Things For Which We Should Not Pray

If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him
life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he
should make request. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death, (1 John 5:16
17). In this passage, John speaks of something for which a Christian should not pray, or “make
request” to God. He identifies it as a “sin unto death.” A sin unto death is a sin which results in or
leads to spiritual death. What is this, and how can we recognize it?
John had earlier taught that all Christians have sin in their lives. If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, (1 John 1:8). Further, if we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10). These verses teach that it
is wrong for Christians to deny that we sin. That is, we add sin to sin in denying sin in our lives.
Instead, we should have the humility of heart to admit or confess our sins as we become aware of
them. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
It follows that since God will forgive us of the sins which we acknowledge and confess, the
sin which God will not forgive is the sin we refuse to confess. This sin is the “sin unto death” for
any Christian, because it will not be forgiven. In other words, refusing to humble myself and
acknowledge specific sins in my life as a Christian will prevent God from forgiving them, and will
lead to my spiritual death.
This points out the seriousness of maintaining a pure heart, humble and child-like before
God. (Matthew 5:8). If I instead develop an attitude of arrogance, pride, self-importance, or
stubbornness, I am in danger of failing to acknowledge my own sins, and being eternally lost. And
this is true even though I have been baptized, profess to be a Christian, and hold myself out as a
faithful member of the Lord’s church. No wonder that our Lord preferred the company of little
children, and taught that “of such is the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:14).
It is not proper to ask God to do things which He has already told us He will not do. God
will not forgive a Christian who refuses to acknowledge his own sins, and it is a mistake to ask
Him to do so. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
So how do we know when a brother is sinning a “sin under death?” Clearly, when they have
demonstrated a refusal to acknowledge or confess their own sin. May I suggest that, rather than
praying for their forgiveness, a better request would be that their heart be softened, that their pride
would be turned away, and that they would come to an acknowledgment of their own wrongdoing.
It is pointless to ask for their forgiveness, because their heart is not right before God. Rather than
praying for their forgiveness, we should be praying for their repentance.
When Peter and John visited Samaria they met Simon the sorcerer, who heard the gospel
and was baptized. But when Simon (as a brother in Christ) sinned, they did not pray for his
forgiveness, but for his repentance. Notice the language: “Thy silver perish with thee, because
thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter:
for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord,
if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the gall of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” (Acts 8:20-23).
Christians should not pray for the forgiveness of brothers and sisters in Christ who stoutly
refuse to repent. They are sinning unto death. Rather, we should be praying that their hearts might
be softened through the providential mercy and love of God. We should pray that they might have
a change of heart, and come to repentance. But we should not be praying that they be forgiven in
their impenitent state. God has already told us that He is not going to do that. May all of our
unfaithful brethren humble themselves, and come again like children to our heavenly Father, that
they might taste again His amazing grace and forgiveness!