Are all sins equal in God's eyes?

[Cato]

Seriously, is lying the same as murder?

I have my thoughts, but first, I'd like to hear yours.

[BLACK WOLF]

The wages of any sin is death no matter how big or small we think one or the other may be.

Adam and Eve were punished for eating from a tree they were told not to...any time we disobey God...there will be a price to pay.

Thank God, He gave us a choice so that we can be forgiven :)

Agape,

Ray ;)

[Esquire]

Cato,

Good question. I would like to get a working definition of "sin" on the table.

I think that sin is whatever seperates you from God.

On the one hand, if you are seperated, you are seperated. A miss is as good as a mile, right? But is someone who lives a promiscuous homosexual lifestyle in the same boat as someone who cheats on his taxes one time (lying)?!?!

And why does God make special reference to certain sins as things that He "hates"?

Sins can be outward indicators of our inward condition.

13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, gives birth to death. (James Ch. 1)

God alone judges the heart. A man who refrains from a "small" temptation at great personal cost is surely better than a man who refrains from "large" temptation simply because he thinks it is in his advantage to do so!

A person who sins recklessly, in apparant hatred of God, may be in the final stages of a last ditch effort to "escape" the truth, (ie: moments from surrendering control of his life to his Creator) while a person who does not appear to sin much may be nursing an impenetrable hardness of heart.

To answer your question, I would say that, at some level, all sin is not the same. Sometimes it is different because of the action involved, but mostly I think the distinctions are made by God alone, based upon the condition of our heart, at a level we are not privy to.

[larry]

the result of sin is seperation from God, but the definition of sin is "to miss the mark", the mark being Gods perfect Holiness. The idea to "miss the mark" actually carries with it the concept of an archer missing his mark. let's say the mark is a hole the exact size of your arrow- and let's say the target is 30, no lets make that 40yrds out- just in case Blackwolf is reading this- cause I hear he's a pretty good shot- anything short of fitting that hole perfectly- would be missing the mark. Thus the Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.

sin is sin in Gods eyes. sin carries with it various degrees of consequences, as it plays out in our lives, but just the slightest lack or want of perfect holiness in man, brings forth the same results- physical and spiritual death, ref. Luke 13;1-5. God hates all sin, it doesn't matter ,the smallest to the largest, apart from the forgiveness found in Christ, will lead to eternal torment.

larry

[Esquire]

Larry,

God does hate all sin. No doubt about it. In my post above I only meant that he gives certain sins more attention than others in the Bible - but he hates them all.

I reckon he loves his creation too much NOT to hate even the slightest degree of seperation from Himself!

I like your definition of missing the mark. Reminds me of both my own life and my shooting! :shooting:

Mike

[Matt]

Mormons beleive there is no forgiveness for the shedding of inocent blood or blasphemy agains the holy ghost (a son of perdition).

Everything else can be repented for and forgiven. :2cents:

[Esquire]

Matt,

Remember when I talked about some of the things that made Christianity make more sense to me than Mormonism?

This is one of those things: I know that for some sin (I was thinking adultery, maybe also the shedding of innocent blood?) Mormon leaders teach and have taught that Christ's blood will not avail. Only a man's own blood is enough.

"Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will put the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, on their behalf...Man may commit certain grievous sins - according to his light and knowledge - that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone - so far as in his power lies - for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, I, p.134-135)

This Mormon teaching that the blood of Christ, who is God the son, is not sufficient for all of the sins of the world, is in contrast with the testimony of scriptures like I John 6:7 (KJV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Mike

[Matt]

I know what your saying there. I struggle with that, for one main reason. I know a man who commited murder when he was a teenager (many years ago). He's out of prision now. I've talked to him a few times and find him to be very humble and I know he is repentant for what he has done. He goes to church every sunday and if you didn't know his past you would never guess it. With how he has changed I don't see how God, being just, could deny him. Who really knows what will happen, I know I don't. But I know there are other men like him. I'm not his judge though, so I always treat him like a friend. God knows him better than I do and he knows his heart.

[Esquire]

Matt,

I believe what you are sensing is true. When I hear this man's story of redemption, I can't help but think of David, the shepard boy who became a king. He lusted as a King after another man's wife, took her against God's law, then committed murder to hide his sin. He repented and God accepted his repentence, although he had to live with the consequences of his action.

God called David a friend, and never does the bible say that God renounced his friendship with David after the sin and repentence.

In Acts Ch 13:22 (KJV) God testifies as follows: "And when he [God] had removed him [Saul], he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart..."

This man you call friend shed blood, but is any blood truly innocent? [Save only the blood of Christ]. Even so, this murder was a sin. According to God's promise I mentioned above, "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Whether this man's repentence is real only God knows. But God is faithful to his promises. Those promises include the promise of life to ALL who believe, and repent (or turn around). If that would include David, adulturer and murder, then it can surely include your friend.

You seem to have a heart for God and for the truth. I pray that God will give you wisdom, to know the truth about these things. This is the same prayer I pray for myself.

Mike

[Cueball]

Like Escquire stated

King David
Moses
Saul

If Chris blood is not suffiecient to cover all sin then all hope is lost we believe in a Savior that only did part of the job. The bible said Jesus final words were "It is finished" nothing more to do.



.................................................R oby.........................................

[Cato]

Bear in mind please, that this post is coming on the morning of April 15, at 2:27 AM. Its been a tough tax season.

In one sense, the big picture, all sin separates us. If it is not covered by the blood of Jesus, it separates us eternally, no matter how small the sin may seem to us. Thankfully, when God looks at me, and the fact that I continue to sin, He sees the blood of Jesus as the once and for all eternal sacrifice that pays the penalty for me.

But here is the other point. The Bible clearly teaches there will be rewards for our efforts to be used by God; for our so called "good works". I also believe there will be "rewards" for the more haneous sins. Do you really think that the judgement of God will punish Hitler the same as everybody else?

I do believe that the eternal consequences of habitual haneous sin will be greater than sins of omission, for a non believer, for example. Does that make any sense?

God is very rational, in most ways. And I believe there will be special punishment in some cases. And I believe that just like us, God looks at some sin as being more of an affront that others.

Just food for thought. REmember, I am pretty brain dead right now.

Cato

[Matt]

This is sad, but it goes with what we're talking about. Go to www.cnn.com and read the story titled "Town shocked by teen baseball bat slaying".

[Esquire]

Ah man. What a terrible tragedy. Life is so fragile and precious. What a grief for both families, and what a life burden for that little boy.

I just can't imagine. I'll be praying for them, as I'm sure others will.