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No Sin is Greater Than Another – Are All Sins Equal?

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The idea that “no sin is greater than another” is a commonly heard phrase, but its significance runs much deeper than it may seem. In order to clarify our understanding of the phrase “no sin is greater than another,” we will first define sin, look at the world’s perspective on it, and then God’s perspective that we should strive to align ourselves with.

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No Sin is Greater Than Another

It’s easy to brush off the concept of the equality of sins as a cliche saying among church folk, but it is a concept in the Christian faith for a reason. It comes directly from the Word of God and is a vital point of understanding for living a Christ-like life. 

Rooted in Scripture, this concept challenges the way we naturally categorize sins based on their earthly consequences or visible harm. While the world often ranks sins according to their severity, the Bible teaches that all sin, regardless of its nature, separates us from God and requires the same response—repentance and grace. In this post, we’ll explore the meaning of sin, how it’s viewed both from a worldly and a divine perspective and why understanding the equality of sin is essential for living a life aligned with God’s will.

What is Sin?

This is a very important question. To begin this quick study on the equality or severities of different sins, we should ensure we understand the topic’s basics by defining sin in general. 

Sin, according to the Christian faith, is defined as any act, thought, or attitude that goes against God’s moral law and His divine will. This definition is made clear by the apostle John in 1 John.

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”

1 John 3:4 (ESV)

This verse emphasizes that sin is not just a human mistake or moral failing but an act of rebellion against God’s established order. In this context, the term “lawlessness” means a disregard for God’s commandments as set forth in God’s law, portraying sin as an intentional violation of God’s standards. Sin is thus not just the breaking of human laws or societal norms but a deeper offense against the Creator, who sets the ultimate moral guidelines.

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. from Bible Study Tools puts it this way:

“In the Bible, the word sin – whether it is in the Hebrew or the Greek – actually means to miss the mark. The reason this definition is so important is because it points to two things. First, there is a target we are aiming at, and second it speaks to our intention. Once we know there is a target, then we can choose to hit it or to miss it..”

In this instance, the target we choose to hit or miss is God’s commands according to his Word. Choosing to miss the target is committing sin. The word choose is very important here as sin is intentional; a deliberate act against God’s desires for us. 

In the book of James, Jesus’ half brother, James, expands on this definition by pointing out that sin is not just about committing wrongful actions but also about failing to do what is right.

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

James 4:17 (ESV)

This introduces the concept of sins of omission, where sin is not merely an active transgression but also the failure to act in obedience to God’s will when one knows what is right. This means that sin is not only about overt actions like lying, stealing, or hatred because it also includes the failure to love, to show kindness, to offer help, or to pursue justice when one has the ability and knowledge to do so.

Sin, at its core, is a failure to live according to God’s perfect standard, whether through disobedience or apathy. Each kind of sin—acts of commission and omission—separate humanity from God, creating the need for repentance, grace, and redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)

Thinking about different sins we ourselves have committed, or sins we have seen committed, surely some are worse than others, right? Sure I’ve told a white lie or two, maybe stole a candy bar from a gas station when I was little, but I’m no murderer, bank robber, or abuser, so I’m better off than some people, right? 

The problem with this perspective is it measures sin by human standards, rather than Godly standards. 

How the World Views Sin

In the world (the physical world, not the metaphorical world used to describe the enemy), everything is measured by human standards. After all, we are all humans making up society with our human actions and human thoughts. The law, government, and all institutions are man-made – made up of human ideals. 

This human approach to sin often centers around the notion of harm—if an action causes significant harm to another person or violates societal laws, it is seen as a greater sin. Conversely, sins that are viewed as personal, private, or having little visible impact on others are sometimes treated as insignificant or excusable. This leads to a moral framework that allows individuals to justify certain behaviors, dismissing “smaller” wrongs like gossip, lying, or cheating as acceptable because “at least they aren’t hurting anyone.”

The murderer and the guy speeding down the highway are both in violation of the law, but the murderer is going to receive a much greater punishment of lots of time in prison, while the speeder will simply receive a ticket. 

This is what creates the idea in our minds that there is greater and lesser sin; the idea of greater and lesser punishment. We base the “badness” or degrees of sin on the consequences it receives in our earthly lives. Whether it’s against the law of the government, the rules set by a child’s parents, or the general moral code of society, some transgressions receive greater consequences than others. 

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Furthermore, modern society often downplays sin by redefining it according to cultural norms or personal feelings. What might once have been considered sinful by traditional religious standards is now seen as a lifestyle choice or an individual expression of freedom.

