Q: #85. Sin is sin. All sin is equal to God, right?
A: When I am ministering online, and this topic comes up, people who know
me start laughing, because they know this is one of my pet peeves, that drives
me crazy. I was sure I had addressed this before somewhere on this site, but
since the site is getting bigger and I am getting older, I can't seem to find
it or remember where it is, so let's address it again.
Let me begin by saying, "NOOOO, sin is NOT sin...!! (Ok, I will calm down )
I guess almost everyone is taught this at one time or another. What amazes
me is that almost everyone seems to believe it. There is no place in the Bible
that EVER says, "sin is sin." It isn't even logical to believe God views a
murder the same as a lie. What would God consider worse, if Hitler lied to
millions of people, or murdered millions of people? If you say God doesn't care
either way, it is the same to Him.... that just isn't rational...
Of course, the Bible bears this out. Let's look at an example.
In the Old Testament, what was the punishment God ordered for someone who
stole something from another person? It was restitution (Ex 22:1-4)(Lev 6:2-5)
(2 Sam 12:6). They had to repay what was stolen plus interest. Now, what was
the punishment God ordered for someone who murdered another person? The person
who murdered another person was to be killed (Ex 21:12-14, 23-25)
(Num 35:16-21,29-31)(Gen 9:6).
If God viewed the thief's sin as equal with the murderer's sin, why didn't
He order the thief to be killed just like the murderer? Or, why didn't He order
the murderer to pay restitution just like the thief? On the contrary, God said
the murderer CANNOT pay restitution (Num 35:32). Obviously, God does not view
the sin of the murderer as equal with the sin of the thief.
The only other thing I can think of to make this point, is simply to
post different verses showing that God views sins differently.
(Ezek 8:6,13,15) is a good place to start. I will not post all of the verses
for the sake of space, but if you read these, you will find that God is
talking to Ezekiel, and showing him the sins of Israel, and how each sin is
successively worse than the previous sin.
(Jn 19:11)(Jesus speaking to Pilate) 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.
(James 3:1) My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall
receive the GREATER CONDEMNATION (will be judged more harshly if teaching
incorrectly).
(Ezek 16:52) Thou also, which hast judged they sisters, bear thine own shame
for THY SINS THAT THOU HAST COMMITTED MORE ABOMINABLE THAN THEY: they are more
righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that
thou hast justified thy sisters.
We also are shown clearly that some will receive GREATER PUNISHMENT in Hell
for sins than others will. Why?? If God views all sin the same, why are some
going to be punished more?
(Lk 12:47-48) 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.
(48) 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.
(Jer 16:18) And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin DOUBLE;
because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with
carcasses of their detestable and abominable things.
(Mk 12:40) Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers:
THESE SHALL RECEIVE GREATER DAMNATION.
(Gen 4:15) And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him SEVENFOLD...
(Heb 10:29) of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood
of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done
despite the Spirit of grace?
(Mt 11:24) But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
(Isa 40:2) God made Jerusalem pay double for it's sins.
(Jer 17:18) Jeremiah asked God to destroy those who persecuted him with double
destruction.
*(Caps emphasis on all verses above mine)
One more thing I would add here, why does God consider some sins
"abominations" and others not?
OK... now that I have made the case that God doesn't view all sins equally,
let me add one provision here.
Sin is equal in ONE way. A lie will keep you out of Heaven just as much as
a murder will. No sinner can get to Heaven; not a liar, not a murderer, not a
thief. The only way to get to Heaven is to be perfect, and we will NEVER be
perfect. This is why we all need Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life we
could never live, and when we are born again, His perfect righteousness is
imputed to us. His blood covers our sins, and make us acceptable to God and
able to get into Heaven.
We should also remember that ANY sin will separate us (as Christians) from
walking closely with the Lord while on this planet. It does not break our union
with God, but it can break our communion with Him. This is why we need to
confess our sins, and repent, keeping short accounts with the Lord.
)
I guess almost everyone is taught this at one time or another. What amazes
me is that almost everyone seems to believe it. There is no place in the Bible
that EVER says, "sin is sin." It isn't even logical to believe God views a
murder the same as a lie. What would God consider worse, if Hitler lied to
millions of people, or murdered millions of people? If you say God doesn't care
either way, it is the same to Him.... that just isn't rational...
Of course, the Bible bears this out. Let's look at an example.
In the Old Testament, what was the punishment God ordered for someone who
stole something from another person? It was restitution (Ex 22:1-4)(Lev 6:2-5)
(2 Sam 12:6). They had to repay what was stolen plus interest. Now, what was
the punishment God ordered for someone who murdered another person? The person
who murdered another person was to be killed (Ex 21:12-14, 23-25)
(Num 35:16-21,29-31)(Gen 9:6).
If God viewed the thief's sin as equal with the murderer's sin, why didn't
He order the thief to be killed just like the murderer? Or, why didn't He order
the murderer to pay restitution just like the thief? On the contrary, God said
the murderer CANNOT pay restitution (Num 35:32). Obviously, God does not view
the sin of the murderer as equal with the sin of the thief.
The only other thing I can think of to make this point, is simply to
post different verses showing that God views sins differently.
(Ezek 8:6,13,15) is a good place to start. I will not post all of the verses
for the sake of space, but if you read these, you will find that God is
talking to Ezekiel, and showing him the sins of Israel, and how each sin is
successively worse than the previous sin.
(Jn 19:11)(Jesus speaking to Pilate) 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.
(James 3:1) My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall
receive the GREATER CONDEMNATION (will be judged more harshly if teaching
incorrectly).
(Ezek 16:52) Thou also, which hast judged they sisters, bear thine own shame
for THY SINS THAT THOU HAST COMMITTED MORE ABOMINABLE THAN THEY: they are more
righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that
thou hast justified thy sisters.
We also are shown clearly that some will receive GREATER PUNISHMENT in Hell
for sins than others will. Why?? If God views all sin the same, why are some
going to be punished more?
(Lk 12:47-48) 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.
(48) 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.
(Jer 16:18) And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin DOUBLE;
because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with
carcasses of their detestable and abominable things.
(Mk 12:40) Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers:
THESE SHALL RECEIVE GREATER DAMNATION.
(Gen 4:15) And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him SEVENFOLD...
(Heb 10:29) of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood
of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done
despite the Spirit of grace?
(Mt 11:24) But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
(Isa 40:2) God made Jerusalem pay double for it's sins.
(Jer 17:18) Jeremiah asked God to destroy those who persecuted him with double
destruction.
*(Caps emphasis on all verses above mine)
One more thing I would add here, why does God consider some sins
"abominations" and others not?
OK... now that I have made the case that God doesn't view all sins equally,
let me add one provision here.
Sin is equal in ONE way. A lie will keep you out of Heaven just as much as
a murder will. No sinner can get to Heaven; not a liar, not a murderer, not a
thief. The only way to get to Heaven is to be perfect, and we will NEVER be
perfect. This is why we all need Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life we
could never live, and when we are born again, His perfect righteousness is
imputed to us. His blood covers our sins, and make us acceptable to God and
able to get into Heaven.
We should also remember that ANY sin will separate us (as Christians) from
walking closely with the Lord while on this planet. It does not break our union
with God, but it can break our communion with Him. This is why we need to
confess our sins, and repent, keeping short accounts with the Lord.