250101 BITES: Q51 Are all sins equally awful?

Q51 Are all sins equally serious? A51 No, some sins are more serious than others, not only in God’s view but also to people. Regardless of degree, all sin shares the same penalty - death (Romans 6:23)

Interaction: Have you ever been asked a trick question before? A question that can be answered a bit differently than anything we might respond with. Why do people ask trick questions? Well teachers and instructors do that so that we will think more critically about the question and the answers that we give.

Transition to Theological Concept So here’s a question that may be a bit tricky: This is a “yes or no” question… Don’t explain your answer just stick with yes or no… Are all sins the same? LET THEM THINK BUT LIMIT THEIR ANSWERS TO ONLY YES OR NO

Some have answered yes and some no… What if I said you are both right? How can both be right at the same time?!?! That doesn’t make any sense.

Ok, defend from Scripture why you say what you voted for. (LET THEM TAKE THEIR TIME AND FIND THEIR ANSWERS)

Ok is everyone happy and justified in their answers… great lets ask tonights question

Question and Answer: So here is tonight’s question: Q51 Are all sins equally serious? A51 No, some sins are more serious than others, not only in God’s view but also to people. PAUSE FOR EFFECT AND LET THE NO PEOPLE HAVE THEIR MOMENT Regardless of degree, all sin shares the same penalty - death Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Restate: So long story short there are differing degrees of bad in sin. Stealing is worse than coveting is it not? Be that as it may the penalty for this is still death.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:20–24“Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “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. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”” Jesus says that there are different sins, different penalties. But the penalty is always death and we know that from Romans 6:23

Questions? Who has a question?

Repeat Q51 Are all sins equally serious? A51 No, some sins are more serious than others, not only in God’s view but also to people. Regardless of degree, all sin shares the same penalty - death Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Why does this matter?

Some sins have a worse penalty than others, that can be made much much worse when we knowingly rebel against the Lord and even worse when we as believers defy God’s Holy Spirit - these are very bad sins and yet, And Yet, AND YET!!!! We have been freed from sin’s guilt and penalty because of the gracious gift of God - Christ Jesus our Lord.

We also need to clarify one thing… while guilt has been removed from those who believe and the penalty has been removed by Christ that does not mean that all consequences for sinful behavior are taken away. Sin has consequences, sometimes very severe so it is in our best interest to do our purpose. Q1 What is the purpose of people? ALLOW THEM TO ANSWER The purpose of people is not to set themselves over God through sinning against Him but to honor Him and turn away from our sinful desires.

So how should this lesson change us?

Perhaps most fundamentally we should be changed by increasing in our reverent fear of the Lord? Proverbs 1:7“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

We should grow in our gratitude for Christ knowing just how greatly He suffered to make us right with Him Galatians 2:20““I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Lastly, we should begin to evaluate our behaviour through Scripture - if we are spiritual people we will evaluate, assess, consider our behavior against Scripture and if God says something is sin we must not do it and if we do we must abandon it through repentance 1 Corinthians 2:15“But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one.”

Q51 Are all sins equally serious? A51 No, some sins are more serious than others, not only in God’s view but also to people. Regardless of degree, all sin shares the same penalty - death Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Pray

Ask if anyone has questions then define terminology

Definitions and Examples for Key Terms

Penalty Definition: A punishment for wrongdoing, typically established by a moral or legal code.

Q16 Who was impacted by our first parents sin? A16 All of Adam’s descendants fell with him because he was our representative in the covenant of life given by God Ro 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned James 1:15 “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death.”

Grace Definition: Unmerited favor or kindness from God, often understood as a gift that cannot be earned.

Q24 How are believers brought into Christ’s redemptive work?

A24 Believers are brought into Christ’s redemptive work by His Holy Spirit who creates both transformation and renewal Titus 3:5–7“He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Q25 How does the Holy Spirit apply Christ’s redemption to believers?

A25 God’s Holy Spirit applies Christ’s redemption to believers by creating faith and unifying believers with Him Ep 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

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SPG

66. Q. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of various aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others (Jn. 19:11; 1 Jn. 5:15).

WSC

Question 83 Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. (Ezek. 8:6,13,15, 1 John 5:16, Ps. 78:17,32,56)

WLC

Question 150 Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?

All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. (John 19:11, Ezek. 8:6,13,15, 1 John 5:16, Ps. 78:17,32,56)

Mark’s Initial Draft

Q51 Are all sins equally awful?

A51 No, some sins are more evil than others, not only in God’s sight but also by people. Regardless of degree all sin shares the same penalty - death (Rm 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. )

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