This teaching will discuss unrepentant sins that lead to eternal spiritual death. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (as well as taking the mark of the beast). All other sins can be forgiven if they are repented of before a believer's death. There are sins that will be forgiven that a believer commits, even if they are not repented of in this earthly life (although a believer will still be judged for unrepentant sin). These are sins that do not lead to spiritual death. Then there are several sins that must be repented of during this life or they can lead to spiritual death (eternal separation from the spiritual life that Christ is).
When a non-believer or believer commits a more severe sin, a spirit of death has a legal right to enter the person. The spirit of death will attempt to kill the non-believer or believer before they repent of their sin. Regardless of whether the person repents or not, the spirit of death’s assignment is to kill the person prematurely.
“If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not [involve] death [that may be repented of and forgiven]. We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].” (1 John 5:16-18 AMPC)
Those who are truly born again by the Holy Spirit do not continue to practice sin. This does not mean that believers in Jesus do not sin. It means that true believers do not stay trapped in a repetitive cycle of sin for their entire lives. A new-born spiritual baby in Christ may take a number of years to get free from practicing sin. The amount of time it takes a new believer to get free of a sin lifestyle depends on the following factors: sovereign moving of the Holy Spirit, natural age that the person was born again, level or severity of sin that the person was involved in, the amount of demonic bondage that the person is in at the time of salvation, and the spiritual guidance that is available to the new believer.
Depending on these factors, it is possible for a believer to be trapped in a repetitive cycle of sin for a while. This is not an excuse to stay trapped in sin; it is simply an observation based on reality that has been observed by many. The Lord judges righteously, mercifully, and fairly. Therefore He considers the factors mentioned above (and others) and gives new-born spiritual babies time to grow, understand, and repent. Again, the amount of time to repent may be different for every believer depending on their individual circumstances. After a certain amount of time set by the Father, He does expect to see repentance and the fruit of the Spirit coming forth from a believer:
“Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any; so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’ But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ”” (Luke 13:6-9 AMP)
If the tree (believer) fails to abide in the grace of God and produce any fruit (repentance and character of the Spirit), the Father will order the tree to be cut down. Obviously the Father does not want to see the tree cut down, but we must find the grace of God to repent. The understanding that we cannot be good and holy on our own is a foundational revelation.
“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:4-6 AMP)
We must abide in the grace of God and ask Jesus to live through us so that we can overcome sin. Secondarily, all believers need to undergo deliverance from demons. The Holy Spirit could completely deliver a new believer at the point of salvation, but I know from experience that this is somewhat rare. New believers have a lot of trouble overcoming sin because they have demons attached to their souls (mind, will, and emotions). These demons influence their behavior and way of thinking. Many believers stay in a spiritually immature state because they never receive deliverance.
Sin that Leads to Death
We have free will. Believers can choose to abide in the One who carefully watches over them and protects them from sin. On the other hand, a believer can choose to continually practice and engage in sin, thus giving the wicked one opportunity to lay ahold or touch him. If we choose to abide in an unrepentant lifestyle of sin, we will eventually enter into spiritual death. By choosing to continue in certain severe sins, a believer can deny the Lord Jesus and reject the Holy Spirit:
“To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted. They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.” (Titus 1:15-16 AMPC)
Some people claim to be Christians and claim to be born-again of the Holy Spirit. However, their actions and unrepentant sin are actually denying and renouncing Jesus. The scriptures also state that if we continue in unrepentant sin after receiving Christ, we can lose our salvation and burn in Hell, since by continuing in sin we despise the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf:
“For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries [those who put themselves in opposition to God]. Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].” (Hebrews 10:26-31 AMP)
Suicide
Suicide is equivalent to murder as it is the murder of oneself. It is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life. Only God has the right to take life. Men have the right to kill in self-defense, but murder and suicide clearly do not fall under the righteous umbrella of self-defense. In order to understand suicide, we must know what the Bible says about murder:
“Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him.” (1 John 3:15 AMPC)
So one who commits suicide is a murderer, and we know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. The sin of being a murderer can be repented of so that one can have eternal life. However, if one commits murder or suicide at the time of their own death, the sin cannot be repented of. The scripture states that a murderer does not have eternal life. This is because the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a murderer (since He is a Life-giver). The Holy Spirit will leave a believer who is committing suicide.
We can force Him to leave by our evil and perverted actions, for He is not a partaker in darkness. As Titus states, we can deny Him by our deeds. When a believer's deeds deny the Spirit, the Spirit must leave the believer since the believer operates by free will. We choose evil or we choose the One who is good. If we choose the Spirit, we choose eternal life. If we choose to give ourselves over to evil, then we will have the fruit of our choice forever.
