The Degrees of Sin

Are there degrees of sin? Are some sins worst than others? The question may be answered yes or no, depending on the sense in which it is intended.

Any one sin, even what may seem to be a very small one, makes us legally guilty before God and therefore worthy of eternal punishment. The judgement following one trespass brought condemnation (Rom. 5:16), Adam and Eve learned this in the Garden of Eden.

Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them (Gal. 3:10) Therefore, in terms of legal guilt, ell sins are equally bad because they make us legally guilty before God and constitute us as sinners.

On the other hand, some sins are worst than others, in that they have more harmful consequences in our lives and in the lives of others, and in terms of our personal relationship to God as Father, they arouse his displeasure  more and bring more serious disruption to our fellowship with him (Ezek. 8:, 6, 13, & 15).

However, the distinction between degrees of seriousness of sin does not imply an endorsement of the Roman Catholic teaching that sins can be put into the two categories of 'venial' and 'mortal' sins.

According to Scripture, however, all sins are 'mortal' in that even the smallest of sins make us worthy of eternal punishment. Yet even some of the most serious of sins are forgiven when one comes to Christ (1 Cor. 6:7-11). The distinction Scripture makes in degrees of sin does have positive value:

  1. It helps us know how we should grow in holiness
  2. It helps us decide when we should overlook a minor fault or challenge a serious sin
  3. it helps us decide when church discipline is appropriate, in protecting the church
  4. It helps us to realize that there is a basis for civil governance to have laws and penalties prohibiting certain kinds of wrongdoing (such as murder or stealing), but not other kinds of wrong doing (such as greed, or selfish use of one's possessions).

It is not inconsistent to say that some kinds of wrong doing require civil punishment but not all kinds of wrongdoing require it.