the sin that lead to death…correctly). Yet, on the other, it is evident that James applies the process of sin reaching full maturity to anyone, Christians and non-Christian alike. “Perhaps” this is the reason our Lord alludes to the possibility of forgiveness taking place even after this present age. But that is another topic.

We conclude that every sin does indeed lead to death: “No one” seems to be exempt from that process.

We understand that some may strongly disagree with the conclusions of this article. But from our study, we believe that the Apostles John and James are not contradicting each other. Quite the contrary, they are only confirming what each other said. Sin – any sin – lead to the same result, and that result is death, eternal separation from God. But sin produces that death only when it is fully mature. This fact, if true, does speak loudly about our Father’s bias toward life and not death. Sin absolutely has to be fully mature to be able to kill someone. Not “somewhat” mature or “partly” mature…it has to be “fully” mature! This is the love of God my people.

But while the above is truly comforting, the fact that such death does indeed exist, and apparently for anyone according to both John and James, should really cause us – Christians – to act as spiritual men and women, and no longer as babies. It is our responsibility to cease every singly opportunity to break that death-producing process in ourselves, and in our brother or sister who are sinning. If our understanding is correct, we do not need to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit to meet death. But we only need to reject repentance and continue in our own lust and desires to meet death. Both the tremendous love of God toward us on one hand and the chilling reality of eternal separation from God on the other are captured powerfully in the following verse.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Look how the merciful nature of God, “perishing” (which is that death or eternal separation from God) and “repenting” are tightly interlinked in this verse. The mercy of God exists to give time for people to repent so that they will not end up being eternally separated from God. When someone repents, that persons renounces to live any longer in sin, and it is very reason why repentance is the antidote to death, because sin leads to death.

Are we looking out for our brothers and sisters?

My friends, it is time to wake up, and to step up. It is time to do what James is telling us…to turn our brothers and sisters back from living in sin. This is not about what “they want to do” because it is “their life”. It is about them “losing” their life and you and me “giving them” back their life promised of God. How can we claim to be loving our people, our brothers, our sisters, our parents, our children or our friends when we are willing to let them live in sin. Have they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit…chances are…No! So there is still hope! Just like the human body can endure far more of the cancer attack than the doctors are willing to believe, the mercy of our God extend far beyond what we can often imagine. Therefore, instead of counting some people as already lost, we should be those people James and John are calling us to be: Givers of life!

Let’s be honest my friends. How much you and me are praying for our people? How genuinely are we praying for our people that the power of sin be broken in their lives? Do we take that time my people? Do we take that time to intercede for them and confront them? Or are we afraid to look “uncool” because we might be looked at being “too tight” in this life, or minding someone else’s business? As you know, this is not a joke my people. The blood of our Lord has been spilled to save us. How are we treating that blood that once washed us completely clean. Do we return in the mud??? Do we allow our loved ones to return in the mud??? May the Lord be with all of us my people, and may He provoke us to love, that we may mature and be those life giving people He has called us to be.

You are untouchable! Literally!

On 21 Jun 201216 Aug 2013 By biblicaldiagnosisIn Sin, Sound bites from the Word of God1 Comment

1 John 5:18 – We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. [NASB]

Yes, you are untouchable. However, not because you are strong, but instead because Jesus-Christ to whom we belong is strong!

We have already looked at the first part of this verse. Now let’s turn our attention to the second. It says “…the evil one does not touch him”, and the reason for it is because “…He who was born of God keeps him…”. He who was born of God is none other than Jesus-Christ, and Jesus-Christ protects you like a treasure! Jesus-Christ said it himself in John 10.

John 10: 27-29 – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

This verb “touch” is not any kind of touching. It is the word “haptomai” in the Greek, which literally means “touching someone (something) in a way that alters”. This touching has serious impact! It is used 36 times in the New Testament. Most of the times, it is used to describe Jesus-Christ acts of healing or people touching him to get healing (e.g. Mark 5:28, Mark 6:56). Here however, the impact would be negative and devastating if the devil could indeed touch us.

He will try to lie to you and intimidate you. But the reality is…he cannot touch you!

Claim this wonderful love and protection from Jesus-Christ every day; remind yourself that the devil has literally no power over you! Not because you are great, but because Jesus-Christ our Lord is great!

Yes, you are untouchable!

Really? God’s children do not sin? That’s what 1 John 5:18 seem to say!

On 21 Jun 201217 Aug 2013 By biblicaldiagnosisIn Sin, Sound bites from the Word of God2 Comments

1 John 5:18 – We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. [New American Standard Bible]

To understand what this verse is really saying, one must understand that God actually sees two kinds of sin. Here, in verse 18, He refers to one of them specifically, and not the other. Understanding this will clear up all the confusion!

But first, let’s see how some other versions of the Bible have translated 1 John 5:18 in an attempt to clarify its meaning. The New International Version states “…anyone born of God does not continue to sin…“, while the New Living Translation read “God’s children do not make a practice of sinning…“. At first, both of these versions seem like the correct interpretation. However, looking at the immediate context of verse 18 (verses 16 and 17), we believe that God meant literally…“no one who is born of God sins”. But He is referring to a very specific kind of sin.

1 John 5: 16, 17 – If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

One kind of sin leads to death, and the other does not! Also, we see that all unrighteousness is sin, but that it does not necessarily mean that the consequence of all sin is death. Verse 18 actually refers to the sin that leads to death, and therefore to eternal separation from God. But us who are truly of God (who have accepted Jesus-Christ as Lord) cannot commit such sin, because we cannot be separated from God! Verse 18 is not referring to the kind of sin that everyone makes.We are God’s children for eternity! Once we were declared son or daughter of God, we were promised eternal life. And that cannot change!

To God be the Glory!