In recent times, several well-known pastors have committed suicide. These pastors openly struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. Worldly believers and leaders would call this “mental illness,” while those with understanding would call it demonic attacks or even demonization. Pastors and leaders who refuse to acknowledge the spirit realm (like the Sadducees) often believe that “mental illness” cannot be cured by prayer. Their method of treatment is psychological therapy and counseling. They deny the reality of the scriptures because Satan has blinded them to the truth. Therefore, they are destroyed for their lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).
In Luke 8:26-39, we see a man who has a “mental illness” and is “not in his right mind.” From this testimony of a true event, we know that the mental illness was actually caused by demons that were controlling or influencing the man. People struggling with suicide could be set free by the power of Jesus through deliverance. But as long as certain leaders continue to believe the lies of Satan and refuse to believe in or practice casting our demons, suicides will continue to happen in the church.
Those leaders who refuse to believe the truth and simply call suicidal thoughts a “mental illness" will be held accountable for not believing the word of God. Prayer is powerful, and Jesus can deliver any person from any kind of mental affliction. Leaders and believers who do not think Jesus can deliver someone from every mental affliction are making Jesus out to be impotent by their theology. This is disrespectful to the great King.
Suicide is an extension of the self-life. It is a result of refusing to pick up one's cross and follow Jesus as his disciple, which crucifies our self-will. A pastor who chooses to take his own life and leave behind a wife and children is putting himself before his wife and children. In other words, he is loving his own self-life and not hating it as Jesus commands His disciples (Luke 14:26). A person who truly loves their spouse and children would not commit suicide because of the damage it would do to their family. Think of the hurt and pain that would enter a child’s heart.
Satan may attempt to use a father committing suicide to destroy children and take them down a dark path of abandonment. All because a father was so selfish and self-centered that he chose to leave his body instead of caring for his children and wife. These people put themselves before anyone else, including their family. And we are in those end days where men will be lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:1-5). The self-life of man (along with demonic oppression) is the true cause of suicide. The cross-life and deliverance are the answers to suicidal thoughts. Jesus is all that is needed to set a person free.
There are scenarios in which the Lord may forgive someone who committed suicide and allow them into Heaven. For example: a believer got extremely intoxicated or took a mind altering drug before committing suicide. The believer’s mind may have been so altered when they committed the act that they didn’t know what they were doing. The Lord might choose to judge that this believer was not liable for his own murder because he was not in control of his mind. The Lord could then forgive the sin and save the person’s soul. Jesus is the judge and will make the ultimate decision.
Judas was an apostle ministering in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and preaching the kingdom of God, yet he hanged himself after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5). Jesus made an interesting statement about Judas:
“The Son of Man is to go [to the cross], just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”” (Matthew 26:24 AMP)
It’s apparent from Jesus’ statement that Judas will be suffering in Hell, wishing he hadn't been born. If Judas were going to Heaven, this wouldn’t be the case. Judas could have chosen to repent for his sins, just as Peter repented for denying the Lord. The former minister of light who preached the gospel with power, was now filled with darkness. He ended his own life with a sin that leads to death, and Hell was his destination.
On October 26, 2021, a good friend of mine from college committed suicide, leaving behind a wife and young daughter. Everything that is written above in regard to suicide had already been written before I found out he died (as the Lord was speaking to me about the subject during the time it happened). I didn’t find out that my friend had committed suicide until some time after the fact.
I knew he had been going through a difficult time with his wife. He had a lot of anger in him because of his field of work, and sometimes he took that anger out on his wife through his words. His wife was hurt and was starting to push him away. My friend wanted to repent and he wanted help. Since we lived nearly 1,000 miles from each other, I found and recommended two different ministries for him and his wife. One ministry focused on spiritual counseling and prayer, while the other focused on deliverance. My friend never made it to either ministry.
My friend had told me that his wife had closed her heart to him and that she had been communicating with “someone else.” My best guess is that she told my friend that she wanted a divorce and was going to leave him for another man. I’m also assuming that my friend couldn’t bear losing his family and seeing another man raise his child. He put a round in his head and committed suicide. No mistakes; he got it right. He was always an accurate shooter. After about a month of trying to contact him, I found out he had killed himself.
