Is One Sin as Bad as Another?
Are There Sins that Are Greater Than Others?
Are All Sins the Same in the Eyes of God?

By Robert Waters

I cannot keep my mouth shut when people say "no sin is greater than another" because it is absolutely false, being contrary to the teaching of the Bible. Further, the idea makes no sense and is harmful. We all recognize that one sin, any sin, can cause one to be a sinner and lost once the age of accountability is reached. This would be what was in the mind of James when he said, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" (James 2:10). He was talking about Christians who would seek to be justified by the Law of Moses, under which one could not be saved without Christ unless the person committed no sins. Jesus is the only one to ever live a sinless life. So, the passage is simply misunderstood and misapplied to give the impression that all sins are the same.

Is MURDER not greater than a slap in the face? Is adultery not worse than a lustful look-something done only "in the heart" (Matt. 5:28)? Is driving 100 mph in a 20 mph school zone not a greater sin than driving 21 mph at the same location? The answers to these questions are a no-brainer and the Bible clearly supports this position.

The word "abomination" is found 76 times in the KJV. The word is used to put emphasis on certain sins that God hates more than others (Prov. 6:16-19). Some sins, on the other hand, are not placed in this category.

Also, there is a class of sins considered "sins of ignorance" as opposed to "presumptuous sins" or "willful sins" (Numbers 15:28-31; Heb. 10:25). Peter explains that it is better not to be aware that one is sinning than to sin knowingly (2 Peter 2:20-21). Even if you don’t comprehend that a sin committed in ignorance is not as great as a sin committed presumptuously, the fact that the consequences are different should dispel from the mind the idea that one sin is as great as another.

Consider the word "rebellion." It is just a fact that people commit sins against God (and people) that are not acts of rebellion. Such sins don't cause separation between family members. Fathers don't severely punish a child who tells an untruth that he thought was true. John made it clear that some sins are "not unto death" but there is a sin "unto death" (1 John 5:16, 17). Thus, the idea that all sins are the same is a ridiculous concept.

Jesus answered Pilate (the man who turned Him over to the Jews), "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin" (John 19:11). It was Caiaphas (the Jewish high priest) who perpetrated the greater sin. It was he who was responsible for the mock trial that violated every aspect of the normal procedure for such trials. Also, as a priest he should have been familiar with the numerous prophecies (more than 300) that detailed Jesus as the Messiah. Pilate sinned by caving to political pressure to turn Jesus over to the Jews, but Jesus said the sin Caiaphas committed was greater.

Moses spoke of bowing before a golden calf as a "great sin" (Ex. 32:30-31). God considered it so because He is a jealous God and will punish those who worship other gods (Deut. 5:9).

The Bible makes it clear that teaching error is sin, but some errors are obviously greater than others. A false doctrine that jeopardizes souls is a greater error than advocating a position that technically may be incorrect but has no eternal consequence. As an example, to argue that there is no future resurrection of the body is a teaching connected with "overthrowing the faith" of some and is obviously a sin of enormous gravity (2 Tim. 2:16-18; James. 3:1).

Finally, the Bible speaks about degrees of punishment based upon the magnitude of one's sin (Matt. 11:21, 22; Rev. 20:12, 13). "And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:47-48).

Conclusion:

The problem with thinking and teaching that all sins are the same is that the notion makes it difficult for people to have confidence that they are continually cleansed by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). Or, worse, it results in some believing they are living totally above sin, which is their basis for thinking they are saved-a view to which the Scriptures are strongly opposed (1 John 1:8, 10).

Suggested Reading:

The Christian and Sin
https://www.totalhealth.bz/christian-and-sin.htm

Presumptuous Sins
http://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-presumptuous-sins.htm

Continual Cleansing Versus Perfectionism
http://www.totalhealth.bz/continual-cleansing.pdf

The Security of The Believer-An Exchange between Donnie Rader and Robert Waters, published in "Searching the Scriptures"
http://www.totalhealth.bz/The_Security_of_the_Believer.pdf