Greater Sins

We had a discussion last night about the differences in sin. The question is: are all sins of the same magnitude, or another way of asking "In God's eyes are all sins the same?"

Since the penalty for unrepentant sin is the same, it is alleged by some that all sins are of equal repulsion in God's eyes. That's logical, but that is not scriptural.

James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

"Whosoever" is anyone; the Christian as well as the pagan or the infidel.

 Romans 3:9b "...for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

Why?

 Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

So sinner and Christian alike who violate one Law, it's as if they have broken them all. And what is the penalty?

 Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death;"

The "cure" for sin is this:

 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Therefore the penalty for sin is death, even for the slightest sin. The result of any sin is "death" unless one accepts the grace of Jesus Christ by believing in him. Even stealing that piece of bubble gum damns a person to hell unless that person trusts Jesus for salvation. Likewise, any grievous sin results in the same punishment. Why? Because it's not the disobedience which damns the sinner, but the lack of allegiance to God!

In algebraic terms 1 sin = 10 sins = death;  repentance = eternal life

What is the Law? They are God's Law; The Ten Commandments. Jesus summarizes those Commandments by this statement:

Matthew 22:36 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The Greatest Commandment is to "love God". It summarizes Commandments 1-4.  It's corollary is to "love others". That Commandment summarizes Commandments 5-10.

The GREATEST Commandment is to "love God". Then the GREATEST sin is failure to "love God" or "hating God".  This verse is in effect the sin of "hating God":

 Mark 3: 29 "...he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."

Therefore the greatest sin is "blasphemy against the Ghost of Jesus" (see my commentary:  WATER AND BLOOD). In short, rejecting Jesus is the greatest sin and the damnable sin.

Are there others? Yes! Next to that is failing to love others. The second greatest commandment. The next greatest sin is "hate of others". If we hate others we hate God because he commands us to demonstrate love for him by loving others.

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

Since this is the second command, it's violation is the second greatest sin: "hating others"!

 John 19:10 "Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, 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."

Here Jesus admitted that Pilate sinned. However, the GREATER SIN was Judas' betrayal, the one who delivered Jesus to Pilate. It may include the Chief Priests and the others.

It was a sin to crucify Jesus, but it was a greater sin to betray Jesus. Betrayal is worse than murder! That corresponds to "grieving the Holy Ghost". You see, there are degrees of sin! It continues:

Not that God loves any sin, but he specifies some sins so grievous that he acknowledges the profundity of those sins:

 Deuteronomy 16:22 "Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth."

 Isaiah 1:14 "Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them."

God hates the sin of idolatry and astrology. It's having "other gods besides him".

Malachi 2:15b "Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16a For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away:"

A GREAT SIN which God HATES is divorce, the "putting away of one's spouse" because it's a violation of fidelity the same as committing adultery (blasphemy) against God.

You see, there is a pattern to grievous sin. One is greater than another. God hates idolatry and he hates divorce! These are very grievous to him. He would rather have you love him and take that piece of bubble gum than to hate him because Jesus knows that we're human. He has faced temptation just as we have! We can still love God and sin. God has grace sufficient to forgive that, but hate he cannot overlook! God even "winked" at divorce in patriarch times because of the ignorance of men in sin:

 Acts 17:30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"

However, God never winked at hate! There was always a penalty for that!

Some sins are "an abomination" to God. That means they are most disgusting!

 Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."

 Leviticus 20:13" If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Obviously, stealing bubble gum is not as disgusting to God as is homosexuality! There are others as well!

Deuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."

God specifically mentions the disgusting sins of idolatry, witchcraft, astrology, channeling, and the like as the most disgusting of sins!

You see, there are degrees of sin. Jesus even said so by his use of the phrase "greater sin" to Pilate!

We need to study scripture for our OPINIONS. That makes opinions worth having because the opinion is based on God's Word rather than our own weak reasoning and logic!

If we equate "stealing bubble gum" to "adultery" that minimizes the severity of adultery! Satan wants us to "just give up" when we steal a piece of bubble gum just as some "just give up" when they commit adultery!

In summary, there are degrees of sin! That's my OPINION, but it is based on scripture!

God can pardon any sin with equal ease, but it's easier for us to repent of the less grievous sins. He can pardon with complete ease both murder and theft, but murder is more grievous because it's "hate" (1 John 3:15).  However, never forget the PENALTY for not repenting of ANY sin, all results in death. That's God's justice, but it is just.