Excellent message, I needed to hear this today.. Thank you for sharing.
. Hugs, Frieda

Very nice reminder and I totally agree. God is trying to refine all these "little" sins out of us, because they take the same toll on our spiritual sanctification as the big ones.

But this is not true. God will forgive, but some sins cause more damage than other sins.

Jesus taught often that one sin was potentially worse than another.
In John 19:11 "Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

And "more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city"
"more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you." Luke 10:11-14

"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." Luke 12:47

"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48

And finally, James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."

I think this might be what people are trying to say (when they say that "all sin is sin"):
"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:10-13

So thanks for the thought, BahamaSun.

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Songs 2:15

James 3:1-2

"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."

This is more about the person than the sin. Teachers have a greater responsibility, so they will be judged more strictly. It has nothing to do with what type of sin(s) they commit.

Luke 10:11-14

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades."

Yes, the Sodomite were warned by Lot, but they did not listen. Here, the people the writer is talking about are people that rejected the gospel. They will have to answer on the day of judgement. This is the ultimate punishment for those that do not repent and accept Christ.

Maybe God did punish some people differently. We may never know why. Both Abraham and his son Isaac both lied to people. Each on pretended his wife was his sister. When Ananias and Sapphira lied about property that was sold, they were both struck down dead.

In Joshua 7, we read about Achan (and his entire family) being stoned for stealing.

The woman that was caught in adultery was about to be stoned. Jesus told her, "Go and sin no more."

We just know that no matter what the sin, it causes us to fall short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23)

I am glad we can have discussions. It helps us to see other points of view.

I am a sinner. It's the strangest sin don't know for sure what sin it is, greed, envy jealousy, god forbid resentment? I don't know. I have been pushing the thought out and asking God to enter. I think its time to openly confess (not that he doesn't know) and ask God to not only forgive me but help me to stop. This is new I don't remember ever feeling this way See we find ourselves in a mess and I know that 2 brothers are quite well off and I am thinking they should help us not really they one in particular. It could just be a result of my trying to solve the problem and coming up with out a solution, it might not be as satanic as I think it might be. I know its not up to my brother to help me, and it was his choices and work that made him well off. I have NO right to even think of him, but here is the crazy part I get mad at him (Of course he does not know any of this) (unless he has telepathy, highly doubtful) but can u believe I get angry? I have lyme disease and started abx about 6 weeks ago. I have been working up to a full blown herx for the last two days its here now in all its glory. IAngela has lyme, it is, I suppose, possible the illness is making my mind ludicrous?). Or it i(my mind) is just trying to find a solution to difficult situations that frankly have no solutions. My husband has had a sick wife for a long time (that would be me) he lost a very good job, he has used his 401 penalty and all, there is not much left. I hate to ask him as he will more likely than not live long enough to really need some backup, And they will penalize it and he has already pulled so much. I don't know what to do. I lovingly remind you you are Christians and therefore could forgive me for going so off tipic, I am herxing and upset a very bad combinatrion, (wow serendipity- my son just called the class and book is half of what I figured) Now tthat's somethin!!

Gal. 5:19-21 "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

This is part of a canon of the New Testament. It is a statute of construction, and it means that each sin is of equal value, although they are different. One is not greater than another, and the first is not worst, nor the last the least. Just like in the virtue lists.

If sin is anything that separated us from God, then any sin is as a bad as any another sin where God is concerned. They all offend a holy God. However, as humans, we might say that murder, which takes another life, or disregard for others might be a worse offense than ones which are between us and God. I think that having a hierarchy of sins is another road leading to legalism. In the end, God is the judge, but I think this passage makes it clear that personal sins like envy, anger or hatred, are up there and equal to sexual immorality, witchcraft and drunkenness.

I'm sorry, I'm just not reading it that way. In John 19:11 when Jesus told Pilate "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

I can't just pretend that it doesn't matter. "Greater sin" is what Jesus called it. More harmful? More destructive? When David's son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar, afterward, in 2 Samuel 13:16 she told him "There is no cause for this evil in sending me away, which is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her."

Sins can be compounded, and that can even happen after somebody has been "saved". It's not all about the sin that keeps us from God "initially". Some sins keep us from growing with God after we are already born again. So I say, the other type would be "worse". The type that keep us from hearing in the first place.

