Are All Sins Equal?

“Sin is sin.”

“All sins are equal.”

“There is no sin that is worse than another, at least in God’s eyes.”

Perhaps all of us have heard one or more of these assertions in their various forms. And most people I ask about this believe these ideas are biblical.

However, “so that no one will deceive“ us “with persuasive arguments” (Col 2:4)—and in order to walk in the truth and love others with the truth (1 Jn 3:18; 2 Jn 1:4; 3 Jn 1:4)—as well as not harm others with erroneous ideas, we must answer these questions:

Is this idea that all sins are equal true?

What does God’s Word have to say about it?

And, if it is true (or not), then what? Why should we care?

Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

By biblically testing this assertion we will, among other things, see that it is entirely false. We will also examine why this error is so harmful.

For now, we will point out two critical concerns. First, untold numbers of people are being harmed by this lie. What is more, there are some—those pushing this error—who are complicit, indirectly or directly, in harming countless people.

I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.
(Colossians 2:4)

With this in mind, and as a hint as to why it is so vital that we get this right, compare the polar opposite approaches below:

Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
(Jeremiah 23:14)

But if they had stood in My counsel,
And had caused My people to hear My words,
Then they would have turned them from their evil way
And from the evil of their doings.
(Jeremiah 23:22)

With so much potential deception and the resulting damage at stake, we will do a relatively thorough and concise investigation of the overall notion that all sins are equal.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY THIS?

God’s Word is our standard and authority, especially when it comes to the matter of sin. So where does Scripture say “all sins are equal”? What verses can we use to support this?

Simply put, it doesn’t, and we can’t. Nor can we support this with logic or reason. It fails every measure. So what does the complete lack of biblical support tell us about this false assertion? More specifically, what does this possibly indicate about those who rely on and repeat this falsehood?

We can all be deceived, and have been deceived. So why is it so critical that we address and correct this particular deceit? Because there is a growing number of people inside the Church, including many leaders, who are horribly distorting the reality of sin. This is all the more urgent because sin is the greatest threat to mankind—and is causing, and will continue to cause, unlimited damage to individuals, and society as a whole.

Without right teaching on sin, God’s solutions to the superlative danger of sin will almost assuredly be missed (cp. Jer 23:14-22; Matt 7:13-27; 2 Cor 11:3-4). This, of course, is what our enemy lives for (e.g., Gen 3:4; Jn 10:10; Phil 3:18-20). And, tragically, those pushing this lie are following his lead in this way. What, then, could be more important than to expose this evil error, and to correct it according to the truth of God’s Word?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY?

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.”
(John 19:11)

Are there any verses which show differences in the severity of sin?

Yes, as you might expect, there are several verses. However, the one verse above definitively answers our question. How so? If Jesus considers something to be a “greater sin,” then there are, of course, lesser sins.

Having established that, here is a non-exhaustive list of other Scriptures which point out the differences in sin, and the consequences of sin, both now and in eternity.

Exodus 21:16 (cp. Ex 22:1); Exodus 32:21, 30-31

Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 25:14; Ezekiel 36:19

Matthew 11:23-24; Matthew 12:31-32; Matthew 23:13-35

Mark 3:28-29; Mark 12:38-40

Luke 10:12-14; Luke 12:47-48; Luke 17:2

1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; Hebrews 10:26-31

James 3:1; 2 Peter 2:1, 13; 1 John 5:16-17

Jude 1:7, 13; Revelation 20:13

Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
(Luke 20:45-47)

It is clear from Scripture that if some people “will receive greater condemnation,” other people will, of course, receive lesser condemnation.

What is more, in the Bible, there are over a dozen different words for sin in the original languages. Each word has a different meaning, which obviously points to God’s intent to warn us about the differences in the nature and gravity of the various kinds of sin.

Not only are there significant differences in the severity of sin, we can also make the consequences worse when we respond poorly to our sin. Therefore, some people—by hardening their heart and not repenting of their sin—are storing up for themselves more wrath from God.

But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
(Romans 2:5)

NOT ALL SINS ARE EQUAL

There is simply no biblical or logical support for the idea that all sins are equal. That some sins are worse than others is self-evident. To say otherwise is to deny reality, logic, and plain common sense. Case in point, notice the colossal contrast between the following sins:

Jaywalking vs. Rape
Unkindness vs. Murder
Laziness vs. Slave-Trading
Illegal Parking vs. Human Trafficking
Gluttony vs. Genocide
One Act of Wrongdoing vs. Ongoing, Repeated, Unrepentant Sin
One Act of Wrongdoing vs. Ongoing, Horrific Abuse of Others
Telling A Small Fib vs. Child Sacrifice
Being Late to Work vs. The Double “Abomination” Against God of Condemning the Innocent and Exonerating the Guilty (Prov 17:15)
Saying a Bad Word vs. Spreading a False Gospel or Promoting “Another Jesus” (cp. Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:3-4; Rom 1:18)

Are all these sins the same? Of course not.

