Sin

What are your thoughts on one sin being greater than another? Do you believe they are all the same (besides blasphemy)?

I assume you would believe that having an addiction is a sin and that one is continuing to knowingly sin. However, what if that person is sincerely reaching out to God over and over and there is still little change in that persons life, if they die from from addiction, are they going to hell?
 
What are your thoughts on one sin being greater than another? Do you believe they are all the same (besides blasphemy)?

I assume you would believe that having an addiction is a sin and that one is continuing to knowingly sin. However, what if that person is sincerely reaching out to God over and over and there is still little change in that persons life, if they die from from addiction, are they going to hell?

Well, what does the Word of God tell us?

John 19:10-11............
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

Matthew 11:20-24
"Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre andSidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Clearly, Jesus is telling us that there are differences between sins and also of judgment. The basis for that is knowledge.
Some people saw Jesus and witnesed His miracles and some only knew Him through prophecy. Those who saw Him were treated harsher than those who saw Him from afar. Look at Pilate and the words spoken of him.

The people who wanted Jesus dead were guilty of a "greater sin" than Pilate who IMO wanted to free Jesus but didn't.


We tend to believe that all sin is equal, even the smallest, while no sin is so bad that the blood of Jesus can not remove it.
Now, think about that for a moment. Does that even sound logical or practical or Godly?

There are differences in sins and there is a difference of judment in hell.

Remember, the only sin that can not be forgiven is UNBELIF. It is unbelief that sends a man to hell.
 
In general it is fruitless to try to put a weight to sins, we just don't know the particulars of a situation well enough, and as Padre Pio commented on this subject "one can choke on a teaspoon of water, while another drowns in the ocean, are they not both equally dead?" .

I would say that sin is measured by the innocence and number of victims of said transgression, the knowledge of the perpetrator as to the results of his actions, and the complicity and/or opposition of the persons involved.

So, for example, Charlie Manson, as evil as he is, and as murderous as he was, is guilty of less sin than a Dick Cheney or Henry Kissinger, who are guilty in the premeditated deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people.
 
In general it is fruitless to try to put a weight to sins, we just don't know the particulars of a situation well enough, and as Padre Pio commented on this subject "one can choke on a teaspoon of water, while another drowns in the ocean, are they not both equally dead?" .

I would say that sin is measured by the innocence and number of victims of said transgression, the knowledge of the perpetrator as to the results of his actions, and the complicity and/or opposition of the persons involved.

So, for example, Charlie Manson, as evil as he is, and as murderous as he was, is guilty of less sin than a Dick Cheney or Henry Kissinger, who are guilty in the premeditated deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people.

So if we follow that chain of thought.........what do we say about President Truman and his action to drop the Nuclear bombs on Japan or LBJ's direction to place troops into Vietnam? Are you sure you want to go down that road Glo? Just asking!
 
If you read the memos of the time, the Military, including MacArthur was against using the bomb. The Japanese had already asked for negotiations of surrender in previous months. But Truman's science advisors had a new toy and just could not pass up an opportunity to use it. Truman can claim stupidity, General MacArthur was against it. So the sin would mainly lie upon the heads of science advisors who knew the harm it would cause to a defenseless populace in a war that was on the verge of ending regardless of what was done.

Vietnam was a lie from the start. The Gulf of Tonkin incident was a CIA fabrication. LBJ was in the pocket of the military/industrial complex who wanted a war for $billions of reasons. Peacetime does not pay very well.
 
It may shatter some preconcieved notions here, but most of what is taught as history in the US is pure propaganda.
 
If you read the memos of the time, the Military, including MacArthur was against using the bomb. The Japanese had already asked for negotiations of surrender in previous months. But Truman's science advisors had a new toy and just could not pass up an opportunity to use it. Truman can claim stupidity, General MacArthur was against it. So the sin would mainly lie upon the heads of science advisors who knew the harm it would cause to a defenseless populace in a war that was on the verge of ending regardless of what was done.

Vietnam was a lie from the start. The Gulf of Tonkin incident was a CIA fabrication. LBJ was in the pocket of the military/industrial complex who wanted a war for $billions of reasons. Peacetime does not pay very well.

Exactly my point......Exactly! I just wanted to know if you wanted to go doen that road because that road is full of potholes.
 
Ok, yes I do NOT believe they are equal but have heard that some carry that thought. Just getting opinions. It also seems illogical to me. You two didn't answer my last question, though.
 
What are your thoughts on one sin being greater than another? Do you believe they are all the same (besides blasphemy)?

I assume you would believe that having an addiction is a sin and that one is continuing to knowingly sin. However, what if that person is sincerely reaching out to God over and over and there is still little change in that persons life, if they die from from addiction, are they going to hell?

Well...it only takes 1 sin to separate us from God....the punishment for not acknowledging sin/ your sinful nature- is the same across the board.
 
I guess I should clarify-it isn't that we have much choice in the matter-as we are born into this fallen sinful world-already cut off from the Lord. I think when it comes to "addiction" there probably is some point that the Lord will remove Himself from the unrepentant addict. That does not mean salvation will be lost due to addiction. And if the heart is repentant-the Lord will return. Of course this does not apply to someone who has not accepted Christ as their savior. And salvation in an addicted state can lead to a double-minded lifestyle or false salvation.
 
Greetings:

Coveting others' mates,and coveting thy neighbors' goods is almost insurmountable until the (I)
is crucified.

by(e)carg
 
What are your thoughts on one sin being greater than another? Do you believe they are all the same (besides blasphemy)?

I assume you would believe that having an addiction is a sin and that one is continuing to knowingly sin. However, what if that person is sincerely reaching out to God over and over and there is still little change in that persons life, if they die from from addiction, are they going to hell?

You bring up a good point. I have thought of this many times because I face my mistakes daily. If you take the bible at its word only those who have faith are saved and maybe those who have never heard the gospel. But the real question you have to ask is do you have faith. If you do then you get off scott free.

But to be clear to you this is the right answer if your a christian.
 
For one sin God cursed the entire creation He just finished calling Good... Make no mistake God hates all sin.

Any disobedience to God is a sin, doesn't matter what it is. God cannot look on any sin no matter how small, without the sin bearer being consumed by His Holiness.

Consider Isaiah in Isaiah 6:5

So it doesn't matter if your a Holy Prophet of God with original sin or if you committed the graphic sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, sin is sin and you will be become undone in God's presence, big or small, the result is the same.

Jesus says;

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

To the true disciple of Lord Jesus all sins are covered by His sacrifice. Therefore we can come freely into the presence of God. If you are not you will perish.

However if you think you are a Christian and you sin freely (big or small) thinking God will forgive you, it doesn't work that way and chances are you're not the Christian you think you are.
 
The second part of the OP's question I think only God can know if a person is truly repentant or not?

However consider 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ( NIV)

But we learn from Paul in Romans 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ( NIV)

So I believe a true Christian may always have a way out but can still sin, but do they sin and just think; "oh God will forgive me anyway" or do they immediately repent and grieve because of their transgression and despise the sin they just committed? Only God knows the answer to that one and only one is the true believer.
 
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