A Final No

“There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.” 
1 John 5:16 (ESV)

I’ll never forget a man I witnessed to when I was pastoring in my very first little country church. For decades, pastors before me had visited him and shared the Gospel with him, and he said the same thing to me he had said to all of them. When I got through sharing the Gospel, he stood up, looked at me, and said, “Preacher, thanks for coming. I’m going to hell.” 

Then he ushered me out the door. Strangely enough, I lost my burden to pray for that man.

That moment helps explain one of the more difficult passages in the New Testament. In today’s verse, the Apostle John writes, “There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.” (1 John 5:16, ESV) It all centers around two questions. What sin leads to death, and what kind of death is John talking about?

The Greek phrase for “leads to death” literally means “toward death.” It describes a life pointed in one direction that never turns around.

John isn’t talking about a believer who stumbles. When a brother or sister backslides, he says to pray for them and restore them. The sin that leads to death belongs to the unbeliever, and the death is not the death of a body. It’s the death of a soul. You deny that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, refuse His offer of salvation, and say a final “no” to Jesus. Then He says a final “no” to you. You see, it’s not just that this sin is unforgivable; it’s unforgiven. 

This sober warning also has good news. Until someone gives Jesus a final no, the door is still open.

Think of one person in your life who hasn’t said yes to Jesus. It might be a neighbor who waves but never talks about faith, a parent who brushes off every spiritual conversation, or a friend who says religion just isn’t for them. They haven’t given a final no, so don’t give up. Write their name where you’ll see it every morning, and pray for them by name. Ask God for one open door this week to share what Jesus has done for you.

And if you don’t know Jesus yet, He came to give you life. You don’t have to give Him a final no. You can tell Him, “Yes,” today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your grace, the way You died for us while we were still sinners. Give me a fresh burden for people who don’t know You, Lord, and the courage to reach out this week. Thank You that as long as there is breath, there is time to say, “Yes,” to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.