ot to death, etc... It is hard to determine what St.
John here calls a sin which is not to death, and a sin which is unto
death. The difference can not be the same as betwixt sins that are
called venial and mortal: for he says, that if a man pray for his
brother, who commits a sin that is not to death, life shall be given
him: therefore such a one had before lost the life of grace, and been
guilty of what is commonly called a mortal sin. And when he speaks of a
sin that is unto death, and adds these words, for that I say not that
any man ask, it cannot be supposed that St. John would say this of every
mortal sin, but only of some heinous sins, which are very seldom
remitted, because such sinners very seldom repent. By a sin therefore
which is unto death, interpreters commonly understand a wilfull apostasy
from the faith, and from the known truth, when a sinner, hardened by his
own ingratitude, becomes deaf to all admonitions, will do nothing for
himself, but runs on to a final impenitence. Nor yet does St. John say,
that such a sin is never remitted, or cannnot be remitted, but only has
these words, for that I say not that any man ask the remission: that
is, though we must pray for all sinners whatsoever, yet men can not pray
for such sinners with such a confidence of obtaining always their
petitions, as St. John said before, ver. 14. Whatever exposition we
follow on this verse, our faith teacheth us from the holy scriptures,
that God desires not the death of any sinner, but that he be converted
and live, Ezech. 33.11. Though men's sins be as red as scarlet, they
shall become as white as snow, Isa. 3.18. It is the will of God that
every one come to the knowledge of the truth, and be saved. There is no
sin so great but which God is willing to forgive, and has left a power
in his church to remit the most enormous sins: so that no sinner need
despair of pardon, nor will any sinner perist, but by his own fault. A
sin unto death... Some understand this of final impenitence, or of dying
in mortal sin; which is the only sin that never can be remitted. But, it
is probable, he may also comprise under this name, the sin of apostasy
from the faith, and some other such heinous sins as are seldom and
hardly remitted: and therefore he gives little encouragement, to such as
pray for these sinners, to expect what they ask.

5:17. All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.

5:18. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth