When we read in Exodus, we discover judgements and rules concerning certain behaviors. Many times, we read not fully understanding them or think they are cruel and immoral. Sometimes, we even take them out of context.
One parashah (a passage in Jewish Scripture focusing on a specific, single topic) in Exodus talks about judgments. Here, God is teaching us a series of ways to rule and handle certain situations in our lives. Some of these judgments, however, can lead to death.
In 1 John, Chapter 5, scripture tells us about a sin that leads to death and a sin that does not lead to death. Scholars who have studied these verses have different opinions about the matter and most say they are not quite sure which sin is the one leading to death from Chapter 5. If we study the scripture, we can see without a shadow of a doubt what this sin is. We must study the entire book of 1 John, Chapters 1-5 and it will be clearly revealed to us.
1 John 5:16-17 (CJB) “16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he will ask; and God will give him life for those whose sinning does not lead to death. There is sin that does lead to death; I am not saying he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.”
Some proponents believe that it is the blasphemy of the Ruach HaKodesh because God said that this blasphemy will not be forgiven and obviously if it is not forgiven by the forgiver of sin, it leads to death, but this is not what John is talking about. Blasphemy of the Ruach is different.
Matthew 12:22-31 (CJB) “22 Then some people brought him a man controlled by demons who was blind and mute; and Yeshua healed him, so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowds were astounded and asked, ‘This couldn’t be the Son of David, could it?’ 24 But when the P’rushim heard of it, they said, ‘It is only by Ba‘al-Zibbul’ — the ruler of the demons — ‘that this man drives out demons.’ 25 However, knowing what they were thinking, Yeshua said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not survive. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom survive? 27 Besides, if I drive out demons by Ba‘al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges! 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you! 29 ‘Or again, how can someone break into a strong man’s house and make off with his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? After that he can ransack his house. 30 ‘Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering. 31 Because of this, I tell you that people will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy but blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven. 32 One can say something against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but whoever keeps on speaking against the Ruach HaKodesh will never be forgiven, neither in the ‘olam hazeh nor in the ‘olam haba.’”
The blasphemy is not accepting Yeshua as the Spirit of God, i.e., not accepting the power and His miracles as the power of God.
Other proponents believe that the sin that leads to death is talking about unbelievers not accepting Yeshua; rather, if we read 1 John from the very beginning, we read that John is talking to the believers only.
Other proponents believe that the sin that leads to death are many sins, but let’s look at the scriptures:
Yeshua
1 John 1:1-2 (CJB) “1 The Word, which gives life! He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, we have seen him with our eyes, we have contemplated him, we have touched him with our hands! 2 The life appeared, and we have seen it. We are testifying to it and announcing it to you, eternal life!…”
1 John 1:7 (CJB) “7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 3:16 (CJB) “16 The way that we have come to know love is through his having laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers!”
Yeshua, Us, and Sin
1 John 1:9 (CJB) “9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.”
1 John 3:4 (CJB) “4 Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah — indeed, sin is violation of Torah”
1 John 2:1-2 (CJB) “1 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
1 John 3:2 (CJB) “2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now; and it has not yet been made clear what we will become. We do know that when he appears, we will be like him; because we will see him as he really is.”
1 John 5:5 (CJB) “5 Who does overcome the world if not the person who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God?”
Commandments (What Are the Commands?)
1 John 3:23-24 (CJB) “23 This is his command: that we are to trust in the person and power of his Son Yeshua the Messiah and to keep loving one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands remain united with him and he with them.”
1 John 2:3-6 (CJB) “3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, “I know him,” but isn’t obeying his commands is a liar — the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him. 6 A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did.”
How Can We Keep These Commands? Abide in Yeshua.
1 John 3:24 (CJB) “…Here is how we know that he remains united with us: by the Spirit whom he gave us.”
1 John 2:24-25 (CJB) “24 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with both the Son and the Father. 25 And this is what he has promised us: eternal life.”
Deception
1 John 1:6 (CJB) “6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth.”
1 John 1:8 (CJB) “8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:10 (CJB) “10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.”
The Deception of Loving the World
1 John 2:15-16 (CJB) “15 Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; 16 because all the things of the world the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life are not from the Father but from the world.”
The Deception of Others That Claim to Be Believers
1 John 3:10 (CJB) “10 Here is how one can distinguish clearly between God’s children and those of the Adversary: everyone who does not continue doing what is right is not from God.”
Loving Your Brother – Who Is Your Brother?
Mark 3:35 (CJB) “35 Whoever does what God wants is my brother, sister and mother!”
1 John 3:10 (CJB) “…Likewise, anyone who fails to keep loving his brother is not from God.”
1 John 3:11 (CJB) “11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning: that we should love each other…”
1 John 3:14-15 (CJB) “14 We, for our part, know that we have passed from death to life because we keep loving the brothers. The person who fails to keep on loving is still under the power of death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
Problems
1: Believers who claim to know Him:
1 John 2:4 (CJB) “4 Anyone who says, “I know him,” but isn’t obeying his commands is a liar – the truth is not in him.”
2: Believers who claim that they are in the light yet hates his brother:
1 John 2:9 (CJB) “9 Anyone who claims to be in this light while hating his brother is still in the dark.”
1 John 2:11 (CJB) “11 But the person who hates his brother is in the dark — yes, he is walking in the dark, and he doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
Example of Cain.
Cain lived among believers, his parents, and his brother; however, he was not living as a believer in God. He had hatred, and jealousy in his heart. It is the same with many people who say they are believers and live among believers but their hearts are in darkness.
3: Being deceived by believers who claim to be believers:
1 John 2:26 (CJB) “26 I have written you these things about the people who are trying to deceive you.”
1 John 2:22 (CJB) “22 Who is a liar at all, if not the person who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? Such a person is an anti-Messiah — he is denying the Father and the Son.”
1 John 2:18 (CJB) “18 Children, this is the Last Hour. You have heard that an Anti-Messiah is coming; and in fact, many anti-Messiahs have arisen now — which is how we know that this is the Last Hour.”
4: Who are these Anti-Messiahs? These who claim to be believers.
1 John 2:19 (CJB) “19 They went out from us, but they weren’t part of us; for had they been part of us, they would have remained with us.”
Let’s Go Back To the Question-
What sin leads to death?
1 John 3:14-15 (CJB) “14 We, for our part, know that we have passed from death to life because we keep loving the brothers. The person who fails to keep on loving is still under the power of death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
1: The person who fails to love unconditionally is still under the power of death.
2: Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him.
The sin that leads to death is not loving your brother. If you don’t love your brother who also abides in Yeshua, then God is not in you because God is love.
1 John 3:16 (CJB) “16 The way that we have come to know love is through his having laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers!”
1 John 4:8 (CJB) “8 Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love.”
1 John 4:11-16 (CJB) “11 Beloved friends, if this is how God loved us, we likewise ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us. 13 Here is how we know that we remain united with him and he with us: he has given to us from his own Spirit. 14 Moreover, we have seen, and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as Deliverer of the world. 15 If someone acknowledges that Yeshua is the Son of God, God remains united with him, and he with God. 16 Also we have come to know and trust the love that God has for us. God is love; and those who remain in this love remain united with God, and God remains united with them.”
Matthew 6:14-15 (CJB) “14 For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours.”
What does not lead to death from our sins? Repentance.
As believers, we are always growing in Yeshua. If we believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, then He is faithful to forgive our sins until He returns and renews us.
1 John 2:15-16 (CJB) “15 Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; 16 because all the things of the world – the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life – are not from the Father but from the world.”
Philippians 1:6 (CJB) “6 And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.”
Are you dead? Today is the time for change.
