Are all sins equal? You cannot help but ponder on this line of thought when you look at what the Bible describes as sin and the consequences that follow what you might call a little sin.
According to the Bible, the consequence of any sinful act, whether small or significant, is death (Romans 6: 23). Hence another life must be taken for the sin to be remitted (Hebrews 9: 22).
But are all sins equal? Of course, all sins are equal in God’s eyes. But without any reasonable doubt, it is evident today, and even several scriptures acknowledge that some sinful acts are more deadly and intense than others.
However, whenever the question, are all sins equal pops up, there is this sense of drawing a comparison in levels of wronged doings, based on our human understanding of sin.
But what is the benchmark that God uses to judge the weight and level of sin? How does He measure sin? Are all sins equal to God?
As humans, we judge from the physical point of view; we measure sin based on the degree of damage it will cause in the physical sense, sometimes based on our societal and cultural sentiments hence the punishment too varies.
But in the eyes of God, sin is universal; that is, what is sin in Asia is still a sin in any part of the world. It has no cultural or societal bias.
Sin is eternal, which means what was sin in the time of Adam and Eve is still sin today and will be sin tomorrow; it does not change with time. Let us take this further as we look into the Bible’s definition of Sin.
What Is The Bible’s Definition Of Sin?
If you are wondering what is the Bible’s definition of sin? The Bible defines sin as any action or thought in rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9: 7, Joshua 1: 18), which goes against His commandment (1 John 3: 4).
Sin is defined in relation to God and the moral laws He gave us; hence, sin is immoral and goes against God’s divine laws. The Bible’s definition of sin is focused on not conforming to God’s righteous moral laws.
That is our resistance and refusal to abide by God’s divine laws, and it takes it beyond our physical actions and deeds. It explains how it penetrates our inner character, which defines who we are.
Hence, sin is when our essence and nature are not conforming to God’s morally righteous standard. This is why the Bible says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51: 5 NIV).
Here, the psalmist affirms that even as a child, without committing any evil, he is sinful. So the Bible defines sin as something inbuilt; hence by nature, we are against God even before we default God’s moral laws.
Origin Of Sin
The question of the origin of sin has been debated by so many for years. However, following the history of humans according to the Bible, the first humans created by God were the first to sin (Genesis 3: 1 – 24).
From then, sin entered the world (Romans 5: 12). However, this was not the origin of sin; instead, it was the beginning of sin in the world.
Satan is the originator of sin, and sin was found in him because he chose to seek something else for his personal pride rather than God (Ezekiel 28: 13 – 17, Isaiah 14: 12 – 14).
He was Lucifer, the most beautiful archangel in heaven (Ezekiel 28: 13). This made him proud, and he rebelled against God. Because of this rebellion, he was thrown out from heaven and fell onto the earth (Ezekiel 28: 15 – 17).
He is the person that became a serpent, tempted Adan and Eve and caused them to sin against God (Genesis 3: 1 – 24), which was how sin entered the world.
Are All Sins Equal? – Everything The Bible Says
1. Some Sins Lead To Death
The Bible teaches that there are sins that lead to death (1 John 5: 16 – 17), and there was no specific example of such a sin.
However, when anyone continues to do evil and fails to repent or forsake a particular sin, such continuous premeditated sin attracts God’s judgment, which can be physical death.
For instance, the story of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts of the Apostles 5: 1 – 12. God gave them the opportunity to repent, but their hearts were sealed; they had made their final decision, so God’s judgment came upon them.
So when the question are all sins equal is asked, one of the answers is all sins are not equal because some sins lead to death.
2. Some Sins Are Against Our Body
1 Corinthians 6: 18 (NIV) “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”
It is true that every type of sin is terminal, but sexual sin destroys a person’s life like no other sin. It is more dangerous on both sides, physical and spiritual, than any other sin, and it eats deep down into the person’s soul.
That is why the Bible says it is a sin against our body, even beyond our body; it also affects the body of Christ. Every sin affects the body of Christ, but sexual sin is done within the human body, which is the temple of God.
The reality of the Holy of Holies that the Old Testament temple signifies today is our body (Ephesians 5: 19 – 20; 1 Peter 2: 5).
So are all sins equal? Yes, but when we commit sexual immorality, we mess with our bodies and God’s temple and dwelling place (1 Corinthians 6: 19).
3. There Is No Forgiveness For Some Sins
Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, there is no forgiveness. To blaspheme means to say disrespectful, offensive and sacrilegious things against God or sacred things.
So blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is speaking sacrilegiously against the Holy Spirit, saying things that disrespect and reject the works of the Holy Spirit.
In Matthew 12: 22, Jesus healed someone that was blind and dumb, and the Pharisees accused Jesus of performing a miracle with demonic powers.
The Pharisees spoke sacrilegiously against the Holy Spirit by this statement and completely rejected His works.
