Are certain sins worse or less worse than others?

[Constantine I]

Are certain sins worse or less worse than others? This is a question that has been bothering me today. Does God think that all sins are equally as bad, or that some are just "the lesser evil?"

Thanks.

[LoudRam]

As much as we want to group sins into different categories, God sees all sin the same. It makes no difference to Him, He hates it all.

[Obadiah]

I believe the notion that "all sins are the same" derives from a misreading of James 2:8-13.

James' point is that all sins are equal within the very restricted sense that any sin makes you a sinner. If there's a sin you don't commit, that doesn't negate the reality of committing the sins you do commit. All sin, no matter the nature of it, is a violation of God's law. So, no matter how many sins you commit and how many you don't, you're still a violator of the law.

But to reason from this that "all sins are the same" and God sees no difference between growing impatient in line at the grocery store and murdering someone is absurd. To propose that raping someone is no worse than cheating on your income taxes is absurd.

The Torah prescribes specific penalties for specific sins. In some cases, there's a monetary fine, where in other cases, the punishment is death. If "all sins are the same," why does God punish them differently?

Jesus noted that "it will be worse" in the judgment for some than for others. If "all sin is the same," why would one receive a more severe judgment than another?

[Robbinson]

All sins are ulimtately forgiven through the Cross (except the sin of blaspehemy against the Holy Spirit). So in terms of justification, there is no distinction. But there is probably a difference in terms of "sanctification" and we will be rewarded in heaven based upon the extent to which we follow Christ's commandments.

I think the earlier response re: references to the Torah is spot on and I do think there will be differences in God's eyes regarding our sins, as believers, in obtaining our rewards in heaven.

Best,

Brian

[Acts1711]

The Bible mentions things he "hates" more then others... for example Proverbs 6:16-19 but over all HE can't look upon any sin.... which is why Jesus felt His father leave (forsake) him for a short time while He was on the cross...

[Paul M]

I think God does makes distinctions regarding the severity/type of sin. That is obvious from reading scripture. There is a more urgent issue though.


For example, if you look at a woman lustfully, but don't physically do anything, you are guilty of adultery according to Jesus. Now, the consequences are quite different if you were to say, cheat on your wife and go sleep with another woman . You have lots of consequences, alot more than from just thinking about it. So, you have a serious sin and then varying levels of depravity having to do with that area. The problem with lust is that it always begins with a thought and eventually the thought leads to action.

The same with anger, being angry at someone without a cause is the same as being a murderer, according to Jesus -yet yelling at someone obviously isn't the same as beating their brains out with a bat. Again, the principle is there. A small fire can easily burn out of control.

What does it matter if you drown in a puddle or a lake? you still drown. If you are past the age of accountability you are hell bound if you don't accept Jesus.

I can't imagine trying to be a good person for a lifetime , and at the end finding out it was a massive wasted effort and missing heaven. Yet that is probably what will happen to most people. The horrors of being a 'good' person. I'm glad I messed my life up when I was younger because I had no problem acknowledging my sinfulness. Only God could have put my life back together. I can honestly say that nothing good resides in me aside from Christ.

The worst sin of all is unbelief. It is the only sin that will keep people from heaven. God would have forgiven Hitler if he repented and asked to be saved.

I've mentioned this before, Jeffery Dahmer accepted Christ before being murdered in prison. I find that awsome. The despicable horrible crimes he committed were forgiven by the Lord and he was saved. That same day as he was ushered into heaven by the angels, others were thrown into hell who may have devoted their entire lives to charities, good works, etc. they did not need to be saved they thought, they were good enough. Nothing unclean can be in the presence of God. Only the blood of Christ can make it possible to be in His presence.

[Obadiah]

Paul:

You're spot on with your observation that actually committing adultery is a more severe offense than is cultivating a desire to do so.

Jesus' teaching on this in Matthew 5 has got to be one of those most frequently misapplied of all Scriptures. What Jesus is teaching in this chapter is not that lust is equivalent to adultery or that anger is equivalent to murder. What He's teaching is that you don't have to carry out an evil intention in order to commit sin. Many people in His audience were patting themselves on the back for not being "sinners" (think Luke 18:9-14) because they didn't commit such actions as adultery and murder. But these same people were filled with lust and anger. They rationalized their sinful attitudes because they weren't carrying out the intents of their hearts. What Jesus was teaching is that restraining your actions isn't enough. Sin is sin on the inside, before it is manifested in our actions. To hate one's brother with thoughts of killing him or lust after one's sister with thoughts of raping her is in itself sin. You don't have to actually murder or rape someone to sin; hating and lusting are sins in themselves. But that doesn't mean hating someone is killing him or lusting after someone is raping her. Jesus isn't talking about committing adultery in your heart; He's talking about committing adultery in your heart. In other words, lust is "heart adultery" and hate is "heart murder." But "heart adultery" and "heart murder" are not equivalent to actual, literal, physical adultery and murder. Hating a man doesn't take him away from his family; lusting after a woman does not ruin her marriage. The consequences of the literal sins are far greater; thus, the literal sins merit the greater punishment.

[Constantine I]

Obadiah? Obadiah? Is that you? Are you the Obadiah who plays the Roman-era MMORPG called Roma Victor?

Please answer my question. :)

In Roma Victor, I am Dalmatius.

[twinkle]

I know a woman whose husband rendered her homeless, left her in a wilderness park with no money and no where to go. She's in her mid-50's and was/is ill, unable to support herself. A man came along and rescued her. Winter was coming on and she most likely would have died out there. This man has provided support and a home for her. She is unable to leave this situation, she would end up back in the park or worse. She has even walked out but returned because she realized that there was no where to go. She has prayed for God to show her a way out of her adultery and feels unable to change her situation. She feels that she can't marry this man because he is an unbeliever and doesn't want to go from bad to worse by marrying someone who is an unbeliever. I haven't known what to tell her. How does God see this? She is in this situation because her husband failed to take care of her and landed her in a sinful situation and she is grieved about her sin. She can't get on her own two feet because of her illness, so the help out there is limited to non-existent. This baffles me as to how this sin of adultery is viewed by God. She doesn't want to be in this situation, but can't find a way out. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Obadiah]

Twinkle:

Your friend is indeed in a terrible situation. I believe when God looks at her He does so in mercy. I think there is a qualitative difference between her actions and those of a person who simply cheats on his or her spouse.

But... if she's engaging in sex with her host, she's definitely in the wrong. There's no justification for her engaging in sex with a man other than her husband.

Is it possible for her to continue accepting this man's hospitality in a chaste manner, or is he merely using her for sex?

Is there a church or other organization that could assist her in finding help (if she's disabled, there certainly ought to be something out there she could find with some savvy guidance) so she wouldn't be dependent on her host and could move out?

I'm sympathetic to the woman's plight, but I can't help wondering if there is, in fact, a way out that she's just not seeing.