What are the levels of sin?

Question

I find it difficult to believe that a person who stole something to stay alive (food) would burn in hell for all eternity the same as someone like adolf hitler or george bush who condone murder.

Are there levels of severity when it comes to sin?

Answer 1

Catholics believe:

Mortal sin is a grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.

Venial sin is a sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent.

But continual venial sin can slowly but surely totally separate you from God, placing you into the state of mortal sin.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The levels of sin are:

Venial--very minor sins.
Mortal--very serious sins, which include the 7 Deadly Sins.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Is the 1 Eternal Sin which can never receive God's Forgiveness.

Answer 3

There are no levels of sin, although there are levels of punishment. Like a person who stole something wouldn't receive as big as a punishment as a person who killed someone on purpose. But a sin is a sin in God's eyes, but as long as you ask for forgiveness you will be OK, but don't continually do the sin over and over again.

Answer 4

There are no levels. I don't think it says anyone will "burn in hell" for stealing bread to stay alive. The thing about sin is, we can repent it if we truly feel we've done wrong. That's the grace that our loving God offers those who seek Him. Jesus came to help us out. Jesus paid for our sins, we just have to accept Him and repent. He then tells us to bring heaven to earth whenever we can by living like He did. There are even simpler sins than stealing, but there's also hope for forgiveness.

Answer 5

Sin is sin is the eyes of God. Go back and read. Who told you stealing will send you to hell? Who told you murder would send you to hell. Yes this sins are wrong and should be and will be punished, either in this life or when you stand before God. However the only sin that will send a soul to hell is, rejection of Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Answer 6

There are no levels. Sin very well may not be what you believe it is.
Study the scriptures below.

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.


Jam 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

You see, if you steal, you are guilty of the entire law.

Jam 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Answer 7

Levels taught by Last Prophet Muhammad are

1) Associating Partners with God. Meaning you supplicate, worship, accept divine law, from something/someone alongside the Almighty. There is no deity worthy of worship except one God. To say God has a son or partner is the biggest injustice because you have not recognized your Creator, sustainer, Cherish.

2) Murder someone without a just cause

3) Commit adultery with neighbor wife/husband.

The Prophet defined sin by saying

“Righteousness is good morality/character and sin is that which causes discomfort inside your heart, and that which you dislike people to know about you.”

There is major sins committed against:
1) God - associating partners, not worshiping properly, not doing duties as one who submits willingly to God.
2)Creation of God - back biting, slandering, stealing...etc...
3) Humanity - terrorism, murder....etc..

May God guide us and forgive us.

Answer 8

Are you referring to the circles of hell in Dante's Inferno? It's a book of one man's perception of Hell. Written a buttload of years ago, it's incredibly outdated and asks the question you've asked here.

In Judaism, for example, there are three levels of sin:
Pesha or Mered - An intentional sin; an action committed in deliberate defiance of God;
Avon - This is a sin of lust or uncontrollable emotion. It is a sin done knowingly, but not done to defy God;
Cheit - This is an unintentional sin.

In Christianity, there is personal sin and original sin, both of which can be atoned for.

In atheism, the concept of sin is not very meaningful; sin is generally regarded by most people as a theological concept, and atheists are by definition not followers of a theology. Non-believers can certainly regard action as being right or wrong according to their particular moral system, but they generally do not think of them as being "sinful."

I believe the levels of sin you've described are somewhere in Christianity, but, in my opinion, sin or wrong doing is something to do with one's personal morals.

Answer 9

Sin is sub-divided into greater sins, called mortal, and lesser sins, called venial (from Latin venia meaning pardon).
Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God. This sin is called mortal because it deprives of spiritual life and brings everlasting death and damnation on the soul.

Venial sin is a slight offense against the law of God in matters of less importance, or in matters of great importance it is an offense committed without sufficient reflection or full consent of the will. Venial sin weakens the individual but it does not deprive him of spiritual life.

A serious, grave or mortal sin is the knowing and willful violation of God's law in a serious matter, for example, idolatry, adultery, murder, slander. These are all things gravely contrary to the love we owe God and, because of Him, our neighbor.

Matthew 12:31-32 (New International Version)

31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

This text tells us that we can speak against Jesus and be forgiven, but we cannot speak against the Holy Spirit and be forgiven.

This proves that there are different degrees/levels of sin.

Answer 10

we would ALL burn in hell doesn't matter if we killed someone or not...or stole sumthin or not, we're ALL sinners. Romans 3:23"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." KJV.

When you die in your sin because you rejected Jesues Christ, and die and go to hell, yes there will be differant levels of hell, some hotter, and some depending on what you did here on earth.

But if you have asked Jesus to come into your heart at one time in your life you WILL go to heaven doesn't matter what you've done....now your prolly thinking...."but what if they've killed someone..." doesn't matter, God says he'll forgive you of all your sins, future and past.