Take sexual sin for example. Many things, such as open relationships or homosexual relationships that the Bible considered sexual immorality are widely accepted in modern day society. This relativistic view means that moral standards shift with time, and what one generation considers wrong, another may accept or even celebrate. In this way, the world’s view of sin is fluid, shaped by changing cultural, legal, and moral frameworks rather than a fixed, divine standard.

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

Romans 1:25 (ESV)

Ultimately, the world’s view of sin focuses more on the external consequences rather than the internal condition of the heart.

However, this is not equivalent to God’s view of sin, which is the view we too should have.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

How God Views Sin

The view of sin through the eyes of God is rooted in His holiness and righteousness. In Scripture, God is repeatedly described as perfectly holy, which means He is completely pure, set apart from evil, and cannot tolerate sin in any form.

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”

Habakkuk 1:13 (ESV)

Sin is utterly offensive to God because it stands in opposition to His nature. Sin disrupts the perfect order and goodness He created, and because God is just, He must address and judge sin accordingly. Sin, in all its forms, brings about separation between humanity and God, which is why the Bible says, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), illustrating the severity with which God views sin and its consequences, no matter how we or the rest of the world view it.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Furthermore, God views sin not only as a transgression against His law but as something that corrupts and destroys the individual and community. Sin has devastating effects, enslaving people and leading to spiritual and even physical death.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

Every single  person is affected by sin. Yet, God, in His grace, does not leave humanity to suffer these consequences at the final judgment without hope. His desire is for all people to turn away from sin and be transformed by His grace.

“The Lord is is not slow to fulfill his promise  as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

God’s view of sin reflects both His holiness and His love. While He cannot tolerate sin because it is contrary to His nature, He has made a way for sinners to be restored to Him through Jesus Christ. God’s approach to sin is ultimately redemptive, offering hope, transformation, and eternal life to those who turn to Him in repentance and faith.

Simply put, no sin is greater than another in God’s eyes.

All Sins Are Equal

A great analogy for how God views the severity of sin is a birds eye view. If a person is driving into a big city, they see the skyline with buildings of differing shapes and sizes, specifically different heights. However, if a bird flies over a big city, they see the tops of these buildings all at an equal level, as you can only see the height from the side, when two are next to each other.

In this analogy, the buildings are different sins. We, in our humanness, see from the perspective of someone looking at the skyline, where a lie and tax evasion are next to each other standing at way different heights, representing different levels of sin. But God sees the birds eye view, where the sins are all level with one another.

This is because of the difference in earthly versus Godly consequences. As discussed previously, earthly consequences vary based on earthly severity. However, there is only one consequence for all sins in eternity: sin results in separation from God.

Whether you are guilty of a lying tongue or haughty eyes that didn’t seem to cause much harm, or you are guilty of adultery against your marriage covenant, you suffer the same consequence in the eyes of eternity – separation from God. When we face the Lord on the day of judgment, there will not be a further or a closer separation for the sinful, there is only separation. 

From a divine viewpoint, breaking any part of the law of God makes a person a lawbreaker, whether that transgression is considered “small” or “large” by human standards. In other words, gossip, theft, envy, and murder are all violations of the same holy standard.

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

James 2:10 (ESV)

No sin is greater than another, and therefore receives the same eternal punishment. Sin can also be covered by the same solution—grace and forgiveness through faith in the name of Jesus Christ. In the kingdom of God, there is no ranking of sins. All are equal, and all are redeemable.

This idea that all sins are redeemable (excluding the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) is just as important in the Christian walk as understanding that no sin is greater than another. It is easy to fall into the trap of looking at people who committed what we think is a worse sin in contempt, as if they are not worthy of God’s grace and mercy.

The form you have selected does not exist.

The problem with this is that because there is no greater sins or lesser sins, and because everybody is a sinner, nobody is worthy or deserving of God’s grace and mercy, and everybody is therefore, equal in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. We were all adopted into His family without deserving one bit of it. 

Salvation came for both the priest and the tax collector. The apostle Paul makes the inclusion of everyone in the Kingdom of Heaven evident in his letter to the Romans:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”

Titus 2:11 (ESV)

Understanding that no sin is greater than another reshapes how we view both ourselves and others in light of God’s holiness. While the world may rank sins by their consequences, God’s standard reveals that all sin equally separates us from Him. This perspective not only humbles us but reminds us that everyone, regardless of their sins, is in need of the same grace and redemption through Christ Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man.

By embracing this truth, we can cultivate a spirit of humility and compassion, conforming into the image of Christ that we are called to reflect through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You may enjoy this video, by Desiring God: Are All Sins Equal Before God?

ESV – “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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