So, this is Part 3 of The Two Kinds of Sin.
When you read 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus took upon Himself the sin of man that leads to death. He died for all of humanity so that all of humanity can live once again unto God.
In 1 John 3:9 (KJV) it says:
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
What does it mean to be born of God?
To be born of God means to be born again.
How are we born again?
We are born again by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal Savior.
If you are not born again, I think you should receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Say this:
“I receive You, Lord, into my heart. I declare that I am born again right now, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Now, it says:
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;
He says he does not.
…for his seed remaineth in him:
What seed is that? The seed of God—the seed of the life of God, the seed of eternal life, the seed of righteousness—is in him.
He continues:
…and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
So you cannot sin. What kind of sin is he talking about? The sin that leads to death.
Go to 1 John 5:16—this is where we found out about the two kinds of sin.
1 John 5:16 (KJV)
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
There is a sin not unto death.
Sometimes, as a believer, you may do many wrong things—you make mistakes, you stumble here and there—and you may wonder, “What does all this mean? Are these things not sin?” Yes, they are sin too, but they are the sins that do not lead unto death.
He says:
He shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
So, when you ask for forgiveness for sin that does not lead to death, how do you know you’re not committing a sin that leads to death?
The sin that leads to death has already been taken away by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. Look at the rest of the scripture:
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
The sin that leads to death cannot be prayed for. It cannot be paid for through any other means. The only way that sin is dealt with is by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. Jesus has already taken care of it. You don’t need to go to hell, because Jesus has died for it.
But when you are born again, you may still do something wrong—but Jesus has made provision for that.
It says:
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death...
That sin will not cause you to die eternally or spiritually, but it can hinder you from living the full life that God has called you to live. Yet, he says you can ask:
He shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
It is explained even more clearly in 1 John 1:9, but it’s good to start from verse 7:
Verse 7:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
This means that as you walk in fellowship with the Lord, the blood of Jesus Christ automatically cleanses you from all sin. What sin is he talking about? The sins that do not lead to death—the sins that you commit as a believer. As you continue in fellowship with Him, He continually takes care of the sins that do not lead to death.
Then verse 8 says:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
What sin is he talking about? He’s talking about the sins that do not lead to death.
Then verse 9 says:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He is writing to believers, and I told you that once you become a believer, the sin that leads to death has been taken away. So he cannot be referring to the sin that leads to death—he’s referring to the sin that does not lead to death.
All you need to do is confess.
What does it mean to confess?
To name it and admit it.
Let’s say I stole something as a believer. I’m not a thief, but I stole something. What should I do? Because the Spirit of God will convict me from within that what I did was wrong, I should confess it to the Lord.
“Father, I just stole something. I confess it to You. Please forgive me. I receive forgiveness for myself in Jesus’ name. Thank You for cleansing me from all unrighteousness in Jesus’ name.”
And if possible, return the thing you stole—and then you are free. Isn’t that wonderful?
Go to 1 John 2—all these things are described so beautifully there.
1 John 2:1–2 (KJV)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Verse 2:
And he is the propitiation for our sins (or He is the mercy seat for our sins—He is the one who has sacrificed Himself): and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
So, if you commit a sin that does not lead to death as a born-again believer, you are not going to die. God is not going to send you to hell. Be confident in God—He has saved you, and you are eternally saved.
But if you do something wrong, He has made provision for it. He says, “Confess your sins.” Ask for forgiveness and receive it, because God has already forgiven you.
