Christian myths: Are all sins exactly the same?

Here's a good poll.

Are all sins exactly the same as other sins?

My position:

In one sense, yes. In one sense, no.

Someone commented that homosexuality is the same as gossiping, heterosexual fornication, lying, etcetera.

In one sense, yes...every single sin, by itself, qualifies one for eternal death.

In another sense, no....there are worse sins in terms of consequences and in terms of depravity.

Homosexuality, in Romans 1, indicates a high degree of depravity. READ ROMANS 1 carefully.

John 19:11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

So, there are greater and lesser sins, in some sense. What is this sense in which one sin is greater than the other?

This is the topic for discussion


By the way, in 1 Cor 6:9, it is more descriptive than prescriptive. In other words, it is describing those who are not going to be in the kingdom of God, which are unbelievers. They are "practicing" those sins; ie, they are in unrepentant, wanton disobedience.

But, regardless of that, there is a sense in which there are greater sins, and lesser sins. However, every single sin qualifies a person for eternal death, so in that sense, I agree that they are equal.

However, one who is continuing on in homosexuality, practicing it as an unrepentant lifestyle, are proving they are not in faith, but are unbelievers, regardless of what they claim.

Yes every sin no matter how small or big will lead someone to hell without Christ. So in the eyes of God all sin is the same. But Biblically and sociologically shows that sin can be minor in earthly consequences or can be extremely dangerous. The sin never changes but it often in earthly kingdoms we must decide how to promote morality in law, and how to judge immorality once it is broken.

So from a earthly kingdom no not all sin is the same. Some will get your neighbor mad at you while another you end up in prison.

those who voted yes are ignorant of what the bible teaches thats truth

if all sins were equal, why does john say some sins to pray for, others are unto death and dont pray for them? why does different sin contain different punishments in the law? why does even in our justice system have this? why are there degrees of punishment in hell as Jesus said this city is better off than that city. willful sin vs unwillful sin. those who know what to do and dont do it get more stripes than those who dont know.

this concept is throughout the bible.

its dangerous to say its all equal because the thinking it leads to is: i did this i might as well do this too its all the same anyway.

Yes, it seems that on a depravity and egregious level, fundamentally speaking, there are different degrees of sin. I say this, because, circumstantially speaking, where there is no law, there is no sin (Rom. 5:13).
I imagine though that this would pertain to ritualistic laws, laws of observance and regulation, not laws of morality which even those without the law, abide due to the conscience of their heart.
During the time of the Levitical Law, pork was forbidden to eat, but since the inception of the New Covenant it's not considered a violation to God's will anymore. But on the converse, murder, rape, fornication, and contempt for your parents and authority remained as moral infractions and are still prohibited within the Church of God.
So clearly on that level, there are sins that culturally or circumstantially, are less egregious than others.

But as far as the universal or moral laws are concerned, that is, as far as God is concerned, simply put, where there is no love behind an act, there is sin.
But, as far as either controlling, subduing, overcoming or eradicating it, or punishing it on a secular level goes, this is where once must beware of the nature and depth of the sin at hand. That is, where the different degrees of sin become apparent. In other words, try circumventing one's desire to over eat, as opposed to the self-revenge of a jealous husband. Or, one cheating at cards, as opposed to one engaging in orgies. You will see which act of iniquity has the more intensity, and possession of the person.

Try compelling an alcoholic to quit, compared to attempting to do the same with a gang-banger's depraved and proud desire to deal drugs or pimp. So that even unwillingly succumbing to sin, is not as reprobate as embracing and glorifying it, regardless of the act itself. Consider the adulteress who is conscience free (Prov. 30:20).

Matthew 12:31-32
12:31. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

1 John 5:16-17
5:16. If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

I voted yes due to all have sinned even the moralist of people but still everyone falls short. On the topic of salvation yes all sin leads to hell.

But in a earthly kingdom God ordained government to keep the peace and judge immorality. Obviously we cannot judge the soul but government can regulate how they treat sin.

According to Scripture there are in fact greater and lesser sins, and also greater and lesser degrees of punishment.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47,48)

MATTHEW 11
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark 3:28,29)

Good points and insight!

did a thread on this called Levels of Sin
Non Protestants refer to Mortal (serious) and Venial (less serious) sin.
But I think there is a more complex spectrum. Like 1 to 9.
Certainly would make things more interesting for analysis.

All still lead to destruction without Christ. So I read this and it doesn't change anything from the human perspective. Beaten with a few or many stripes is still hell. It just means God is just to even the damned.

That's hardly the point. While all criminals should be imprisoned, not all sentences are the same. That is justice in action (ideally).

Any sin -- big or small -- makes us unfit for the presence of God and therefore in need of the blood of Jesus. But for salvation purposes sins are not all equal. Looking at someone other than your spouse -- with lust -- is a sin, but it's not the same as physical adultery.

If I flirt with another woman and don't end up in bed with her just because circumstances got in the way, then I am guilty of adultery, but just "looking" is not the same as planning and committing the "crime".

