Are Some Sins Worse than Others?

Introduction

Are All Sins the Same?

There is great pressure to equalize all sins. To flatten them all out and say, “You’re the same as me. We’re all sinners.” And in one respect this is good.

But are all sins really the same? Yes, and no.

Is thinking about talking back to your parents as bad as talking back to your parents? Or slapping your parent?

We’re not establishing a hierarchy of sins. “You’re worse than me” is not the target we’re aiming at.

But we want to acknowledge what common sense seems to tell us and Scripture most definitely reveals: all sins are equal in nature, but not in degree.

Illustration: Sin is sin like fruit is fruit. But apples are not oranges.

Sins are Equal in Nature

All fruit is fruit.

All sin begins in the heart of the sinner.

All sin breaks the entire law of God.

James 2:10

Matthew 5:21-30

All sin is an infinite offense against an infinitely holy God.

All sin condemns the sinner to hell. Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.”

All Sins are Equal in Nature, but not in Degree or Consequence

All fruit is fruit, but apples aren’t oranges.

Sinful actions are worse than sinful thoughts.

Sinful thoughts are sins not acted upon.

Sinful actions are sinful thoughts acted out.

Logically, they do more damage, are more wicked, and therefore are more serious.

Illustration: If you imagine killing your boss, that’s sin; but it’s not as sinful as killing your boss.

Intentional sins are worse than unintentional sins

Unintentional sins are still sins and can be judged harshly when God so chooses. (See Uzzah, 2 Sam 2:6-7.)

Intentional sins are premeditated and therefore, more serious offenses against God. (See Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5.)

Leading others into Spiritual Error is a more serious sin.

Luke 17:1-2, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”

James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Two Common Danger Zones

While murder and other physical assaults (including rape) probably have the greatest consequences, let’s concentrate on the two areas that the New Testament (and all of Scripture, for that matter) reveal as : Idolatry and Sexual Immorality.

Idolatry and Sexual Immorality

Supporting Scripture

Acts 15:19-20, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.”

1 Cor 5-7, especially 1 Cor 6:18 and 1 Cor 7:2.

1 Cor 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

1 Cor 7:2, “But because of temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”

Paul’s “Sin lists” often begin with “Sexual immorality.”

Gal 5:19, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality...”

Eph 5:3, “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you.”

Col 3:5, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Spotlight 1: 1 Thes 4:1-7, “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Spotlight 2: Romans 1:22-28; Idolatry followed by sexual sin, particularly homosexuality

Principle: Idolatry and Sexual sins are equal in nature to all other sins, but greater in degree and consequence.

Consider the damage we unleash through sexual sin: venereal disease, divorce, fatherless / motherless homes, soul’s destroyed

I’m NOT saying that sexual sin is unforgivable or that it alone is what put Jesus on the cross.

I AM saying that sexual sin is, pound for pound, more destructive than other sins.

Conclusion / Application

Twin Dangers: Superficiality and Self-Righteousness

Cocky, disrespectful, glib, brassy, frivolous

Smug, Sanctimonious, Pharisaic, Holier-than-Thou, Pompous, Snob, Stuffy

All Sins are Equal at the Cross

No sin cannot be forgiven.

Illustrations:

Judah’s fornication

David’s adultery

You might have destroyed yourself or someone else through sexual sin. The love of God compels you to the foot of the cross, where He offers you forgiveness through faith in His Son.