In God's eyes, is there a difference between kinds of sin?

[Jethro Bodine]

Take a look at Leviticus 4 for starters. Notice how unintentional sin is dealt with.
Now look at Leviticus 26:23 “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over.

Perhaps this is why the Hebrew writer states: Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Smaller, note the difference between deliberate and not deliberate sin; repenting of sin, not repenting of sin. Sin that is forgiven, sin that is not forgiven.

Sorry I don't buy the story that 'our sin' as believers is looked upon any differently than anyone else's.

People have shown in this thread that the Bible does in fact see a difference in sin. But it is certainly our choice whether we want to believe what the Bible says or not.

Romans 3:9
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

s

How does Paul's argument that before we come to Christ we are all condemned as sinners and, therefore, need Christ somehow prove that there is no difference of sin in God's eyes among saved and unsaved people?

 

[Mitspa]

everything that is not of faith is sin, the law is not of faith. Those who are under the law are all sinners, all the time.

 

[smaller]

People have shown in this thread that the Bible does in fact see a difference in sin. But it is certainly our choice whether we want to believe what the Bible says or not.

If they say the sin of adultery is not the same as the sin of murder, yeah.

It's still sin though.

How does Paul's argument that before we come to Christ we are all condemned as sinners and, therefore, need Christ somehow prove that there is no difference of sin in God's eyes among saved and unsaved people?

Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

 

[Sparkey]

If they say the sin of adultery is not the same as the sin of murder, yeah.

I don't think that is what the Apostle John had in mind when he spoke to tell us to Ask God when we see a brother sin. Do you?

 

[Danus]

R.C. Sproul. has a good take on this topic. Here is the link.
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/degrees-sin/

Here is some of the content

“Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin’” (Jn. 19:11).
- John 19:1-16

James 2:10 tells us that “whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” In other words, if through our own efforts we expect to be accounted righteous in God’s sight apart from Christ, then we must be perfectly obedient. To fail in one point is to fail utterly and completely, for our Creator’s perfect holiness demands justice for even the slightest transgression. We need the righteousness of another to be put on our record because none of us has ever kept the standards of the Lord flawlessly. When we trust Christ alone, His record of perfection is imputed to us, and so we can enter into eternal life as those who have a record of obedience to the Father (2 Cor. 5:21). This is wholly by grace since Jesus credited our account with His obedience and we have done nothing to deserve it.

That one sin is enough to condemn us to hell, however, does not mean that all sins are evil to the same degree and that the consequences for our errors are all the same. God may condemn even the smallest sin, but the punishment of the “virtuous pagan” will be less severe in hell than the one who puts every immoral thought and desire into practice, because the scope of the former person’s sins is not as large as the latter one’s. To be sure, hell will be awful for both, but as one theologian has noted, all the sinners in hell would move heaven and earth if they could remove but one transgression from their record and have their punishment even barely alleviated.

Many portions of Scripture, including today’s passage, tell us there are degrees of sin, guilt, and punishment. The Jewish authorities who turned Jesus over to Rome were guilty of a greater evil than Pilate was because they had greater access to God’s revelation and had less reason for refusing to acknowledge Christ’s identity (John 19:1–16). Punishments under the old covenant civil law were meted out according to the circumstances of the crime (for instance, see Ex. 21:28–32). Those who are ignorant of the Master’s will receive fewer lashes in the end than those who know the Master’s will and are disobedient (Luke 12:35–48). Note, however, that even though ignorance may alleviate the consequences for sin, it cannot excuse sin entirely. Our representative, Adam chose his path — apart from the knowledge of God — and we all follow suit. Thus, we are culpable for our ignorance (Rom. 1:18–32; 5:12–21).

That there are degrees of punishment in hell according to the extent of one’s sin means that there are also degrees of reward in heaven according to how we obey. Our obedience, to be sure, cannot earn eternal life, but once we are admitted into the kingdom by grace alone through faith alone, what we do in service to Christ earns for us, by His grace, rewards in heaven. Let us serve Him that our rewards might be even greater (1 Cor. 3:1–15).


