Is one sin greater than another?

Sin is the same -- the consequences are different.

In the Tim./Titus passage regarding qualifications for overseers no one seems to be as interested in questioning me about whether I'm a bad parent or angry or a lover of wine like they are in seeing if I've ever been divorced. Odd! Would you rather have a pastor who's been divorced or one who's got an angry disposition, drinks like a sailor in his office and beats his kids when he gets home?

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PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter said:

Sin is the same -- the consequences are different.

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All sin is sin, and the consequence remains to be Hell. There's no option "C". It's either Heaven or Hell, and if anyone tells you otherwise they haven't read the Scriptures.

Rebirth In Flames said:

All sin is sin, and the consequence remains to be Hell. There's no option "C". It's either Heaven or Hell, and if anyone tells you otherwise they haven't read the Scriptures.

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Really referring to the 'immediate' consequences. For example, if I tell a lie to someone who asked me to lunch by saing -- "Sorry. I already have plans." when the truth was I had no plans, then not too much comes of it, even if the other party finds out -- the consequences are limited to me feeling guilty, convicted and having to appologize. If I cheat on my taxes and get caught, then I'm facing a whole different set of consequences that could land me in jail, separate me from my family and cause me to lose my job. Saying I'm sorry wouldn't fix it. So the consequences are different.

Does God see my lie the same as He sees my tax problem? Yes.

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In it's most basic language -- I think so. Both are transgressions. Interestingly enough you see lying in lists of various sins in the NT right along with murder and other sins considered to be heinous.

One thing that might play some weight with the degrees of sin view would be that Scripture refrences degrees of punishment in hell.

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ElsanRandiMom said:

actually don't you see "bearing false witness" and not so much lying mentioned?

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Perhaps! Not too much difference in my mind. Both are false - the essence of all lies.

So what is your take -- any difference in sins?

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Good distinction.

Are you refering to a rejection to their church or to salvation?

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ElsanRandiMom said:

so would he see say, murder the same as your lie? just curious what you think.

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What does Jesus mean in making a distinction between "little" and "much"? Why did he say that the one who knows his master's will and does not do it will be beaten with many blows, while the one who does not know his master's will and does not do it will be beaten with few blows (Luke 12:47-48)?
If "sin is sin," why this distinction? If all sin is one in God's eyes, what is the apostle John getting at when he writes, "If anyone sees his brother commit sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death" (1 John 5:16-17)?

Apparently Jesus thinks so.

ElsanRandiMom said:

but where is the actual distinction made if you find it so clear?

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In order for a sin to lead to death, it must meet three conditions-- a sin of grave matter,committed with full knowledge of the sinner, committed with deliberate consent of the sinner . This means that this sin cannot be done "accidentally." A person who commits a this sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway. This means that they are "premeditated" by the sinner and thus are truly a rejection of God’s law and love.
In the Bible, St. Paul gives us a list of grave sins. He states that anyone who commits these sins shall not enter the kingdom of God. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-20). Paul also tells the Corinthians, "know you no that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards nor railers, nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). These sins constitute grave matter, and if they are committed willingly and with full consent, constitute sin unto death.

All sin is sin. What makes them different is the consequences here on earth and the harm that it does. And humans usually use the ends to justify the means instead of the actual action itself.

PROPHECYKID said:

All sin is sin. What makes them different is the consequences here on earth and the harm that it does. And humans usually use the ends to justify the means instead of the actual action itself.

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So you feel that Jesus is saying that the consequences of Earth of the Jews turning Jesus over to the Roman authorities are greater than the consequences of Pilate ordering His crucifixion?

A. believer said:

So you feel that Jesus is saying that the consequences of Earth of the Jews turning Jesus over to the Roman authorities are greater than the consequences of Pilate ordering His crucifixion?

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What saying of Jesus are you referring to?

PROPHECYKID said:

What saying of Jesus are you referring to?

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The one I posted in #14. It's John 19:11.

Rebirth In Flames said:

All sin is sin, and the consequence remains to be Hell. There's no option "C". It's either Heaven or Hell, and if anyone tells you otherwise they haven't read the Scriptures.

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Let me ask you what YOU believe the word "hell" is in scripture?

Heaven = The Kingdom

Hell = ?????

Ill get back to your reply

God bless, Dave