All sin is the same?

The idea that “all sin is sin” or “all sins are the same” is a commonly held belief in some Christian circles. This notion suggests that in the eyes of God, there is no distinction between various sins, and all transgressions are equally offensive to him. While this perspective has often been preached and taught, it is not actually biblical. 

First, it is true that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). In that sense, it does not matter how many or how few sins a person might have committed in the past. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) for everyone. So you could see where someone might say, “All sins are the same; they all lead to death.” That much would be true.

Biblical Differentiation of Sin

However, the Bible does not treat all sins as the same in weight or punishment. As we have seen, the Bible clearly distinguishes between the consequences of intentional and unintentional wrongdoing. The punishment for intentional wrongdoing is much more serious than the consequences for unintentional wrongdoing. 

In the Old Testament, God provided specific provisions for atoning for unintentional sins (Leviticus 4:2-3, Numbers 15:22-29). Intentional sins, on the other hand, carried more severe consequences and were sometimes punishable by death (Numbers 15:30-31). These distinctions emphasize that God recognizes varying degrees of responsibility and accountability for different types of sins.

The Scriptures themselves indicate that some sins are more serious in God's eyes. For instance, in Exodus 32:30-35, Moses called the sin of idolatry by the Israelites a “great sin.” In the New Testament, Jesus differentiates between sins, stating that the one who delivered Him to Pilate (Judas) had committed a “greater sin” (John 19:11). Such distinctions in severity demonstrate that not all sins are equal in God’s eyes.

The Impact of Sin on Others and Society

Another way to evaluate the notion that all sins are the same is to consider their consequences. While all sins separate individuals from God, some sins carry far-reaching effects that harm others and society as a whole. Murder, for example, irreparably alters the lives of both the victim and their loved ones, leading to significant repercussions beyond the individual sinner. In contrast, minor offenses may have limited or no impact on others. It would be morally absurd to say that God views murder the same as uttering a curse word when you are angry.

The varying degrees of sin’s severity is clear in the New Testament as well as the Old. The Corinthian church is full of pride and division, but it is only the man who sleeps with his father’s wife that Paul kicks out of the church (1 Cor. 5:5). There were no doubt many sins committed by Christians in the early church, but only Ananias and Sapphira are put to death by the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:5). Jesus himself speaks of an unpardonable sin, which by implication is worse than other sins (Matt. 12:31).

1 John 5 distinguishes between a sin that leads to death and other sins that do not lead to death (1 John 5:16-17). Hebrews implies that there is a point of no return in sinning (Heb. 10:26), possibly referring to the sin of apostasy. The New Testament thus indicates that sin can vary in severity.

Theological Perspectives on Sin Severity

Indeed, part of the popularity of the “all sin is sin” view may be the prevalence of the notion of eternal security, the idea that once one is saved, one will be saved no matter what one does. In that sense, you could see where someone might say, “No matter what my sin was before I came to Christ, I needed Christ the same. Then, after I came to Christ, my sins were forgiven no matter which one I committed and so all my sins were the same.” However, the second perspective is not that of the New Testament. There are sins that “lead to death” and thus that are more serious than others.

The only verse that may sound like it supports this popular notion is James 2:10-11. It says that someone who has broken the Law at one point has broken all the Law. However, this verse is simply highlighting the fact that we cannot pick and choose which of God’s commands we want to follow. We have to follow all of them. The other interpretation takes these verses out of context.

Clearly the New Testament and the Old Testament do not treat or consider all sin to be the same in seriousness or severity. This is rather a popular notion that comes from a misunderstanding of what the Bible actually teaches. Dr. Bounds has suggested that the official theologians of no Christian tradition actually teach this idea. If the standard of righteousness and sin is love, then we can be more or less loving and, thus, more or less righteous or sinful.