I do not know if he was in his right mind during the time of the suicide. I do not know if he went to Heaven. If I’m being honest, he probably didn't, which of course makes his death hard for me to take. Without question, I should have operated in a higher level of discernment and waged greater warfare in prayer. Maybe things would have turned out differently.
I lost my friend in battle. I lost my brother the same way in March 2023. Many others have lost people in this bitter warfare we are facing and will face throughout this life. The battlefield is littered with the injured and the dying, and things aren’t going to get easier. The only thing I can do is press on. I must move forward with greater discernment, remembering what the enemy did to my friend and brother; and seek to destroy the works of Satan everywhere I go so that this does not happen to anyone else’s friend or brother.
Adultery
Martin Luther King Jr. was used by the Lord to spark a civil rights movement that greatly impacted America. Freedom and equality were wrought in America by the ministry of Martin Luther King Jr. However, MLK was an unrepentant adulterer. In fact, he was murdered while having an adulterous affair. He died without getting a chance to repent of the sin that he had been bound in for many years. This should put the fear of God in us. We never know when our day of reckoning will come. Martin Luther King Jr. probably just thought he would repent of his sin later, but there was no “later” for him. He died in his sins.
“He who is victorious shall inherit all these things, and I will be God to him and he shall be My son. But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)–[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. [Isa. 30:33.]” (Revelation 21:7-8 AMPC)
Unrepentant murderers (suicide, abortion) and adulterers will be outside of the Kingdom of Heaven, and their unrepentant sin will secure their place in Hell. An adulterer can be a believer who loves their lifestyle of adultery more than the Lord. Just like Judas, they refuse to repent because of their love of sin. MLK did many great things in America, yet he neglected the two most important things: faithfulness to God and to his own wife (family). He is remembered on Earth for being the mouthpiece of the civil rights movement. But Heaven probably views Mr. King very differently than men.
The Lord is not impressed by what we do or accomplish. Jesus is impressed by how we yield to Him and allow Him to transform us into His image. Jesus looks at our relationship with Him and the Father. He judges our faithfulness to our spouses and how we steward our families. The great King is looking to see if our love for Him is burning hotter over time or if it is cooling off because we have chosen to leave our first love. We are judged by how much of Jesus we allow to come forth in us and through us. Jesus does not practice adultery; Satan does. MLK chose to yield his body to the influences of the flesh and Satan.
'Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.' (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 AMPC)
This scripture is very clear. Believers who practice these sins (listed above) for their entire lives and never repent will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The Greek word used for “inherit” also means: “to receive the portion assigned to one, to become partaker of, and to obtain.” Believers who walk in unrepentant sin will not receive a portion of the Kingdom of God. They will only receive a portion of Hell for eternity.
The false grace message has permeated the church with false doctrine. Many Christians do not fear God and think they can abide in a lifestyle of sin while God forgives them without their repentance of that sin. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, hellfire and the wrath of God await.
“But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people). Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God]. For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]–for he [in effect] is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. So do not associate or be sharers with them.” (Ephesians 5:3-7 AMPC)
The Spirit of Death
In the Old Testament, under the law, people were put to death for various sins such as murder, adultery, and beastiality. These sins were and are considered more severe and therefore worthy of a more severe judgment than, for example, stealing money. In the New Testament we can repent for almost any severe sin and be forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Obviously the grace and mercy of God were revealed to us through Jesus Christ (for all who choose Him).
However, we can still open ourselves up to a spirit of death by committing sins worthy of that punishment. Believers who commit such sins may not backslide to the pathway to Hell, but they can still be infiltrated by a spirit of death that could kill their physical body before the proper timing of the Lord. Satan seeks to kill us prematurely if he cannot take us to Hell, so that the work of the Father through us might be hindered.
Before I became a believer I lived a very sinful lifestyle (although I thought I was a good person and worthy of Heaven). I even struggled with sin after I first became a believer because I didn’t have anyone to teach me the basics of following Jesus and give me insight into the spirit realm.
I can remember the exact time the spirit of death entered me. I was resting on the couch in my apartment, and all of a sudden I could no longer move or breathe. The spirit gripped me as it entered. I knew by revelation that it was a spirit of death and that its assignment was to kill me. I could not move or breathe for at least 10 seconds. Later that year, I began repenting of my sins, but little did I know that the spirit of death was still present. The enemy is a master of deception and will trick us any way he can.
It wasn’t until a few years later that I cast that demonic spirit out of me by the authority of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. I felt it come out as it was very strong. After I followed the Lord as a disciple, I was granted authority to cast out demons and receive freedom. Had I chosen to believe the lies that I couldn’t have a demon, I may already be dead. We must ask ourselves: Why do certain believers die before the timing of the Lord from diseases or accidents?
