The Bible and the View of All Sins as Equal
Although it may seem intuitively obvious that all sins are not equal, due to the vast spectrum of sinfulness in the world, it is often difficult to measure the severity of individual sins. The Bible is one of the sources that can be used to shed some light on this issue. The Bible teaches that God is a just and loving God, and is holy, just and faithful in all of his dealings with humankind.
In the Old Testament commands against sin, God often specifies the punishment for the particular sin. God also gave warnings about particular sins, and spoke about them in terms of grave consequences. This indicates that certain sins which were especially abhorrent to the Lord, were regarded as more serious than others.
The New Testament prescribes a different relationship between God and humankind. Jesus changed the way God’s people interacted with Him. He brought a new covenant that included a change in the way sins were viewed and judged. In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrated radical grace and mercy and gave instructions to believers on how to extend forgiveness to others.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus said to his disciples that they should forgive each other, no matter what the sin may have been. He then went on to tell a parable that illustrated the need for limitless grace, even in the face of huge wrongs. This parable implies that Jesus did not believe all sins were equal, but that God’s forgiveness had no limits.
Paul, writing to the Corinthians, also spoke of an unequal judgement of sin. He said that some sins had greater consequences, and required extra repentance and a “greater punishment”. He also taught that those who repent and seek God’s forgiveness would be forgiven. This indicates that the bible does not view all sins as equal, but that some transgressions are more grave than others.
Throughout the bible, we see glimpses of God’s mercy and forgiveness, even in the midst of great wickedness. And yet, as a just and loving God, He is ever mindful of the severity of certain sins and treats them accordingly. In doing so, God shows us that, although all sin is wrong, not all sins are equal.
The Nature of Human Sin
Humans have a tendency to rate their own sins as “small” or “harmless” while viewing the sins of others as more “grave” or “severe”. This dualism leads to favoritism and judgement of others, things the bible specifically speaks against. We are all sinners, and the bible tells us that all sin leads to spiritual death and separation from God. It also warns us not to judge the sins of others, as all sin is an offence against God and none of us is fit to judge another.
No sin is too great for God’s grace and forgiveness. We can ask for and be forgiven of any transgression, but it is good to regard and repent of sin seriously and with humility. The faster and more fervently we seek and accept forgiveness, the more we understand the magnitude, timing and consequences that come with any sin.
To demonstrate true repentance, we must put aside the attitude of minimizing, minimizing or justifying our own sins and recognize that sin is a serious issue, however small or large our sins may appear in comparison to another’s sin. We also need to take responsibility for our own sins and accept God’s forgiveness.
God does not look at the severity of our sins through human eyes. He looks at them through the lens of His mercy, grace and perfect justice. He recognizes the seriousness of certain sins and their consequences, and He makes sure His justice is carried out fairly and justly. All sin is deserving of God’s judgement, but He loves us enough to forgive us if we accept His forgiveness.
God’s Justice versus Human Justice
What’s often overlooked in discussions around this subject is the vast difference between human justice and God’s justice when it comes to sins. Human justice makes a judgement based on the individual’s perspective of what is right and wrong, and is usually based on a set of laws. On the other hand, God’s justice is based on His divine nature, and He assesses our actions according to His holy standards. His judgement is not based on what we deem to be right or wrong, but on what He believes is right or wrong.
Because God is holy and just, He needs to hold each individual accountable for the sins they have committed. He does not judge based on the degree of sinfulness, but on the purity of heart that comes from repentance and accepting Christ’s forgiveness. In other words, all sins are equal in His eyes.
God does not rank sins in terms of their severity, but He does recognize that some sins are more damaging than others. He understands our human nature, and gives us grace and mercy when we confess our sins and repent. He is the ultimate judge, and He will judge each sin according to His perfect justice.
It may seem incomprehensible that we can receive the same grace and mercy, no matter what our sins are. But, by grace, this is exactly what God offers us. He is a loving and merciful God, and He promises to forgive us of all our sins, no matter how “big” or “small” they are.
Wisdom and Thanks Be to God
God warns us in His word not to judge the sins of others, as they too can repent and come back to the Lord. We are called to approach God humbly and without self-righteousness or comparisons. We must recognize that God is the only one who can judge our sins, and His judgement is perfect.
In the end, wise and healthy discernment is needed to fully understand the gravity of one’s own sins. The bible has given us much guidance and advice on how to handle the sin in our lives, and how to turn in repentance and faith to God for His forgiveness and grace. We should take this wisdom and use it to discern our own sinful nature and accept the mercy and grace of our loving Father.
God alone is worthy of our true worship and praise, and it is therefore in Him that we place our hope and our trust. He is a loving and just God, and He will judge our sins according to His perfect law and perfect justice. Thanks be to God that, in His mercy, He has provided forgiveness and grace for the sins we have all committed.
The Depths of God’s Mercy
The Bible is clear that sin carries with it consequences in this life and the life to come. The Bible also reveals that in His mercy, God takes into account differences in the sins of each person. It is not that God looks at the severity of a sin, but rather the intent. There are some sins God views as so heinous that He has given a greater punishment to these. However, God still desires to forgive, if we repent and accept His perfect justice.
It is not simply a matter of degree, as all sin is against God, and all sin separates us from Him. Paul speaks of some sins having a greater repentance. What he is talking about is the deep consequences that come with certain sins – consequences that can be difficult to return from. By repenting, the sinner takes responsibility for those deep wrongs and humbly asks for God’s mercy and grace.
No matter what sin a person has committed, God is still capable of forgiving them. He has made an unconditional promise to all who come to Him and confess their sins, that He will forgive and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. This is the true nature of God and His love for us – “a sure foundation, a hope that never fails.”
The Power of the Gospel
The Bible teaches us that no sin is too great to be forgiven and that any sin can be forgiven if we come to Jesus Christ in repentance. The good news of the gospel is that God is merciful and loving and desires to forgive our sins. He doesn’t look at the size or severity of our sins, but to the depths of His mercy and grace.
The Bible also teaches that we should examine our hearts and our actions, and earnestly confess our sins to God. We can then come before Him with a humble heart, knowing that His grace is greater than any sin. In His mercy, He can turn a life of sin into a life of righteousness, offering forgiveness and everlasting life.
God desires for us to experience the fullness of His grace and mercy, and to live a godly life. In His great love for us, He is willing to forgive any and all sin and to restore us to a right relationship with Him. He alone has the power to save and make us whole, and through Him we can find forgiveness, hope and purpose.
Conclusion
It is clear from the scripture that God is just and holy, and yet loving and merciful. He acknowledges the varying severity of sin and its consequences, but still offers us forgiveness and the promise of the fullness of life. Let us come to Him in humility and offer our sins to Him in repentance. Let us always remember that no sin is too great for His mercy and grace, and that He will always accept us back with loving arms.
