Is All Sin Equal?

There are several misleading slogans that are just lousy theology: "All sin is equal to God." "God sees all sin as the same."

Our view of sin has been distorted by our culture's wrong perception of equality.

While it is important to emphasize that all sin is wrong, it is crucial to recognize that varying degrees of sin carry different consequences. We can further solidify this understanding by incorporating more biblical references and arguments.

In the words of Cornelius Plantinga, "All sins are equally wrong, but not all sins are equally bad."

All sin is wrong, but there are different consequences for different sins.

God's Nature

One of the fundamental aspects to consider when discussing the equality of sin is the nature of God. God is perfectly holy, righteous, and perfect. Therefore, any act that goes against His nature is deemed sinful. It is important to remember that no sin, no matter how small, is insignificant in the eyes of God. However, this recognition does not imply that all sins are equal in every respect.

Sin's Nature

A sin is anything contrary to God's ultimate objective standards and falls short of His moral perfection.

The Degrees of Sin

Let's now make some distinctions or refinements to different kinds and degrees of sins.

We all weigh or judge certain wrongs or sins as greater than others.

In Corinthians 6:18, the apostle Paul explicitly mentions sexual sin as a sin against the body. While all sin will harm our body and soul, certain sins and their frequency can be far more detrimental to our well-being. This recognition highlights the varying degrees of evil, emphasizing that some sins have a more profound impact on our lives and relationships.

Moreover, Jesus Himself acknowledged the concept of greater sins in John 19:11 when He told Pilate that the one who betrayed Him was guilty of a greater sin. This statement implies that there are levels of severity when it comes to sin. It is much worse to commit murder or violate a child than to have contempt for someone. These varying degrees of sin demonstrate that not all sins are equal.

Another aspect to consider is the degrees of punishment. In Luke 12:47-48 and 2 Thessalonians 1:6, we see examples of God's retribution or punishment on those who defiantly rejected His orders or zealously afflicted or persecuted His children. These passages suggest that the penalty for certain sins may be more extraordinary and intense.

Furthermore, in Revelation 20:12-13, it is stated that the dead will be judged according to their deeds: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

This passage implies that the punishment in the afterlife will be based on the specific actions of individuals. While salvation is through faith alone, our deeds and the severity of our sins will be taken into account in determining the extent of punishment.