Passages for Further Study

Exodus 21:12–14
Matthew 25:14–30

 

[smaller]

If they say the sin of adultery is not the same as the sin of murder, yeah.

I don't think that is what the Apostle John had in mind when he spoke to tell us to Ask God when we see a brother sin. Do you?

Not sure how that weighs in on sin being different from sin.

?

I know some believers like to think their sin is somehow better or different than the sin of others.

s

 

[Elijah674]

People have shown in this thread that the Bible does in fact see a difference in sin. But it is certainly our choice whether we want to believe what the Bible says or not.

If they say the sin of adultery is not the same as the sin of murder, yeah.

It's still sin though.

How does Paul's argument that before we come to Christ we are all condemned as sinners and, therefore, need Christ somehow prove that there is no difference of sin in God's eyes among saved and unsaved people?

Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

It is a stated fact what sin is and where it comes from. James 2:8-10 even tells of the motive that we end with!

And what is sin? We find in 1 John 3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And you are right, any sin will bar one from heaven when it is known to be sin! Think of these pre/flood ones? 120 years of the Holy Spirits Striving to lead them!

--Elijah

 

[smaller]

People have shown in this thread that the Bible does in fact see a difference in sin. But it is certainly our choice whether we want to believe what the Bible says or not.

If they say the sin of adultery is not the same as the sin of murder, yeah.

It's still sin though.

How does Paul's argument that before we come to Christ we are all condemned as sinners and, therefore, need Christ somehow prove that there is no difference of sin in God's eyes among saved and unsaved people?

Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

It is a stated fact what sin is and where it comes from. James 2:8-10 even tells of the motive that we end with!

And what is sin? We find in 1 John 3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And you are right, any sin will bar one from heaven when it is known to be sin! Think of these pre/flood ones? 120 years of the Holy Spirits Striving to lead them!

--Elijah

The Holy Spirit does not lead us to lie to ourselves about being a factual sinner Elijah.

I am always quite surprised that many don't learn the most basic of lesson.

s

 

[Jethro Bodine]

And what is sin? We find in 1 John 3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Yes, but the point you're trying to make (transgression of the law is sin) is no longer true in each and every point of the law anymore.

And you are right, any sin will bar one from heaven when it is known to be sin!

True for unbelievers. Not for believers.

Believers have the blood of Christ to cleanse away the unrighteousness of the sin that condemns.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The Holy Spirit does not lead us to lie to ourselves about being a factual sinner Elijah.

I am always quite surprised that many don't learn the most basic of lesson.

s

I can't tell if you're excusing sin in believers, or are bothered that a handful of believers think they don't sin.

Which is it?

 

[smaller]

The Holy Spirit does not lead us to lie to ourselves about being a factual sinner Elijah.

I am always quite surprised that many don't learn the most basic of lesson.

s

I can't tell if you're excusing sin in believers, or are bothered that a handful of believers think they don't sin.

Which is it?

Why run a phony flag up the pole? I take neither position stated.

All sin in whomever it is found is utterly condemned, and it is found in all.

s

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The Holy Spirit does not lead us to lie to ourselves about being a factual sinner Elijah.

I am always quite surprised that many don't learn the most basic of lesson.

s

I can't tell if you're excusing sin in believers, or are bothered that a handful of believers think they don't sin.

Which is it?

Why run a phony flag up the pole? I take neither position stated.

All sin in whomever it is found is utterly condemned, and it is found in all.

s

Some people's sin will be condemned at the Judgment. Other people's sin was condemned at the cross. (That's the flag you need to be running up the flagpole and pointing people toward.)

That's the fundamental difference between sin for the unbeliever and sin for the believer. But the unbeliever always wants to pull the believer and his sin down to his own level, denying the work of Christ in the lives of believers.

It's a futile exercise to try to convince them of the difference. Only the Holy Spirit can show them the difference. And even then they may well just keep on rejecting the truth about it.

