ARE ALL SINS EQUAL?
I
can’t count how many times I have heard people say, “sin is sin.” Or similar to that they say “all sin is equal.” But is that true? What does the Bible say? Are all sins equal? Is one sin worse or greater than another? Many have asked this question, me included. To find the answer we have to consider several truths. First, all sin is equal in the sense that all sin breaks God’s law and falls short of His perfect standards. The Bible portrays sin as straying from God’s paths—it is opposing Him; it is rebellion. Whether it is the sin of stealing a small item, telling a lie, or murder, all sin transgresses the law of God. In that sense, all sin is the same in God’s
eyes. Human law parallels this: a person can break the law by jaywalking or by mass murder. Either way, the law is violated. The second truth to consider is the personal and social consequence of sin. In human law, jaywalking does not have the same personal and social impact and consequence as committing murder. Similarly, the Bible also teaches that not all sin is equal in its personal, social, spiritual, and eternal impact. The sins David committed in connection with his adultery with Bathsheba had a far greater negative personal, social, spiritual, and eternal impact than the lie told by Rahab to protect the Israelite spies (Joshua 2:1-7). Measuring it that way, some sins are obviously greater than others.
Article Illustration: Arden Ludwig
by Steve Johnson
