1 John 5:16

Commit a sin. John is writing to preserve the fellowship of the messianic community (church). Not only should Christians be aware of the material needs of their brothers (includes sisters), they should also be aware of spiritual needs. As it is right to pray for the sick to get well (James 5:15 and note), so it is also proper to pray for the forgiveness of one who sins. Christians ought to pray for each other. John divides sin into two types: (1) do not lead to death (Galatians 6:1); (2) do lead to death (Hebrews 6:4-6). Christians are to pray for others who fall into the first class of sin. And I do not say. "There are some who have gone so far into apostasy that it will no longer be possible to restore them to Christ. I do not say that you should pray to God for such as these, because they refuse to repent and go on sinning." See Matthew 12:31-32; Revelation 15:8 and notes. Doddridge says: "Let us not too soon pronounce the case of a sinner hopeless; but rather subject ourselves to the trouble of some fruitless attempts to reclaim him, than omit anything where there may be a possibility of succeeding."