Are all sins equal in the eyes of God?

Question

If so, that upsets me.

What if the gunman in Virginia asked for forgiveness right before he killed himself...I don't want him to be in heaven with me.

If I tell 33 lies in my life (I admit, I will tell many many many more than that- just being brutally honest), does this mean that God considers me as sinful as the killer in Virginia, and the killer is equal to me in those terms?

Answer 1

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others (Westiminster Shorter Catechism answer to question #83).

Here's two things "wrong" with your question:
1. You assume that a gunman who has just brutally murdered a bunch of folks would actually in sincerity seek forgiveness from God. This is not the way things work. God had (obviously) taken his hand off this person, and allowed him to become as bad as he wanted to be ... amost as bad as he could be. To find out how bad a human can be, read the story of Nebuchadnezzar, and what happened to him when God removed his restraining hand from him. However he (unlike Pharoah, of whom God also removed his restraining hand) was brought to repentance, and what appears to be faith by his "discipline". As the Lord has said "I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion, and I will harden whom I will to harden". That is his sovereign right, which displays both his justice, in punishing some sinners for their sins, and his mercy, in forgiving and rewarding some sinners for the righteousness of Christ, accounted to them, through faith in Jesus.

2. It appears that you may be misunderstanding the meaning of sin and the punishment thereof. It's not how big or how many sins that we have that is really the "big deal" when it comes down to it. It's about WHOM we've offended. That's why just a bite from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil plunged mankind and all of creation into decay, sin, suffering and death. The act itself is practically nothing, almost laughable, but the Person who's Law was offended, Who's holiness, righteousness, and goodness was offended, is the Lord God. Crimes against the infinite, eternal, and unchangeable God are worthy of infinite, eternal, and unchangeable punishment. But God, who is full of mercy, imparts this mercy to many.

I can say that I have much to be forgiven of, and if the Lord is pleased to forgive a man, who am I to challenge Him? You can be sure that the Lord will do what is right. Remember also that we will all be judged by the level of judgement that we wish to serve upon others.

It's right to punish a crime. However, this person's crimes are most likely being punished, and they will never stop being punished. It's too late.

In closing, if a man commits a crime (whatever it is), and he is convicted by God of it, repents of it, sincerely asks forgiveness of it, and desires to follow Christ, Christians are obliged to extend forgiveness to him. However, the Law is obligated to punish the man for his crime(s), and the Church must allow as such without hindrance.

Sorry for the novel.

Answer 2

All violations of the law of God written in the bible are considered sin against God but if you ask forgiveness, you maybe,maybe forgiven and not to do it again or to repeat the same sin again because ones your sin have been forgiven, you ought not to commit sin again.

If you will go to heaven with God, your mind and body will be changed on spiritual body and mind and you could no longer recall what happened when you were still a human being. You can just enjoy your life in heaven without thinking of the past. You could no longer remember your mother, father, brothers and sisters and your friends. We are all the same and equal in spirit.
jtm

Answer 3

All sins are equal in the eyes of the Lord. Not only are all of them equal but one sin condemns you just as much as a thousand. If you recall it only took a single sin of eating the forbidden fruit to condemn all of humanity. If you commit suicide you go to hell. Doesn't matter if he asked for forgiveness right before he killed himself. All suicides go to hell. I suppose if one were to overdose on sleeping pills or some such where they'd still have some minutes left to live then they could ask for forgiveness but they would have to legitimately repent and want to live.

I think it's funny how people tend to focus only on the ten commandments. There are over 600 commandments in the Old Testament. A good deal of those are rules about how sacrifices should be made and there are dietary rules and so forth and so on. Many of those rules are no longer applicable because once Christ got here the need for blood sacrifices wasn't there anymore and unclean foods were made clean by Christ. Still there are more commandments in the Bible that Christians are supposed to follow than just those that Moses was given on the tablets.

