Are There Some Sins That Are Worse Than Others?

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Does God view all sin the same? Are there some sins that are worse than others? Are the consequences and punishment the same for all sins?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss these questions about sin. Dr. Caldwell tells us that there are definitely indications that there are some sins worse than others. Yet, regarding the consequence and punishment for sin, all sin is equally damnable. All sin falls short of God’s glory. All sin is worthy of God’s wrath. In this sense, it is all the same. Where sin differs is in regards to its weightiness, its effects, and repercussions in the human realm.

Dr. Caldwell reads Matthew 23:23-24. He walks us through how Jesus reveals the weightiness of particular sins in these verses of Scripture. Dr. Caldwell also shares the difference that Jesus makes clear between the physical act of adultery and the lustful thoughts of the mind. This reveals a difference. No one would argue that the immediate repercussions of the lustful sin that takes place in the mind are equal to that of committing physical adultery. So there are some sins worse than others.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to discuss the two greatest commandments as mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament. He helps us look at how the sin of not loving God as we should, is the sin that gives birth to all other sins. Not loving God as we should carries forward and is reflected in our mistreatment of people. Dr. Caldwell says when we understand these commandments rightly, we’ve gotten to the core, to the root of the sinfulness of sin in terms of its effects. Therefore all sin deserves to be damned eternally. However, if we speak in terms of the punishment for sins, there does appear to be a difference. The New Testament does indicate that there are gradations in the realm of eternal punishments. There is a weightiness of what we have been exposed to, what we are responsible for. The more light we have received, the more responsibility we have before God. The Scriptures appear to indicate this by the way they speak of both rewards and punishments.

Dr. Philpot and Dr. Caldwell discuss a text from the Old Testament that speaks of sins committed with a high hand. Dr. Philpot understands the text to speak of some kind of greater sins; he likens it to what Dr. Caldwell has explained about the difference between lust and adultery. Dr. Caldwell says this is a great point because there are times where we sin like this. Some sins we commit are sort of without forethought. These sins seem to come about momentarily. Yet, there are other sins that people commit that they have given great thought to. These other sins often involve people planning for them to come to pass or to be accomplished. These sins involve forethought, premeditation, and presumption. Dr. Caldwell says surely, there is a difference between this kind of sin and that of someone just caught up in a moment.

All sin is serious, and every sin is deadly because all sin transgresses the law of God. Every sin is equally damning in terms of its consequence – death. But as Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Philpot have discussed, the Bible reveals that there are some sins worse than others when it comes to the impact and effect they have here in the human realm. If sin is not dealt with here in this temporal realm, those living in unrepented sin will be dealt with, fully and finally, when Christ returns. The punishment that results for those who are not saved will be eternal damnation. The degree that will be suffered by those in hell for sins may be greater or lesser in terms of the judgment they warrant.

[CherylHaurik]

Thank you for your videos. Sadly many people are feeling hopeless in this messed up world. We can have perfect hope, and peace, but only through Jesus. However, if we are trusting Jesus we have hope.
He gives hope to the hopeless. Hebrews 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 
He gives peace when there is no peace. 2Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Please call upon Jesus today.

[jb_jr]

The Bible states there is only one sin that can never be forgiven that being blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I have often thought about what that means. Is it speaking a word against the Holy Spirit and/or turning your back on God and the Holy Spirit's leading until you are given over to the desires of your heart never to return? Thank you for this great podcast!

[KaraboMasemola]

So, although Jesus said that lust and adultery are both sins, that does not mean they are equal. It is much worse to actually murder a person than it is to simply hate a person, even though they are both sins in God’s sight. There are degrees to sin. Some sins are worse than others. At the same time, in regard to both eternal consequences and salvation, all sins are the same. Every sin will lead to eternal condemnation (Romans 6:23). All sin, no matter how "small, " is against an infinite and eternal God, and is therefore worthy of an infinite and eternal penalty. Further, there is no sin too "big" that God cannot forgive. Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin (1 John 2:2). Jesus died for all of our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Are all sins equal to God? Yes and no. In severity? No. In penalty? Yes. In forgivability? Yes.