I'm sorry, I'm just not reading it that way. In John 19:11 when Jesus told Pilate "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

I can't just pretend that it doesn't matter. "Greater sin" is what Jesus called it. More harmful? More destructive? When David's son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar, afterward, in 2 Samuel 13:16 she told him "There is no cause for this evil in sending me away, which is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her."

Sins can be compounded, and that can even happen after somebody has been "saved". It's not all about the sin that keeps us from God "initially". Some sins keep us from growing with God after we are already born again. So I say, the other type would be "worse". The type that keep us from hearing in the first place. Also, in the New Testament Jesus talked about "least commandments" (Matthew 5:19) implying that although all commandments are important, some commandments are more important than others.

But we are to "seek the things that bring peace". So I agree that as far as what "keeps us from God", all sin is deadly.

I'm sorry, I'm just not reading it that way. In John 19:11 when Jesus told Pilate "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

I can't just pretend that it doesn't matter. "Greater sin" is what Jesus called it. More harmful? More destructive? When David's son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar, afterward, in 2 Samuel 13:16 she told him "There is no cause for this evil in sending me away, which is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her."

Sins can be compounded, and that can even happen after somebody has been "saved". It's not all about the sin that keeps us from God "initially". Some sins keep us from growing with God after we are already born again. So I say, the other type would be "worse". The type that keep us from hearing in the first place. Also, in the New Testament Jesus talked about "least commandments" (Matthew 5:19) implying that although all commandments are important, some commandments are more important than others.

But we are to "seek the things that bring peace". So I agree that as far as what "keeps us from God", all sin is deadly.

Look at this for some contradicting evidence! http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=are+all+sins+the+same%3F&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=d8193e5b46b6707

I appreciate your reply. I am reading up on it now. I will respond when I am finished.

Hi, what a subject,

From my studies I have found that all sins are bad, all sins are first of all committed against God and even the smallest sin is a hell- deserving sin.
Other than that there are degrees of sin, degrees of accountability and degrees of judgment [ unless they are forgiven before judgment- day]

Then there is the worst sin, the unpardonable sin, Math, 12:32,32

The church sinned but the man sinned more. ! Cor. 5:1-9

I have about 20 verses outright saying it or implying that there are sins and worse sins.

I be glad to attach them to an e mail if any one is interested.

With God there is no VICTIMLESS CRIME, He is the victim in every rebellion, disobedience or sin.

Then the fact that some sins carry a larger portion of natural consequences is another matter and that does lead us into pragmatism. But we should look at it from Gods view point. Loving Him and trying not to sin against Him.

" Little children, these things write I unto you that you sin not" ! John, I think

First of all, we have all sinned, and the wages of this is death. (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23). Anyone that does not accept Christ as Saviour has this consequence. In this respect, all sin is sin.

After being saved, we must work out our salvation (Phil 2:23). I do not want to get into the discussion of "eternal security" here. Leave that for another full discussion. I just think that it does not matter what sin you choose to continue after becoming saved, it can separate you from God again.

2 Peter 2:20 says, "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning."

The problem I have with the wording of "greater sin" and "lesser sin" is that we sometimes judge people according to their acts. We should leave that to God. It sometimes makes us feel more "righteous" than others. Some sins are more "accepted" in our society. Some of us will scorn a homosexual, but embrace the fornicators and adulterers. We look down on a murderer, but be friends with someone that disrespects their parents.

I'll close with this verse, which probably adds to your arguments. It just lists some of the sins things we sometimes don't think about.

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." - Proverbs 6:16-19

I have read most of the reference you have supplied, and have enjoyed this conversation. We sometimes need a fresh perspective. I think we probably think similarly, but our wording is different. Just adding more "food for thought".

Tom, your link did not work in Canada. But I did do a small google search, and came up with what BahamaSun is implying. Sin is sin, there are no small sins or greater sins in God's eyes.

But there does seem to be some indication that consequences differ, depending upon the sin. So in that regard, there are greater or lesser sins. And I agree with Ted here, that all sin grieves God. We therefore should strive not to commit sins.

But, as 1 Jonn 1:9 so aptly points out, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

So we do have a Savior who understands, who has high expectations, and has in fact taken the consequence of sin for the believer upon himself by his death at Calvary. What this means to the unbeliever, I will leave to God to decide.