All Sin is

There’s a common misconception among Christians. I’m not entirely sure where it comes from. I used to hold it myself, but I don’t know why. I don’t remember ever being taught it. Perhaps it’s a natural misunderstanding of some biblical truths. But it’s not true, and when we repeat it, we do harm to the cause of Christ and the reputation of our God. So let’s look at it.

That common misconception is this: all sin is equal in God’s eyes.

This idea probably stems from some truths. All sin is sin. All sin makes us guilty in God’s eyes. One sin is sufficient to condemn a soul to hell. The scriptures tell us “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10) and “sin is lawlessness” (1John 3:4).

So, yes, just as either writing a hot check or committing murder makes you “a criminal”, any sin, whether lying or adultery, makes you “a sinner” and “a lawbreaker.” But that does not mean God sees no distinction between those sins. It does not mean, if a person only committed one sin, he would see the same punishment, whether it was lying or murder.

Why am I so confident all sins are not the same? The words of Jesus. Here are five places where Jesus teaches that.

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19)

So some commandments are “least.” And, we know, some are “greatest” (Matt 22:36-40).

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:11)

In this passage, Jesus is talking to the one who will be sentencing him to death. He tells Pilate that “the one who handed me over to you” has committed a “greater sin” than Pilate’s killing Jesus.

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matt 11:23-24)

What was the sin of Sodom? Actually, there were many. There was gross sexual immorality but also idolatry, pride, inhospitality, and mistreatment of the poor. Capernaum’s sin? Rejecting Jesus. So it will be more bearable in the judgment for Sodom than for Capernaum.

But does “more bearable” mean less punishment? Yes.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:47-48)

Not everyone will receive the same punishment.

Finally, the one verse that should have always ended this argument:

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:28-29)

There is clearly at least one sin that is worse than any other.

We could continue and mine the Law and the epistles for more reasons to believe that all sin is not the same in God’s sight, but this is long enough already.

I hope my point is made: the scriptures do not teach that all sin is the same in the eyes of God. We dishonor God when we tell people he sees lying as just as bad as murder. We do sinners no favors when we tell them God is like that. Our God is just, and justice includes appropriate consequences; the punishment must fit the crime.

I don’t know how I got that idea; I’m not entirely sure what woke me up out of it. But I’m glad that I now can tell people that our holy God is a God of loving justice who will see that every sinner and every saint will be judged according to what they have done (Rev 20:13).


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