Jesus seeing this action, said, “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12: 31 NIV).
By this statement, Jesus meant the Old Testament time was the era of the Father; He was rejected, and now that He is present on earth (being the era of the Son), they are rejecting Him.
The last opportunity they have to come to God is the era of the Holy Spirit, and if anyone rejects the Holy Spirit, it means there is no longer any opportunity left, and there will be no forgiveness.
4. If You Commit One Sin, You Are Guilty Of All
The Bible says in James 2: 10 (NIV), “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
God’s laws address different issues in different areas of life, but they all work together to make one whole; they don’t exist as separate laws. Hence anyone that breaks one of it is also guilty of breaking all.
So are all sins equal? Although all sins are not equal in the sense of the damage they cause on the physical, once you break one of God’s laws, you are a transgressor. You are seen as a sinner; hence you will face God’s judgment as one who breaks all.
5. All Sins Have The Same Eternal Consequence
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6: 23). Death in this context is not physical death but spiritual, eternal damnation. This means the penalty for whatever sin anyone commits is eternal damnation.
But in the physical world, different sins have different consequences, depending on the intensity of the damage they cause. Like one commits murder and another rapes or steals.
Both are breaking God’s law with the same eternal consequence, but on the physical, the result is determined by the level of damage caused.
Even the scriptures acknowledge this fact when it says an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth (Leviticus 24: 19 – 21).
6. God Hates And Detest Some Sins
Proverbs 6: 16 – 19 (NIV) says, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes.
Feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. The numbers 6 and 7 used here represent sin’s totality and summary.
It embodies every form of human wickedness and the sins humans commit. The idea of the number 7 means complete, hence, it is not talking about God hating these seven things more than others, but it means God completely detest sin.
The things listed in this text embody every form of sin and evil imaginable. So this text tells us that God hates every form of evil, regardless of level, form or type.
7. Some Sins Are More Blame-worthy Than Others
James 4: 17 (NIV) says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is a sin for them.” When one knows the right thing and chooses not to do it, it is called a sin of omission.
It is an expression of pride and arrogance. It is like telling God, “I know what your will is, I can do it, but I won’t do it.” When you make the will of God seem like an option, something you can choose to do or not to do, as though your fate is in your hands, it is a blame-worthy sin.
Luke 12: 47 – 48 (NIV) says, “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
So once again, when the question, are all sins equal is asked, you can say that all sins have the same eternal judgment, but some sins are more blameworthy than others.
8. Every Sin Separates Us From God
Right from the beginning, sin brought the barrier between God and man. Isaiah 59: 2 (NIV) says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you.”
Any little sin can cause a great bridge between God and us. This is because God is perfect, Holy and hallowed above all things, and the entire scriptures and the life of Christ are a testimony to this.
On the other hand, we were created perfect because we were created in God’s image. However, Adam and Eve sinned, and imperfection set in; hence we cannot be in union with God, who is perfect.
So are all sins equal, yes in the sense that any sin can separate us from God.
9. Sin Can Grieve And Quench The Spirit
The Bible says we should grieve not the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 30), and we should quench not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5: 19). The only way we can grieve and quench the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers in Christ is by committing sin.
The Holy Spirit is the mark of God’s ownership in our lives, so we are expected to live by His leading. The Bible says those who are led by the Spirit are called the sons of God (Romans 8: 14).
But when we refuse to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and we become rebellious by choosing a path that pleases our selfish lust, we reject being God’s own, and we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit.
Does The Bible Say One Sin Is Greater Than Another?
Someone once asked me, does the Bible say one sin is greater than another? And if not, what does it say?
The Bible placed all sin as being equal in the sight of God; hence they all have an equal eternal consequence (Romans 6: 23). However, when it comes to the physical world, some sins are greater than some, depending on the tragedy that comes with it.
Jesus recognizes that there is a weightier aspect of the Law (Matthew 23: 23), which means some sins are greater than some. Furthermore, in John 19: 11, Jesus also acknowledged that there is a greater sin, which means that all sins are not equal.
However, Jesus also teaches that breaking the least of God’s commandments makes you the least in God’s kingdom (Matthew 5: 19).
Are All Sins Equal Bible Verses
1. James 2: 10 – 11 (NIV) “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”
If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”
2. Luke 12: 47 – 48 (NIV) “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
3. 1 John 3:15 (NIV) “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
4. 1 John 5: 17 (NIV) “All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.”
5. Romans 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
6. Matthew 12:31 (NIV) “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”
7. Romans 3:10 (NIV) “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;.”
8. Romans 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
9. 1 John 5:16 (NIV) “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give them 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 you should pray about that.”
Conclusion
All sins are not equal in the eyes of God, but the penalty for all sins, both little and big is death, spiritual death (Romans 6: 23). Christ said, if anyone defaults to the least of the commands, he will be least in the kingdom (Matthew 5: 19).
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