In the Bible, how is sin measured?

Question

like from lying to murdering...it's all sin. can sin be worse than it already is?
what is the difference, sin is sin right?
and if we, as christians, are washed with the blood of jesus, then why do we STILL sin every day?! are we still sinners at heart?
i don't think any person can tell if someone is TRULY a christian...idk, i could be wrong.
Any thoughts?

Answer 1

In Matthew 5:21-28, Jesus equates committing adultery with having lust in your heart, and committing murder with having hatred in your heart. However, this does not mean the sins are equal. What Jesus was trying to get across to the Pharisees was that it is still sin even if you only think about or want to do the act. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day taught people that it was okay to think about anything you wanted to, as long as you did not act on those desires. Jesus is forcing them to realize that God judges a person’s thoughts as well as their actions. Jesus proclaimed that our actions are the results of what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34).

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 them – even though they are both sinful in God’s sight. There are degrees to sin. Some sins are worse than others. At the same time, in regards to both eternal consequences and salvation, all sins are the same. Each and 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, this is no sin too “big” that God cannot forgive it. 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.

Recommended Resource: Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie.

Answer 2

Sin is sin. Any sin in our lives separates us from God. We were alienated from God because of our sin. Jesus died that we can be forgiven of our sins as long as we repent and turn from and repay the one we sin against. We must ask for forgiveness of these trespasses. We all sin and continue to sin, but God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins as we confess, repent and turn away from and ask forgiveness of each particular sin. No person can tell if another person is a Christian because we do not know their hearts. What we can do is tell that some people are NOT Christians by looking at the way they live their lives.

Answer 3

sin is relative. we cannot measure or even begin to understand our sin. Sometimes we even sin without knowing it. All that we can know is that Jesus' love will always be bigger than however much sin there is and that it will always be enough to clean us of our sin. Also, the bible says some silly things are sin such as sex before marraige, cutting your hair, wearing earings, and wearing skirts above your ankles. These things are not actually sins, they were merely against the law at the time, but obv are not against the law now

Answer 4

Sin is anything that offends the holy nature of God. We, as believers, still have our sin nature, or the "old man" as Paul referred to it. We will still sin because of this. There is a big difference between sinning on occasion, that is, giving in to our flesh, and having a sinful lifestyle. The flesh and the Spirit are at constant war against each other. As we grow in Christ, God, through the sanctifying work, bends our desires more and more away from our flesh and sin, and more towards Him and His desires.

Answer 5

"By this shall all men know that you are My disciples: that you have love one for another." That's how you know if someone is a Christian or not. As for sin, it's very simply black and white: either you did it (and you did, trust me) or you didn't (and only Jesus didn't). There is no middle ground. By Mosaic Law, to transgress on even the slightest of the laws is to transgress the law entire, and it is the same with human law. If I go over the speed limit, I've not broken that law, but all the law. The penalties for breaking some laws (and committing some sins) is not the same, but one and all carry with them the guilt of breaking the law, and I must make atonement. With human law, speeding might be forgiven outright or might carry with it a small fine. With God's law, however, there is only one way to be eternally forgiven, and only one price will suffice: death. Human law is finite, God's law is infinite. The only way to infinitely atone for my sins against Him is to accept the gift of forgiveness He provided, the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

2 cups evil, 1 tbsp denial..anyway I can only tell you about the Catholic "sin-o-meter" as..I'm Catholic. Anywhose, so yeah:
mortal sins=BIG no-no's. We're talking killing here, adultery might be one too. Can't give you the full list, but you get the idea. Cardinal sins=Your basic slap-on-the-wrist sins. You lied, you tripped someone in grade school. Etc.
Now what I'm a bit confused on is ones in between - yanno, not as bad as killing, but not as slight as making fun of somebody at recess. I'm not sure how they classify stealing a car, for instance..

Answer 7

2 tell u da truth cant really say about the measurements of sin, im assuming, they're all the same, like each one is equally bad, b/c dats like saying a black person is a little less than a white person which is not true, we still sin erryday cuz the devil is still alive erryday, and he'll NEVER leave u alone, b/c he's always there 2 ruin errythin, i juz keep thankin God erryday 4 actually havin mercy on me nd turning me in2 oblivion, well good luck:)

Answer 8

I John 5:16-17

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.


It seems that the bible states that there is sin that can be forgiven and there is a sin which will not be forgiven. I believe that the sin which will not be forgiven is sin against the Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

Here is the thing. We are all sinners. We all sin everyday without knowing it. As God's children it is up to us to try and not sin. Sin is sin but there are sins that are worser than others. God knows that we are not perfect. But our job as christians is to ask God for forgiveness of our sins and to forgive others of their sins against us.

Answer 10

Sin is sin -- no sin is greater than another.
We continue to sin, even as saved Christians, because we have free will to choose wrong things. We are not robots.