Is all sin equal in the eyes of God?

Jon Wright12th Aug 2007

What is Sin?

• The breaking God’s laws or rebellion against God: 1 John 3:4, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 凡犯罪的，就是違背律法；違背律法就是罪。 + Deu 9:7; Josh 1:18

• Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀”

Are some sins greater than others?

• Some say sin is sin and there are no differences between them according to the New Testament

• What about the Old Testament• Remember Jesus came to fulfill the law not to replace it

Old Testament Sin Examples

• Murder - Ex 21:12, Manslaughter Ex 21:13

• Kidnapping - Ex 21:16• Cattle Rustling - Ex 22:1 • Prostitution/Fornication - Deu 22:21• Adultery - Lev 20:10• Idol Making - Ex 32• Lying - Deu 19:16-21 • Different Sins have different penalties - some have

more serious consequences than others

Sin in the New Testament

• Rom 3:23 - For all have sinned…• James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and

yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 因為凡遵守全律法的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條 .”

• James is saying, you break one law or you break different one, or you break all of them then you are a ‘law-breaker’

Jesus recognized some sin as more serious.

John 19:11• “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."

• “耶穌回答說：若不是從上頭賜給你的，你就毫無權柄辦我。所以，把我交給你的那人罪更

”重了• Greater responsibility means you will be judged to

a higher standard - eg. In James 3 about teaching • Moses hitting a rock not speaking to it Num 20

What is the NT penalty for Sin?

• Rom 3 tell us we have all sinned so we should know the penalty since our default status is a sinner!

• Rom 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 因為罪的工價乃是死；惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌 ”裡，乃是永生

• Where death is Spiritual Death - an eternal isolation from God. A separation from the father for all eternity.

God is the God of 2nd Chances

• God loves us so much that He has provided His Son Jesus to die for our sins.

• We need to realize that it is not a case of our sin has no penalty, God is just and He requires justice

• Instead Jesus has taken the penalty for our sin upon himself - His sacrifice Justification

• Our sin is taken as His own by God’s own Son - so it is no longer attributed to us Sanctification

• When was the last time you thought of how much your sin cost that man? the pain? the suffering?

We Need to tell everyone

• That they are sinners• That the wages of their sin is DEATH (eternal damnation)

• That God loves them so much He has provided His own son to take the penalty of their sin

• So that they can have a relationship with Him

• That Jesus is the way/truth and life and you can only come to the Father through Him

• So go and tell people………