Monday, March 07, 2011

Levels of Sin?

I haven't posted on here for a long time, because I am of the opinion that no one is reading this. However, I have a question that demands some open debate. I don't want to ruin anyone's day or cause them to hate me, so lets make sure this is a friendly conversation without personal insults or accusations. Agreed? Okay, then, here it goes:

Do you believe there are levels of sin? Is one worse than another? In God's eyes, if I lose my temper and treat someone unlovingly, is it the same as murdering? Is homosexuality a "worse sin" than adultery? Is unforgiveness an "unpardonable sin", since Jesus said, "if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."?

Are all sins the same? If so, explain from scripture. If not, explain from scripture. I would love some responses to this.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

James 2:10 "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws." This to me states all sins are equal. It separates us from God.
Luke 12:47-48 "And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly..." I believe there are different degrees of punishment.
John 19:11 "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin." Some sins may be considered greater than others.
Ephesians 1:7 "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins."

Debbie Jones said...

I loved this question, and how it made me look deep into the scriptures. I had my own bible study and loved every minute of it! I found some of the same scripture listed from jbeals60, so I decided to just list the different scriptures I found also.
2Peter 2:20,21"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first." (21)"For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
Matthew 11:21,22 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
(22) "Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you."
I will watch your blog for another question and study in the word.
God bless, Debbie Jones

Ryan Budde said...

Mark Platt responded:

"Concerning the first two and fourth question:

I believe God is a just God(Deuteronomy 32:4)so He will judge people for their sins
justly.
He is also a merciful God(Psalm 86:15)so depending on the person's heart or
circumstance maybe He will lighten the judgment for their sin.

Concerning the third question:

I know just by thinking something that breaks God commandments is sin in His
eyes.Doesn't our heart hate them when we are angry then the wicked thought follows?
I believe hatred does
lead to murder in God's eyes wether or not someone acts upon their temper or
thought. God can see our thoughts and knows are hearts (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Concerning the final question:

I do believe that someone must forgive just God forgave us, because Jesus plainly
told us that people cannot be forgiven if they don't forgive."