All Christians are sinners, but not all Christians are thieves, liars, fornicators, adulterers, etc. The all-sins-are-equal false teaching is dangerous because it leads Christians to believe that telling a white lie carries the same weight as, for example, committing adultery and then they conclude that adultery is a sin like any other.

The sin of adultery is so serious that it is grounds for divorce (to separate what God has united). The sin of adultery sinks us deep into the mud of other sins, especially lie. God may forgive a Christian who commits adultery, but I don't think such forgiveness is just for the asking. The Lord Jesus suffered excruciating pain on account of our sins and we must honor His blood.

The Bible says if you offend in the least of the law you offend in all, and a little leaven leavens the whole bunch.

Any sin can condemn us if not corrected.

But not all sins are on the same level as far as the terribleness of them, or of how God views them which He points out ones that are more terrible than others.

Jesus said it is better for a person to not have been born, and a millstone to be hung around his neck and thrown in the sea then to offend a little one.

But Jesus did not say that if someone stole something from someone.

God called some sins an abomination like homosexuality where others they were not called that.

If you were to call someone an idiot would not be as bad as beating them severely for the sins are not on the same level and God would look at it that way, which like a saint that will have their works judged and if they lack they are still saved, a sinner will have their works judged according to the severity of them and there is probably different levels of punishment because of it.

Many are called but few are chosen.

Not many mighty, not many noble, not many wise after the flesh are called.

God calls many people to follow Him but why doesn't He call them all when we are all sinners that comes short of the glory of God, and if you offend in the least of the law you offend in all.

So obviously sins are on a different level according to their severity for those God called were workable and were not that involved with sin that was too severe, but those that were not called were too self exalting, and arrogant, offending people, and liked to be superior to them, and cruel, that caused them to not be called.

People who read my posts know that I am fascinated with what I FINALLY learned about the OT. Now I find it explains the NT. By reading how God orders the handling of the sins of the OT people it answers the question of the importance God gives to different sins. They didn't have jails but instead a system of ordering stoning. When God asks that the courts decide on stoning you can be sure God takes the commitment of that sin very serious.

There is a huge difference between God's values and earthly values. We feel people have a right to decide on their religion for themselves but God feels that because our faith in Him decides our life or death it is a very serious question. God seems to feel that people who hopelessly choose death are a threat to his people and can influence them to follow them to death.

well I don't think anyone is going to stand before God on judgement day and say 'but Joe sinned more and worse than I did'

but sure, the Bible is explicit that you want to avoid sexual sin at all cost because of the effects, so in effect, you pollute yourself

"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whosoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." I Corinthians 6:18

in other words, do like Joseph

but there is forgiveness for all sins except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit...and people are in 2 camps about what that is exactly...big discussion on that a couple of months back...so don't want to rabbit hole on it

basically all sin separates from God

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9

I agree. Not only is fornication harmful to us, it is harmful to our testimony. Just recently there was a scandal with a Texas Pastor who shall remain unnamed who commited adultery on his wife, he had released many books on many subjects and now all those books lost their credibility because of this sin

I am sad I missed that discussion couple months ago regarding the two camps about what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is? Could you tell me what those two camps are and which one are you in? My camp is simple, I go by with what the Bible says, it means to say Jesus did His miracles by evil instead of the Holy Spirit.

Adultery is a primary issue. I believe this is due to the fact of God's covenant-love.

This is called chesed (hesed) in Hebrew.

It is rendered "mercy" in the KJV (a primary reason why I consider it a bad translation) and "steadfast love" in Hebrew.

Humans are to image God, and God is faithful.

sure

one side was saying, as you do above, that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing His works to the devil

the other, said it was refusing Christ as Savior so therefore you are not saved

I believe it is the first one, especially in light of what Jesus said regarding the same thing

it is true that your reputation is forever stained when you give in to temptation, especially if you are a pastor...you are forgiven if you turn from your sin, but like David, things are just not the same anymore

1) In an eternal perspective there are sins that will be forgiven and sins that will not be forgiven..

So in that aspect the same sin can be different depending on the salvation status of the individual who committed them..

2) There is a sin that shall never have forgiveness and that is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.. It is in a unique space by itself.. Jesus said it will never be forgiven in this world or the next.. So it causes sins to be divided into two categories.. Sins that can be forgiven ( everything apart from blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) and the sin that cannot be forgiven..

Hello Matt,

I enjoyed your post. Man judges sin by the outward appearance.

God judges sin based on the inward - the heart. It seems when we talk about sin we focus on “works” and forget all about the motive of the heart..... I’m so thankful God sees our hearts and judges accordingly.

I think Matt, has some good things to say, but he seems to be talking gibberish, (unintelligible language).

I don't even understand his post that much, for example:

"Many are called but few are chosen.
Not many mighty, not many noble, not many wise after the flesh are called.
God calls many people to follow Him but why doesn't He call them all when we are all sinners that comes short of the glory of God, and if you offend in the least of the law you offend in all. "

hmm?