Summary: In today's passage, John concludes his 1st letter by affirming several key things for those who believe in the name of the Son of God: we have eternal life; If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us; that if we are truly reborn as God’s children, we will not continue to sin.
Focus Verse: 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
Reflection: "What is God saying to you through this verse?"
At first it seems that the verses 16 and 17 seems bit out of place in this concluding affirmation to the letter and raises the question as to what exactly John is referring to as sin which leads to death vs one that does not. But as we think back to the whole of 1 John which addresses the concerns for Gnostics and other Heresies plaguing the Christians only few decades after the death of Christ, it makes more sense and I realized that it is not out of place. As verse 17 says all wrongdoing is sin but the sin that leads to death forever is the one which directly distorts and goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ - that he is the Son of God incarnate in flesh and that only through him we can understand the true God and have eternal life. The teachings of the Gnostics and other heresies and believing in them instead of Jesus’ unadulterated teachings will lead to committing that one sin which will lead to death without everlasting life.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for the message you are giving to us through this passage, that Jesus is the only truth and the only way to everlasting life. We ask for faith and strength to avoid sins and not be overcome by the distractions and constant temptations of the evil one.