Does Jesus see them as equal? Obviously not.

Not only are the latter far more grievous to our holy and loving God, the difference in consequences is infinite. You cannot get more unequal than that.

Given such an obvious reality, why do some still insist that all sin is equal? Yes, even with abundant evidence, there will still be many who are not convinced. To further illustrate this open lie, let’s make this more personal and concrete:

How do you think a victim of any of the second offenses in our list (e.g., rape; abuse) would respond to a victim of the first set (e.g., a small fib) saying, “There is no sin worse than another,” and, “God sees all sin the same”?

Why do we have great difficulty forgiving the latter sins as opposed to the smaller, less offensive sins? Will it be easier to rebuild trust after the first set of sins, or the second? What does that tell you?

If you had to choose, would you rather marry a lazy goofball, or an abusive serial adulterer? Would you rather have someone be mean to your loved ones, or murder them? Would you rather have your parents tell a tiny white lie, or kill you, and/or your siblings? Which one would be harder to forgive: if someone were mean to your child, or murdered your child? If you answered the second one, then what would you say about, “all sins are not equal”?

Would you prefer Hitler to have been a gluttonous simpleton, or a genocidal maniac? More importantly, what do you suppose all Jewish individuals would choose regarding Hitler?

What do you think God would prefer in all these? How will He judge the glutton differently than the perpetrator of genocide? How will God judge the sloth compared to the false teacher? (Jas 3:1; Jude 1:7-13; Matt 23:13-35; Lk 20:45-47) How differently does He weigh hurting the feelings of a hardened criminal vs. egregiously sinning against a child? (Lk 17:2; Rom 2:5-11; Rev 20:10-15)

What would happen if we—through good intentions of love and compassion—convinced someone that murdering his brother was no worse, and held the same consequences, as stealing a piece of gum—and then he followed through on killing his sibling?

While that may be an extreme example, it illustrates what some people are doing to others when they deceive them about their serious sin being no worse than other, lesser sins. Not only are there dreadful and deadly consequences for many people in these scenarios, this profound harm is usually done out of “love” (i.e., counterfeit love). What is more, this is and was enabled by one or more lies, particularly, the lie of all sins being equal.

So, the right answers to all of the above could not be more obvious, just like the answer to our overall conundrum is painfully obvious:

No, all sins are not the same; and yes, some sins are far more harmful, evil, and destructive than others.

FAULTY REASONING

Why, then, is this canard being pushed so heavily by so many? To put it simply: because they have fallen for a common scheme of Satan (cp. 2 Cor 2:11; Gen 3:1-4), and because much of the Church has compromised with and conformed to the world and its wisdom (Ps 1:1; 1 Cor 2:6-16; 3:18-20; Col 2:8; Jas 4:4; cp. Rom 12:2; 1 Jn 4:5-6).

Falsehoods and false teachings often have some truth in them—or some misunderstood Scripture or twisting of God’s Word. What might that be in this case? Perhaps some of the confusion and error comes from misapplying the following realities:

All of us have sinned (Rom 3:23)
All sin separates us from God (Is 59:2)
All sin grieves God and harms us and others (Eph 4:30; Gal 6:7-8)
If we break one law, which we have all done, we are “lawbreakers” (Jas 2:10)
All of us share the same overall penalty … if we aren’t saved (Rom 6:23)
All of us, in light of this eternal justice, need God’s grace, to be saved (Jn 3:16-18, 36)

However, none of these verses or realities state, at all, in any way, that all sin is equal, or that one sin is not worse than another, particularly in God’s sight.

Yes, we are all in the same general category: a person who has sinned, and who, therefore, needs to be saved. However, this in no way means that the various sins we commit are the same, or are no worse than other sins (e.g., eating five donuts vs. committing adultery vs. mass murder).

WHERE IS THIS IDEA COMING FROM?

Who is falling for this error, and who is largely responsible for spreading it?

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
(2 Timothy 3:13)

There are, of course, a multitude of true believers in the Church. However, we often forget that there will also always be many “false teachers,” “false brothers,” “wolves,” “false apostles,” and “imposters” inside the body of Christ (2 Cor 11:13-15; 2 Pet 2:1ff).

