If god is just, why are some sins not worse than others?

Question

I keep seeing people say that no sin is worse than any other in the eyes of god. This clearly makes no sense if god is just. Some crimes are worse than others and deserve greater punishment. Such a concept isn't even Biblical. The following all support the idea of degrees of sin: Ex. 32:30, Ezek. 23:11, 1 John 5:16, Mk. 3:28-30.

Answer 1

It makes the "you're going to hell" thing more convincing.

Or so they think.

Answer 2

Suppose you are talking to someone on the telephone and the connection gets broken. It doesn't mean the person is gone it just means you cannot communicate anymore. The reason God made humans is to have some one to communicate and fellowship with. When we sin, big or small, we break the connection, so even though he is there He is greved because His purpose cannot be fulfilled. Another reason is that when you sin you are mising the target. The target being fellowship with God. If you shoot a bow and arrow at a target and miss, the arrow is gone out into the abyss and must be searched for to find. It is the missing of the target that is the sin, not how much you missed it, but that you missed it. God only cares about the way you operate because His ways are the best ways. Like any Father he wants the best for His own. He also knows the result of missing the target. He can see where you are going if you are in sin. Once again it is not the sin but the fruit of the sin that counts. As for mans justice system in relations to Gods, there is nothing close. man is trying desperatly to control other men. If every man was totally sold out to God then there would be no need for laws of the land. It is just a blind attempt to bring man into some state of control. What in the World tells the law makers they have to worry about it? It is historic in origin. It is the past that controls the future in the natural World. In God's World you just have to be on target to be in a state of mind that would never violate anothers space in any way. it is dark spirits that cause a person to go off target and also causes a man to harm another. In God there is no darkness, and that is why He wants us to dwell in fellowship with Him.

Answer 3

There are sins that are worse than others. The idea that no sin is worse than another sin comes from the fact that God says that if you break even one of his commandments it's the same as if you broke them all since the penaly of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through faith in Christ.

It's like if you went before a judge for a parking ticket and found out that the fine was either some huge amount of money that you could never pay, even if you were Bill Gates or death. That's why I'm so glad that God paid my fine when He sent Jesus to die in my place. All a person has to do is accept that payment by trusting God. If they don't it's like hearing that a distant relative died and left you millions of dollars in their will and all you have to do to collect it is to go to the bank and sign some papers. If you don't go to the bank,(the cross of Jesus in faith) the gift never does you any good.

Answer 4

All sin is, ultimately, choosing one's own will over God's. When people will be judged, they will be separated into the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

While some sins may seem lesser to us, whenever there is a list of sins in the Bible, "small" sins and "big" sins are lumped in together.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

As for your references, some people commit more sins than others, but nobody who is eternally punished will say, "At least I'm not as bad off as that guy. At least I'm here in the shallow end of the lake of fire." A "sin unto death" is one that a person refuses to repent of, and thus be forgiven; God will not forgive somebody who chooses not to be forgiven.


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And Todd B has the right idea, but the Bible in no place teaches "praying a little prayer to become a Christian." In fact, a man believed that Jesus was the Son of God and repented of his sins, and he was told to stop praying and be baptized (Acts 22:16).

Answer 5

You are talking about a matter of perspective. Let me clarify.

In a dark room, a candle throws some light, a flashlight throws "more", a 100 watt bulb really shatters the darkness! Aren't they all light? Well, yes, but in different intensity based on power and source, and in comparison to the original darkness.

However, compare a candle, a flashlight, and a 100 watt bulb to direct sunlight, and which one will you actually see? You will only see the sun. Why? Because the sun overpowers the other 3 in magnitude.

We can use similiar metaphores to describe sin. In a world where there is "some" righteousness, sin can stand out (or not) depending on its percieved severity. It depends on what you are comparing it with, just like the candle and the flashlight in the dark room. In a world where stealing and rape and murder are all "sins", but everybody steals anyway, the person who rapes and murders will be considered "worse" than the person who steals a pack of gum. It is a matter of perspective; we can always find somebody "worse" than ourselves, especially if we use ourselves as a measuring guide.

If, however, the "measure" of righteousness is God Himself, then everything changes. Just as a candle, flashlight, and 100 watt bulb are "dim" when compared to the sun, so too is our "righteousness" when compared to God. Our "righteousness" is crap. All our sins are darkness, for He is light.

I can look at my own actions, and compare them with another person's, and say "I (or they) are the better person". However, when I compare my own actions with God, I can say "I am pond scum!"

"Degrees of sin" are actually measured out for purposes of civil justice and societal correction. Some could be corrected, some could not ever be tolerated, and had to be removed (death penalty).

Answer 6

All sin is wrong, but it is true that some are worse than others.

In the Catholic church, there is a division between "regular" sins and the exceptionally bad sins. A venial sin is your normal, everyday straying from the pure path: lying as an excuse for why you were late, sneaking a soda from the company fridge without putting the change in the jar, whatever.

A mortal sin is much more serious, one that willingly and knowingly goes directly against God's will. As opposed to the minor injuries venial sins inflict on our graceful relationship with God, mortal sins can fully kill it if we do not repent with true sorrow and humility.

I would also like to point out that I agree with the post above mine- our salvation is a gift from God. However, a gift CAN be refused.

Answer 7

Exodus 32:30 reads "The next day Moses said to the people, 'You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin'."

-If all sins are equal, then all sins are great. That would make sense in God's eyes.

Ezekiel 23:11 reads "Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister."

-Someone can be more corrupt than somebody else. There are different levels of lust. I could look at girls in swimsuits, or look at girls completely nude. This has nothing to do with sin.

1 John 5:16 reads "If anyone see his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life-to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that."

-There is one sin that leads to death. But you are referring to normal, everyday, human sins. We can easily rule this verse out.

And Mark 3:28-30 reads "'Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemies against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of eternal sin'-for they had said, 'He has an unclean spirit'."

-Once again, there is one eternal sin. Not believing in Jesus Christ.

All four of these verses prove against the point you are trying to make. You are confusing two ideas. Sins that can be forgiven, and the one sin that cannot. The sin of no faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

Salam (Peace)!
I agree with that too. There are sins which are greater than the other. In Islam, the greatest sin is to assign partners with God. That's the GREATEST and whoever commits it and dies will never get out of hellfire. After that is murder, fornication, disobedient to parents, etc. Not all sins are equal. There are definitely major and minor sins and Allah (God) has defined those sins for us in the Qur'an and told us already which are great and which are small. Although, all sins should be avoided, we are human beings and we make mistakes. But we should definitely stay away from MAJOR sins. And Allah (God) knows best.
I hope you understood.
Take care!

Answer 9

God said that if you have violated one part of the law then you have violated all of the law...The only sin that is the greatest of them all is to reject Jesus as the Savior. I know that all sin isnt equal in some degree but think of it this way if you lie to your spouse and then cheat on them...think of all the ppl you have hurt by doing that...your family, your kids, your husband, your friends, etc....if you steal from work it hurts all your coworkers, the company, your family if you get fired.....the consequences are all the same if kill someone or if you lie, steal cheat, the consequences are the same they may not be as long or as publized but they hurt the ppl around you no matter what type of sin you do...

Answer 10

Hmmm,

I always thought that some sins are worse than others!

From the time I was a Protestant, and even now as a Catholic, I think some sins are worse than others in the eyes of God.

Peace!

Answer 11

Thanks For Your Question :)

Well in Islam there are some sins greater than other of course
we cant equate lying with fornication for example there are degrees in sins the big sins are : fornication, stealing, drinking, doing magic ...and some other but the Idea of making all the sins equal is just wrong