 

[Elijah674]

The Holy Spirit does not lead us to lie to ourselves about being a factual sinner Elijah.

I am always quite surprised that many don't learn the most basic of lesson.

s

I can't tell if you're excusing sin in believers, or are bothered that a handful of believers think they don't sin.

Which is it?

Why run a phony flag up the pole? I take neither position stated.

All sin in whomever it is found is utterly condemned, and it is found in all.

s

Some people's sin will be condemned at the Judgment. Other people's sin was condemned at the cross. (That's the flag you need to be running up the flagpole and pointing people toward.)

That's the fundamental difference between sin for the unbeliever and sin for the believer. But the unbeliever always wants to pull the believer and his sin down to his own level, denying the work of Christ in the lives of believers.

It's a futile exercise to try to convince them of the difference. Only the Holy Spirit can show them the difference. And even then they may well just keep on rejecting the truth about it.

Right you are! (now if you could get the 7Th Day Sabbath seen correctly)

But is that what was said to Smaller?? He has a way of twisting things up it seems? Titus 3:9-11

--Elijah

 

[Sparkey]

I know some believers like to think their sin is somehow better or different than the sin of others.

smaller, I know this also, but that is not what I've asked. Seems like you don't wish to engage with what John actually said. That's understandable too.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...now if you could get the 7Th Day Sabbath seen correctly)

I've never kept a Sabbath. I grew up in world that does not keep Sabbath. I was not convicted by the Sabbath law when being called to salvation. I was born into a universal Church of saved people who don't keep the Sabbath. I still to this day have zero conviction about keeping a literal Sabbath. Add to that, the Holy Spirit taught me that it is those kinds of things that don't count as validation of saving faith.

For all the power of God that has been at work in me to transform me into the image of Christ and away from the image of Adam, not an ounce of power has stirred in me to keep a literal Sabbath in order to please God, or keep Sabbath as the expected and obligatory action of saving faith.

Sorry. What can I say? Nothing personal. I'm just not convinced that Sabbath keeping is the image of Christ God is leading me and his people to. The image of Christ I'm growing up into is his character--the fruit of the Spirit. That is what counts. That is what matters. That is what saving faith is expected to do.

No offense. We can still be friends, right?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I know some believers like to think their sin is somehow better or different than the sin of others.

smaller, I know this also, but that is not what I've asked. Seems like you don't wish to engage with what John actually said. That's understandable too.

smaller, motive makes all the difference in sin. But you seem to ignore that altogether and lump all sin together in all people whether they are saved or not. This is simply not scriptural.

You have to ask yourself why you are doing this. This thinking destroys the work of Christ, not somehow glorifies it.

 

[Elijah674]

...now if you could get the 7Th Day Sabbath seen correctly)

I've never kept a Sabbath. I grew up in world that does not keep Sabbath. I was not convicted by the Sabbath law when being called to salvation. I was born into a universal Church of saved people who don't keep the Sabbath. I still to this day have zero conviction about keeping a literal Sabbath. Add to that, the Holy Spirit taught me that it is those kinds of things that don't count as validation of saving faith.

For all the power of God that has been at work in me to transform me into the image of Christ and away from the image of Adam, not an ounce of power has stirred in me to keep a literal Sabbath in order to please God, or keep Sabbath as the expected and obligatory action of saving faith.

Sorry. What can I say? Nothing personal. I'm just not convinced that Sabbath keeping is the image of Christ God is leading me and his people to. The image of Christ I'm growing up into is his character--the fruit of the Spirit. That is what counts. That is what matters. That is what saving faith is expected to do.

No offense. We can still be friends, right?

Christ stated that 'IF' ye love me, keep my Commandments'
(all ten)

But friends???

--Elijah

 

[Jethro Bodine]

[...]

No offense. We can still be friends, right?

Christ stated that 'IF' ye love me, keep my Commandments'
(all ten)

But friends???

--Elijah

I'll take that as a 'no' then, lol.