In the midst of this reality, there are many wonderful believers who, to one degree or another, have simply been duped by “all sins are equal.” In addition to these individuals, there are three main groups who actively push this logical fallacy and biblical falsehood (along with many other false teachings):

1. Active Adversaries

Those here have, just like Satan, an adversarial view of God’s Word, and, therefore, they have an adversarial view of biblical Christians and their biblical values and teachings. (cp. Gen 3:1ff) As a result, they actively seek to demonize and subvert biblical Christianity. While many outside of the Church are in this camp, this includes many inside the Church who are false teachers and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt 7:13-20; Acts 20:28-29; 2 Pet 2:1ff). Those in the latter group will, if need be, give lip service to God’s written Word. However, functionally, these “imposters” are active enemies of Christ, His true followers, the Word of Christ, and the cross of Christ.

(cp. Matt 15:1-9; 2 Cor 11:3-4, 13-15; Phil 3:18; 2 Tim 3:12-13; 4:3-4).

2. World-Approved Christians

Those who have compromised with and conformed to the world so much that they now hold to a self-defeating world-approved Christianity (cp. Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 4:5-6; 2 Tim 4:10; 1 Cor 2:12-14; 3:18-20). In other words, while they claim Christ, their beliefs and values are much more aligned with the enemies of Christ. This conformity is particularly true when it comes to how the world thinks and believes at the moment (the spirit of the age), especially when it comes to sin. This, too, includes false teachers and wolves in the Church. [Note: The “world” essentially equates to those who reject, if not hate, God, His Word, and those who highly esteem God’s Word (Jn 15:18-19; 17:14; Jas 4:4).

For more on this, see: 7 DEADLY ERRORS DESTROYING THE CHURCH

3. The Undiscerning

Those who have simply been deceived into believing this lie, largely due to a lack of active discernment. Some people here—those who strive to be strong in compassion and love—are weak when it comes to truth, objectivity, and discernment (cp. Acts 17:11; Heb 5:14; Phil 1:9-11; Zech 8:19). Therefore, they tend to be deceived more easily. And, in this case, they go on to actively spread this deceit to others. What is more, they often are being used by those in the first two groups to subvert biblical Christianity, all while being convinced they are being supremely compassionate and loving.

[Compassion – Discernment = Deception + Destruction]

Because of their strong ties to deception, those in the three groups above are likely to promote multiple counterfeits, with counterfeit love and justice at the top of the list.

WHY IT MATTERS

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
(James 5:19-20)

Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.
(Ezekiel 13:22)

So, why, exactly, is this topic so critical for us and for the Church as a whole? As you have hopefully realized, this is a life and death matter, literally (see the verses above). To expound on this even more—for further equipping and to better love God and others—consider the following realities regarding sin.