Answer 4

First and foremost, God is the one and only judge, not you. It is agaisnt the word of God for you to decide who should or should not belong in heaven. Secondly, sin is sin to God. God put his own Son on the Cross when he could have delivered him many different ways because God wanted to show that he has zero tolerance for sin. The only way you can get into heaven is by cleansing the sin from your life through the blood of Christ, and no other way. There is an unforgiveable sin mentioned in the Bible and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I highly doubt you have done that, so don't worry. Also, you cannot just ask for forgiveness and go to heaven. Without a relationship with Jesus Christ beforehand, you have no foundation to ask forgiveness and God will clearly say, according to the Bible, that "...I never knew you." One's relationship with God is VERY private and none of anyone else's business. I appreciate your question and your concerns so please don't think I am being critical of you or harsh. There is no such thing as little sin or big sin to God and that is also made clear in the Bible. So yes, sin is sin. Now, when you talk of quantity of sin, that I believe is not for us to know. Whether we've committed 1,000 sins per year or 10, sin is sin and can only be forgiven by the shed blood of Christ. That is a major part of why Christ died. In summary, sin is sin, but a perfect record is kept of each and every one and nothing goes missed by God. God holds one standard for everybody but again, your relationship is personal and God decides in his perfect wisdom and righteousness now to deal with people individually according to His word.

Answer 5

Pretty much yes - all sins are equal except the unpardonable one which is rejecting His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus died for that murderer just like He died for you the liar. When you get tired of explaining how much better you are than that guy and finally realize that self-righteousness is a sin too, then just maybe you will say - Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.

My dad told me, if you'll lie, you will steal, if you'll steal, you will kill. See what a little lie can do. So is there such a thing as a little lie?

Sin is disobedience to God. We have all sinned and fell short of the glory of God. Humble yourself before your God with a forgiving heart toward all men and I will do the same.

Answer 6

There are no greater or lesser sins. All sin is stench in God's nostrils. The gunman might have asked for forgiveness prior to committing suicide, and been forgiven for the massacre, but he cannot be forgiven for his suicide. Once you are dead you cannot render a prayer. You cannot premeditate sinning and ask forgiveness in advance. It doesn't work that way. Asking forgiveness means you are willing to turn away from your sin.

Will the gunman go to hell for his suicide? God judges, but it is an unforgiven sin. He also has mercy upon whom he will have mercy. I don't begrude him that! It is enough he forgives me.

If you are a Christian, I wonder how you expect to determine who will be admitted into heaven? Don't you realize that having a place prepared for you is enough? Haven't you read that there will be no tears or sorrow there? Certainly no elitism. Perhaps you need to read the bible more. Try Psalm 51. Also remember that Jesus taught us to pray: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." You have a very rigid sense of justice. Be careful, as you forgive others is the way God will forgive you.

Answer 7

For the guy up there, the sky isn't imaginary...lol. Well, in God's eyes all sin is the same, except for Blaspheme of the Holy Spirit..but no one is quite certain what that means. Anyhow, all sin is the same to God, so yes, if he asked for forgiveness, and truly meant it (God knows his heart) then he will be up there with you. The difference is the punishment here on earth. Here we see it as way worse, but that's just the effect it has here, it has a different effect on the Heavenly realm, but since we don't live there the view you have is biased, thinking that it is the same. But you can't help that.. So that's basically it..in a nutshell.

Answer 8

The problem with sin no matter how great or small it leads to the path of death. You said you have told some lies before. But do you know lies can cause someone else's death, regardless of how small, even if it seems harmless. You'd be suprised at how devastating a lie can be, just as equal to that gun man depending on what you say. And yes, that gunman could still find forgiveness if he asked God for it. He would still have to reap what he sowed, which mean he might lose his own life. But he will still be saved.

Answer 9

No. If they were all the same gravity, then there wouldn't be venial and mortal sins (this is coming from Catholicism)
Venial are less serious and they are lying, and minor thefts etc.
Mortal sins are the most serious and they include killing, adultery and idol worship.
And no if you lie 33 times you are NOT as bad as a killer.

Answer 10

if you need a part for a machine, and it must be perfectly polished and formed for it to function in the machine, is it being scratched or cracked, less disqualifying than it being broken in 2? if it has to be perfectly ideal, then both degrees of broken-ness are equally disqualifying.

but I do not think, in the way you say it, that this is how God works. I'd say its obvious that theres a huge difference, and that it would be Evil of "God" to not distinguish between them.

but depending on how you look at it, both are equal, but also not.