Straying Cows

635.  "Straying Cows"                     October 24, 2012
1John 5-Part 5   (verses 16-17)
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. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  1 John 5:16-17


LET IT GLOW

Whenever the cows or calves break through the fence, we had to go get them. Sometimes it happens where they go next door at the neighbors, sometimes it happens on the back side of our farm and they stray into another's field, and sometimes it happens in my own yard. (They seem to like to graze in unforbidden territory.)  No matter where they got out, these straying ones had to be rounded up and brought back home, to their own fields. So it is with straying believers. When a brother or sister in the faith gets outside of the boundaries that God has established, they must be rounded up, brought back into the fences established in God's Word.

Since John has been talking about prayer, I assume the first thing I should do for the straying, wandering, back-sliding Christian living in sin is to pray for them. When I pray, I seek God's direction as to when and how to approach them. It may only be a "Missed you Sunday" as a hint or it may be a visit to discuss the seriousness of the situation. However God leads, I should pray for that stray and God's convicting them.

God disciplnes His children. (Heb. 12:6) I can pray for His mercy, interceeding for them. Sometimes the sins are not unto death, unintentional, accidental, light and trivial.
Do I have my spiritual eyes open to the needs of others?

LET IT GROW

John does say that there is a sin unto death. Of course, there are many opinions on this subject. Most of the commentaries say that it is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, not believing in God. The result is spiritual death, seperatioon from God for eternity.

God is the God of life; He gives it when and to whom He pleases, and takes it away either by His constitution or providence, or both, as He thinks meet. (Matthew Henry)

John tells us to not pray for this one. After all, God knows all things and can look into the heart.
Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Concerning these verses, Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say:

Sin unto death would be rejection of God's truth to the point that one died in unbelief. Therefore, a living person need never fear that he has already committed the sin unto death, since he is still alive. Only total rejection and rebellion against God, and rebellion to God's laws, may cause one to sin unto death.
 

I am responsible for sharing the Gospel, not predetermining who will accept or reject it.

Romans 3:10 states, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 ssays, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 10:13 instructs us, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Friends, I must ask if you have confessed your sins to God, believed in Jesus' dying for you, and asked Him to forgive you of your sins, come into your heart and be your Savior? If not, won't you stop right now and do so?

LET IT GO

Confess my sins to the Lord and ask His forgiveness.

Pray for the straying.

Pray for the lost.