26 REALITIES OF SIN

1. Nothing matters more than rightly handling sin. Yet, few truly appreciate this reality; even worse, many diminish, distort, and deny this supreme need of humanity (Jn 3:36; Rom 2:5-11; Gal 6:7-8).
2. There are some people who have been passively duped into this error. However, there are many who are actively pushing this falsehood as a way to minimize, excuse, or affirm certain sins, which are favored by those with a low or adversarial view of God’s Word (e.g., progressives; liberals; leftists; world-approved Christians). These sacred sins especially include abortion and sexual sins (cp. 1 Cor 6:18).
3. Spreading the sin-is-sin lie also has the effect of shaming and discouraging others from rightly thinking and lovingly warning others about the deadly reality of sin—and teaching the solutions (the gospel; grace and truth; godly sorrow; repentance).
4. Nothing is more loving than rightly teaching about sin. Sadly, however, perverting the reality of sin is often seen as noble and compassionate. Yet few things are more unloving and harmful (Prov 24:11-12; Jas 5:19-20; cp. Jer 23:14-22). In fact, this could be the deadliest form of counterfeit love.
5. There is an eternal justice that awaits everyone who has not appropriately addressed their sin before our holy and just God (Jn 3:36; Acts 26:18-20; Rom 1:18; Rev 20:10-15). Most, if not all, of these same false teachers who spread this deceit share guilt in the harm, and possible demise of millions, if not billions of people. Making this worse, they often do this in the name of “love” and “justice” and “Jesus” (e.g., Jer 23:14-22; Ezek 33:1ff; Ti 1:9-16; 2 Pet 2:1ff; Jude 1:12-13; cp. Gen 3:4).
6. Christians are, by definition, forgiven and pardoned from the overall penalty of sin (i.e., death and hell; Rom 6:21-23; Rev 20:10-15). However, it is common for believers to forget that—while we can be forgiven of our sin, and saved from God’s wrath in hell—we can and do still experience many consequences here on earth from our sin. Therefore, this is yet another reason why it is always supremely loving to accurately and appropriately address sin and teach God’s Word to all who will listen (Ps 51:12-13; Acts 13:42-52; 20:20ff; Gal 6:7-8).
7. Those who spread this counterfeit love are not only enabling sin and error, this enables the deception, destruction, and death that always follows. For more, see our article: COUNTERFEITS: THE ENEMY’S GREATEST WEAPON
8. Those who teach this pseudo-love will, ironically, “receive a stricter judgment.” (Jas 3:1)
9. Some use the sin-is-sin lie in connection with a perversion of grace and forgiveness, which can enable abuse, dysfunction, and other harmful and destructive behaviors (e.g., Jude 1:4)
10. Some use this deceit in conjunction with universalism, and other false gospels (2 Cor 11:3-4; Gal 1:6-9)
11. Some use this fallacy to subvert the Bible, the gospel, and Christianity (cp. Gen 3:1-6; 2 Cor 11:3-4)
12. Some use this falsehood to demonize and falsely condemn biblical Christians, and discourage them from following Jesus and His Word, and from sharing the hope and solution to our greatest problems (e.g., 2 Cor 5:17-21)
13. Many who fall for and spread this error show little to no concern for eternal justice. In fact, some minimize or mock this utmost reality, while redirecting the focus to temporal justice, which is usually a counterfeit justice, and/or an inverted justice (e.g., reproductive justice; environmental justice; social justice; cp. Prov 17:15)
14. Enablers of sin and error tend to enable multiple kinds of sin and error. Therefore, it makes sense that those who are steeped in this particular deceit will also err in the other direction. In other words, many who falsely equate all sin, also distort sin that is, in fact, equal. For example, “Only white people can be racist,” as opposed to, “Racism is a problem within all races—it is the condition of the human heart: sin.”
15. Many of these enablers not only ignore these (and other) problems—and fail to see how they are being racist themselves (in the erroneous ways above)—they often defend, minimize, and justify all other racism, and other supremacist groups. This is classic enabling; but, in this case, they are empowering destruction on a societal level. They also ignore, and even affirm, and therefore enable/empower other far more egregious sins and problems in our society. For more, see our articles CONDEMNING EVERY FALSE WAY and THE (UNOFFICIAL) CLIFFSNOTES ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY and TRUE JUSTICE – WHO SHOULD NOT JUDGE as well as our mini-book MAKING SENSE OF THE MADNESS and this post on THE DANGERS OF LEFTISM
16. There is a judgment for sin. The main judgement here is referred to as: “The Great White Throne Judgment” (Rev 20:11-15). God Himself will sit on this throne, and not only will He judge unbelievers for their overall rejection of Jesus and His gospel (e.g., 2 Thess 2:9-13; Rev 20:11-15), He will judge them for their various personal sins (Ezek 36:19; Mk 12:38-40; Lk 17:2; Rom 2:5-11; Ecc 12:14).
17. Thankfully, God has provided a wonderful solution to this dreaded judgment (Jn 3:15-18, 36; Rom 1:16-17; 3:21ff; 5:1ff; cp. Heb 10:26-31). However, by distorting the reality of sin and judgment, there will be many who fall short of knowing and applying God’s saving grace and truth and, therefore, will have to face this horrific judgment (e.g., Matt 7:13-27; 23:13-35; 25:30).
18. When it comes to handling sin, Christians are known to get things wrong. However, when a Christian rightly teaches and warns about sin they are often—in great irony and hypocrisy—falsely judged and condemned for being “judgmental,” for “judging,” and for being hateful and unloving. Yet, perhaps the most painful irony of this hatred and false judgment is that these faithful Christians are not only being supremely loving, they are trying to help others avoid the judgment (see Rom 2:5-11; Mk 1:15; Rev 20:10-15; Jn 3:15-18, 36).
19. God will not condemn true believers (i.e., those saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, apart from good works; Rom 3:21ff; 6:14; 8:1-2; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 4:16). They have—through faith in Jesus, and by His grace—received a full pardon from the death penalty (Rom 6:23). However, He will, as their Father, judge their faithfulness to Him and His Word, and reward them according to their good works, done from the right heart (Matt 6:1ff; 25:14-30; 1 Cor 3:1-15; Ecc 12:14; Col 3:23-24)
20. The undeniable reality is that sin has painful, if not dreadful, consequences, which include the worst possible outcomes (e.g., Rom 1:18; 6:21-23; Gal 6:7-8).
21. Because of this—and because God is holy and just, and a God of love—there is nothing God takes more seriously than sin.
22. Therefore, if we are to be truly loving and Christlike, we, too, should take sin as serious as God does (Ps 51:12-13; Acts 26:18-20; 2 Cor 7:10-11; Jas 5:19-20; 1 Jn 1:5-10). Yet there are many who mock those who take sin seriously. They even mock God Himself (cp. Gen 3:4; Jer 23:14-22; Gal 6:7-8).
23. When it comes to Christian leaders, one simple way we can discern if they are, in general, working for or against God, His people, and the truth is this: how much and how well they seek to turn others away from sin and error—and to what degree they strengthen people in their sin and error (e.g., minimizing sin; redirecting away from sin; affirming sin or false teachings; falsely accusing and shaming those who do address sin; seeking to appease and not offend the world; minimizing the reality of certain false teaching, and false teachers. (Jer 8:8-12; 23:14-22; 25:5; 35:15; 36:3; Acts 26:15-18; 2 Tim 3:15-4:5; Gal 1:6-9; Ezek 3:16-18; Jas 5:19-20) For more, see our article on the subject: FALSE TEACHERS AND SIN
24. Clearly, on a personal level, some sins hurt us more than other sins—and cause more damage to us, to our relationships, and to society. This is also why we find it harder to forgive certain sins—and why we struggle to rebuild trust with some people over other people. And all of this is another major factor why there is so much enabling and dysfunction in relationships, and in our society, rather than true reconciliation. For further equipping on the challenges and complexities of handling sin, forgiveness, and reconciliation, see our books: FORGIVENESS: A BIBLICAL HANDBOOK and FORGIVENESS AND TRUST and DIVINE DESIGN and FAILURE TO PROTECT and ENABLERS along with our article on RECONCILIATION
25. Sin poses the greatest threat to humanity (sin and deception walk hand-in-hand in this supreme danger). Therefore, to truly love our neighbor is to rightly warn and teach about sin (and error). For more, see OUR GREATEST DANGER
26. It is imperative that we address sin as sin so that we can accurately define the problem and, most importantly, offer the hope of the gospel, and the many other blessings that come with it (e.g., redemption, forgiveness, repentance, restoration, reconciliation, eternal life; cp. Acts 3:19, 26). Nothing is more important, more glorious, and more of a blessing than a soul saved from death and given everlasting life with God. See GOOD NEWS