Perverted Sexual Sins of Spiritual Death
“The man who lies [intimately] with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall most certainly be put to death; their blood is on them.” (Leviticus 20:11 AMP)
The New Testament bears witness to the old. Under the law, the above sexual sin was judged by the Lord to be worthy of death. Under grace, the same unrepentant sexual sin is judged by the Holy Spirit to be worthy of eternal spiritual death in Hell:
“It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someone has [an intimate relationship with] his father’s wife.
“In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:1, 4-5 AMP)
As we see in the scriptures, the Holy Spirit tells the church to remove the unrepentant believer from fellowshipping with the church, which will open the man’s body up to physical attacks of sickness from Satan. The man’s flesh or natural health will decline until he repents of his sins. Once the man repents of his sins, his spirit will then again be saved. This scripture clearly indicates that the believer lost his salvation through his dark and evil lifestyle of sexual sin.
This above scripture paints a very different narrative about God, eternal salvation, and judgment than many common teachings and doctrines do. We are saved by faith in Jesus and by His grace, but then we have to allow Jesus to live through us and produce good fruit (the character, nature, and self-control of Christ). Jesus living through us fulfills God’s perfect moral law, which is truly what “grace” is. Those who continue in unrepentant sins worthy of spiritual death will not have their spirits saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The Lord sometimes allows judgment to come upon believers (bodies being destroyed) to bring them to repentance and eternal life.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
Most sin can be repented of and forgiven except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
“Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw. All the people wondered in amazement, and said, “Could this be the Son of David (the Messiah)?” But the Pharisees heard it and said, “This man casts out demons only by [the help of] Beelzebul (Satan) the prince of the demons.”
He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:22-24, 30-32 AMP)
Jesus was casting demons out of God’s people (believers) by the power of the Holy Spirit. The religious leaders were opposing Jesus and calling the Holy Spirit a demon. By not properly discerning the Holy Spirit, they cursed Him and called Him evil. The definition of blasphemy is "the act of insulting, showing contempt, cursing, irreverence, or reviling God.”
Without question, the religious leaders were insulting the Holy Spirit by calling His power demonic. I wonder how many religious leaders in our day have criticized the power of the Holy Spirit and labeled it fleshly or demonic. I’m not saying the flesh in believers doesn’t manifest at times when the Holy Spirit is moving. Neither am I saying that demonic manifestations don’t occur when the Holy Spirit is moving in power. These events may occur, but that does not mean that the source of what is happening is demonic. When the Holy Spirit is moving in power, many people are delivered and healed.
We must be mature enough to discern and separate what God is and what He isn’t. The only way we can accurately discern the Lord from the fleshly or demonic is to know the Lord and spend time in His presence. You know who someone is from being around them. The same is true with the Godhead. The religious leaders of the first century knew the words God had written, but they didn’t actually know Him. This stumbling block has caused many leaders in our day to follow in the path of the Pharisees. Some have already blasphemed the Holy Spirit and guaranteed their path to eternal suffering and torment in Hell. They will not receive mercy or forgiveness like the fallen angels.
The Mark of the Beast
When the antichrist is ruling the earth for the final three and a half years of the age, people will have to take a mark in order to buy and sell. Anyone who takes this willful mark in order to purchase food or other goods will spend eternity in the torments of hell. There is not any repentance or forgiveness for worshiping the beast and taking the mark of the beast.
”Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.“ (Revelation 14:9-12 NKJV)
Eternal Life
““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) AMP
Jesus prophecies that most people will go to Hell. He also prophecies that few people will go to Heaven. In our day, Jesus’ prophetic word would be criticized and condemned. He would be called a “doomsday” prophet because His prophecy is negative and about the “doom” of people on a certain day. Our generation praises the true prophets of the past while condemning the true prophets of our time. It was the same in the generation that Jesus walked the earth.
We need to seek Jesus with all that we have. Everyday matters. If we will choose to follow Him as disciples and not grow weary of seeking His face, He will pour out His grace upon us to overcome sin and our flesh. The road to eternal damnation is easy to get lost on in this godless world and among this wicked generation. The life of Christ in us can keep us on the narrow and difficult path to salvation. Many are currently committing sins that lead to eternal death and must repent before it’s too late. Brothers and sisters, let us stay on the difficult path of eternal life.
“And if it is difficult for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the godless and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18 AMP)
-Ty Unruh (October 2023)
