Sin Severity: Does The Bible Rank Transgressions?

The Bible does not explicitly state that sins are arranged in a hierarchical order, but it does suggest that some sins are considered more severe than others. In the Old Testament, different sins required different sacrifices and punishments, indicating a distinction in severity. For example, murder was punishable by death, while stealing required repayment of double the amount stolen. Additionally, the Bible mentions “sins that cry out”, implying that certain sins are more grievous than others.

Some Christians believe that all sins are equal in the eyes of God, and that any sin requires repentance. However, others argue that there is a hierarchy of sins, with some being more destructive and requiring more forgiveness. The concept of mortal and venial sins in Catholic theology also suggests a distinction between sins that result in eternal punishment and those that do not.

While the Bible may not present a clear hierarchical order of sins, it is clear that certain sins are viewed as more serious and carry greater consequences.

Mortal sins

According to Catholic doctrine, a mortal sin is a grave violation of God's law, committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. It destroys charity in the heart of man, turning him away from God, and, if not redeemed by repentance and forgiveness, results in exclusion from Christ's kingdom and eternal damnation in hell.

While the Bible does not explicitly classify sins as mortal or venial, there are several references to deadly or "serious" sins, which are understood to be mortal. For example, in 1 John 5:16-17, the Bible states:

> "There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death."

This suggests that there are indeed sins that are more severe than others, and which have more dire consequences.

Additionally, in Matthew 15:18-20, Revelation 21:8, 22:15, Ephesians 5:3-7, Colossians 3:5-6, Galatians 5:19-21, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the Bible provides lists of sins that will result in exclusion from the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God. These sins include:

• Unrighteousness
• Immorality
• Idolatry
• Adultery
• Sexual perversion
• Theft
• Greed
• Drunkenness
• Reviling
• Robbery
• Fornication
• Impurity
• Licentiousness
• Sorcery
• Enmity
• Strife
• Jealousy
• Anger
• Selfishness
• Dissension
• Envy
• Drunkenness
• Carousing
• Covetousness

These lists indicate that certain sins are seen as more severe, as they bar one from entering the kingdom of God.

Furthermore, Jesus himself distinguishes between sins that will separate us from God forever and those that will not. In Matthew 5:22, he states:

> "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire."

Here, Jesus draws a clear line between sins that lead to hell and those that are less severe.

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly use the term "mortal sin", it does acknowledge that some sins are more serious and have more dire consequences than others. These mortal sins are those that sever our relationship with God and lead to eternal damnation.

Sins requiring repentance

The Bible places a significant emphasis on repentance as a central theme in the relationship between humanity and God. Repentance is portrayed as a crucial step towards reconciliation and restoration. In Acts 3:19, the apostle Peter exhorts, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." This verse encapsulates the biblical message of repentance, linking it to forgiveness and the experience of spiritual renewal.

The Bible consistently presents repentance as a pivotal aspect of the spiritual journey, emphasizing its role in forgiveness, restoration, and a renewed relationship with God. It calls for individuals to turn away from sin, seek God's mercy, and embrace a life of faith and obedience.

According to the Bible, every sin requires repentance, and no sin requires more repentance than another. Sins slow our spiritual progression and can even stop it. Repentance makes it possible for us to grow and develop spiritually again. It is the way provided for us to become free from our sins and receive forgiveness for them.

To repent, we must admit to ourselves that we have sinned. We must feel sincere sorrow for what we have done and want to unload and abandon our sins. Our sincere sorrow should lead us to forsake our sins. We must also confess our sins and make restitution.

• Adultery
• Fornication
• Homosexual relations
• Spouse or child abuse
• Sale or use of illegal drugs
• Theft
• Lying
• Gossip
• Murder
• Physical assault
• Verbal assault
• Anger
• Unfaithfulness in a missionary calling
• Ignorance of God's truth and disobedience towards it
• Intentional or "high-handed" sins

Sins against God

The Bible contains many references to people admitting that they have "sinned against God" (Exodus 10:16; Joshua 7:20; Judges 10:10). According to the Bible, every sin requires repentance, and no sin requires more repentance than another. However, the Bible also speaks of degrees of sin, with some sins considered greater than others in terms of their effects, consequences, and punishment.

There are several ways in which one can sin against God's honour, as outlined in the First, Second, and Third Commandments. These include:

• Putting anyone or anything in God's place
• Blaspheming God or perjuring oneself
• Failing to show respect for persons, places, and things consecrated to God
• Atheism, heresy, and schism
• Missing Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation

While the Protestant interpretation of the Bible states that all sins are equal in the eyes of God, Catholic theology makes a distinction between "mortal" and "venial" sins. Mortal sins are considered more severe, as they destroy charity and turn people away from God, resulting in eternal punishment unless confessed and penance is done. Venial sins, on the other hand, are minor sins that wound charity but do not destroy it, resulting in temporal punishments.

Sins against other people

The Bible does not explicitly state that sins are arranged in a hierarchical order, but it does mention that all sin is equal in the eyes of God and that every sin requires repentance. However, it also acknowledges that some sins have more severe consequences than others, and that certain sins are considered more destructive and grave violations.

When it comes to sins against other people, the Bible provides guidance on how to deal with relational sins, which are inevitable in close relationships. Here are some key points:

• Be on guard against committing relational sins: Recognize that we are prone to sin against others and be vigilant to avoid causing harm. Take responsibility for your own actions and avoid justifying yourself while blaming others.
• The seriousness of relational sins: Jesus warns that causing someone to stumble in their faith or leading them into sin is a serious offence. He uses a graphic image of a millstone being tied around the neck and being cast into the sea to illustrate the severity of such acts.
• Dealing with relational sins: If someone sins against you, the Bible advises rebuking them. This step should not be neglected or done poorly. It is important to examine your own motives and heart before approaching the person.
• The goal of rebuke is repentance: The purpose of rebuking is not to prove a point or seek revenge, but to bring the other person to repentance and restore their relationship with God and others.
• Forgiving those who repent: Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, even if the person sins repeatedly. Biblical forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling, and it opens the way for reconciliation.
• Dealing with repeated sins: If someone repeatedly sins against you, it is important to talk to them about the issue and seek resolution. However, granting forgiveness does not mean removing all consequences, especially in cases where trust has been severely damaged.

Sins against God's created order

The Bible does not explicitly state a hierarchy of sins, but it does provide lists of sins and it is clear that some sins are considered more severe than others in terms of their consequences and the punishment they carry.

The Bible differentiates between sins committed intentionally and those committed unintentionally. Intentional sins are considered more severe and are categorised as "high-handed" sins. For example, premeditated murder is considered a more serious sin than unintentional killing.

Additionally, certain sins are seen as a denial of God's created order and are viewed as more "serious" due to their far-reaching consequences on individuals, families, and society. These include the destruction of human life, sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage, and disobedience to parents.

The seven deadly sins, according to Christian tradition, are:

• Envy
• Gluttony
• Greed or avarice
• Lust
• Pride
• Sloth
• Wrath

These sins are considered deadly because they go against the root of Christianity, which is love for God, love for fellow humans, and love for our bodies.

While the Bible does not explicitly mention these seven deadly sins as a list, it does refer to various sins and their destructive nature. For example, in Galatians 5:19-21, we are warned against "the acts of the sinful nature", which include sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, and drunkenness, among others.

In conclusion, while the Bible does not present a clear hierarchical list of sins, it does emphasise that certain sins have more severe consequences and are more destructive than others.

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