A right understanding of sin is critical. It is literally the difference between life and death. Which is why we must get it right, according to Scripture, for our own sake and for the sake of those who we love.

2 AXIOMS REGARDING SIN & LOVE

Axiom: an established rule or principle; a self-evident truth

Before getting to the two axioms in questions, let’s start with something even more simple. Would you agree or disagree with the following statements?

If X is harmful, then it is loving to warn of X
If X is harmful then it is unloving to not warn of X

Having established this baseline—and after explaining elsewhere the great harm and damage that comes from sin (see the list of the many deadly consequences of sin)—let’s expand this to include the specific concern at hand:

If we agree that sin is harmful—and is often very destructive and harmful in a multitude of ways—then it is very loving to call sin, sin, and to warn others about the great harm that comes from sin (Rom 6:23; Jas 5:19-20; Gal 6:1-2; Heb 3:12-13).
If we agree that sin is harmful—and is often very destructive and harmful in a multitude of ways—then it is unloving, if not profoundly harmful to others, to not call sin, sin, and not warn them about the great harm that comes from sin (Prov 24:11-12; Ezek 33:1ff).

Do you agree or disagree with the above principles? Why?

How, then, should we handle it when it comes to potentially calling sin, sin?

How do world-approved Christ-followers tend to believe and live out these two axioms?

How do they tend to treat those Christians who seek to apply and live by these? What does that tell us about their love?

To what degree does the Church functionally operate and love by the first way? Why do you think that is?

Which way above (of handling sin) is more popular? Which way is easier? In which way will you be more acceptable to, and accepted by, non-believers and the world?

Comments

Amanda says

October 5, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Wow. Bold truth shared in love. Thank you. I learned (I’m certain in the church) that all sin is equal at some point and I’ve used that false truth to attempt to keep myself from lesser sins seeing as I believed they are equal to murder or adultery for example, in God’s eyes. I’ve raised my children with this lie. Today I will correct this. I’m very grateful you have the courage to share the TRUTH.