Is all sin equal or are some greater than others? Let us remember that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven(accept the rejection of Christ). Forgiveness is offered to every sinner; no sin is so great that Jesus' blood doesn't cover. Thank you, Jesus! It would seem that scripture reveals to us that some sins are worse than others. By God's standards, ALL sin is severe and ALL sin is deserving of eternal punishment.
We have heard the saying, "all sin is sin." This is a saying that is used rather loosely among the Christian community. In terms of human relationships we have with one another, the bible gives us different levels or degrees of sin. The sin's effects upon us and also the consequences of it during our time here on earth. There are some who preach that "all sin is sin", and that the bible doesn't recognize a distinct difference in it being any greater than the other. They point to James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." The law is not to justify the sin, rather bring awareness of that sin. If one is a murderer, yet does not steal, that person is still breaking the law.
John 19:11 Jesus says, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." Jesus is speaking to the Roman ruler Pilate. Jesus tells him that the one who betrayed him and led Jesus to Pilate is the one with the greater sin.
Matthew 5: 21-28 The religious leaders of Jesus' day taught that it was okay to think on what you wanted to do, as long as you don't act on those desires. In this passage, Jesus was actually acting upon a specific desire. "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery." Jesus never states that these examples of sin are at the same level of degree.
Revelation 20:12-15 "And the dead were judged according to their works." In verse 13, "and they were judged every man according to their works." The books that are opened contain the records of all humanity. The unsaved people are punished by being bound to the Lake of Fire, but they are also judged according to their "works". It would seem, because of the different degrees of sin, that there may be different degrees of torment in the Lake of Fire.
In Romans chapter seven, Paul describes the battle that Christians fight their entire lifetime with sin. He even describes evil being present during the times in which he tries to do good. Paul ends Romans seven with this, "so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Paul deeply desires to serve our Heavenly Father, but acknowledges the constant conflict between the Spirit and Flesh. It could be argued that the Christian is neither dominated by sin nor righteousness, but is dominated by conflict.
James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Here, "masters" is translated as teachers. So, anyone who is called to preach, teach, or mentor of any kind has a greater responsibility and is held at a higher standard, which results in "greater condemnation." This is why Jesus was so hard on the Pharisees. Those who knew the law of God but rejected Jesus' Divinity were held to greater condemnation than the ones who were ignorant of the law. In this verse, the Apostle James shows us that the teacher has a greater responsibility, than that of the student who puts his trust in that teacher.
Matthew 11:21-24 Jesus rebukes the cities that did not repent, "woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida!........but I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." Clearly, Jesus taught us there is a difference in the level of sins that we commit.
Remember, we should repent from ALL sin, even if we think it's small or big. ALL sin condemns those who don't believe in Christ. We are ALL deserving of the Lake of Fire. Christ paid that punishment for those who accept Him. The Bible also reveals to us that there are levels of torment for the lost. This would have to mean different levels of sin that Christians have to repent from. Jesus was not giving Pontius Pilate a pass for his sin but rather making it clear that his role was not as serious as that of Judas Iscariot.
We have heard the saying, "all sin is sin." This is a saying that is used rather loosely among the Christian community. In terms of human relationships we have with one another, the bible gives us different levels or degrees of sin. The sin's effects upon us and also the consequences of it during our time here on earth. There are some who preach that "all sin is sin", and that the bible doesn't recognize a distinct difference in it being any greater than the other. They point to James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." The law is not to justify the sin, rather bring awareness of that sin. If one is a murderer, yet does not steal, that person is still breaking the law.
John 19:11 Jesus says, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." Jesus is speaking to the Roman ruler Pilate. Jesus tells him that the one who betrayed him and led Jesus to Pilate is the one with the greater sin.
Matthew 5: 21-28 The religious leaders of Jesus' day taught that it was okay to think on what you wanted to do, as long as you don't act on those desires. In this passage, Jesus was actually acting upon a specific desire. "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery." Jesus never states that these examples of sin are at the same level of degree.
Revelation 20:12-15 "And the dead were judged according to their works." In verse 13, "and they were judged every man according to their works." The books that are opened contain the records of all humanity. The unsaved people are punished by being bound to the Lake of Fire, but they are also judged according to their "works". It would seem, because of the different degrees of sin, that there may be different degrees of torment in the Lake of Fire.
In Romans chapter seven, Paul describes the battle that Christians fight their entire lifetime with sin. He even describes evil being present during the times in which he tries to do good. Paul ends Romans seven with this, "so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Paul deeply desires to serve our Heavenly Father, but acknowledges the constant conflict between the Spirit and Flesh. It could be argued that the Christian is neither dominated by sin nor righteousness, but is dominated by conflict.
James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Here, "masters" is translated as teachers. So, anyone who is called to preach, teach, or mentor of any kind has a greater responsibility and is held at a higher standard, which results in "greater condemnation." This is why Jesus was so hard on the Pharisees. Those who knew the law of God but rejected Jesus' Divinity were held to greater condemnation than the ones who were ignorant of the law. In this verse, the Apostle James shows us that the teacher has a greater responsibility, than that of the student who puts his trust in that teacher.
Matthew 11:21-24 Jesus rebukes the cities that did not repent, "woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida!........but I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." Clearly, Jesus taught us there is a difference in the level of sins that we commit.
Remember, we should repent from ALL sin, even if we think it's small or big. ALL sin condemns those who don't believe in Christ. We are ALL deserving of the Lake of Fire. Christ paid that punishment for those who accept Him. The Bible also reveals to us that there are levels of torment for the lost. This would have to mean different levels of sin that Christians have to repent from. Jesus was not giving Pontius Pilate a pass for his sin but rather making it clear that his role was not as serious as that of Judas Iscariot.
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