AboutDerrick Holland Expertise I was raised in the religion known as Jehovah`s Witnesses for 13 years. Since becoming a born-again Christian, I have researched extensively this religion, especially their doctrines and their history. I can answer questions about their doctrines from the perspective of Biblical Christianity.
Experience 23 years of Biblical research into the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, and how they differ from the teachings of the Watchtower.
Sorry to be writing to you again in such a short matter of time but I have to ask this question while it is still on my mind. In an answer you gave on the topic of sin along time ago, you mentioned that you believe that all sin is not equal in God's eyes. I realize the penalty for different sins stated in scripture vary's. However, how does James 2:10 fall into play. It states "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Well thanks again and just get back to me when you have time.
Thanks and God bless,
Ben
Answer Hello Ben, and thanks for the question.
Well first, I would like to see which article I made this statement in. Not that I don't think I said it, because that is what I believe, but I would like to refresh my memory as to the exact context as to what I was saying in the answer you refer to.
And I understand your point about James 2:10, and also the surrounding context. I believe the point it is making here, is that we cannot sit in judgment on someone who commits a particular sin that we haven't committed, as if we have done no wrong ourselves. The fact is, if we have erred in any of the law, we are guilty of breaking it as well. I don't think it means that the penalty for sin is the same in all cases.....just that we are all guilty sinners before God. But I do see where you're coming from.
Also, I believe the passage is pointing out the fact that James realized his Jewish readers were accustomed to trusting in the law for salvation. They needed to come to the realization that they could never be justified in God's sight by keeping the law, since no one could ever keep it perfectly. So the point is, if we have ever broken even one aspect of it, we are sinners separated from God, and need the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ.
A couple of reasons that I believe that certain sins may be worse than others. Or perhaps I should be more careful, and say that certain sins have greater CONSEQUENCES than others. I believe Scripture indicates this, as well as common sense. As for common sense, I have actually heard well-meaning and sincere Christians say something like..."Well, its just as bad to think about killing someone as it is to do it?" HUH? Really? I have also heard people say that "If you think about committing adultery, then you might as well do it because the thought is just as bad as the act."
Now, somebody is crazy that would say something like that. Yes, Jesus did say that to lust after a woman is to commit adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). However, it is sin on top of sin to commit adultery in a physical way, for you have done so both physically AND in the heart. Think about it. As bad as it may be to commit adultery in the heart, the repercussions of doing so physically are far worse....If you only do it in your heart, then you haven't broken up that person's marriage, broken the heart of their children, caused scars that will never heal, etc. You have sinned and defiled yourself, but that's it....you haven't caused that other person to sin. But the physical act would cause ALL these things. So yes, as bad as lust is, I believe the actual act would do more damage.
If a murderous thought crosses our mind, is that just as bad as actually killing someone? No, because you didn't actually harm that person by just thinking about it. They can still go home to their wife and kids, they can still go to work, and live their lives as they always did. You will not be locked up away from your family for the rest of your life, for merely having a murderous thought. So it is far more serious to commit the act.
Yet, both lust of the heart and murderous thoughts are still sins.
Also, common sense here....Is it really as bad in the sight of God to travel 57 m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. zone, as it is to hold up a convenient store at gunpoint? I mean, that is a sin, is it not?....To break the speed limit? Disobeying the law, I believe. What about not wearing a seat-belt? Is this as serious to God as hating someone in your heart? I believe the rational, common-sense answer to this is "No".
But I believe there are some Biblical indications, as well.....
First of all, it is true that ALL sins separate us from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). As you mentioned, certain sins carried different punishments in the Old Testament. Would this not signify that there was a difference in the seriousness in which God viewed those sins? For instance, a thief paid restitution, but an adulterer or homosexual was put to death.
In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, we see that God differentiates between sexual sins, and other types of sins. Because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is not to be used for immorality. It is said that a person who commits fornication sins "against their own body" in so doing. Seems to be a difference outlined here.
In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus made a comment in rebuke of the Pharisees for practicing certain parts of the law to the letter, but ignoring the "weightier matters" (more important) of the law. Not that they shouldn't have been keeping the part about tithing, for they should...But it wasn't given the same importance as other parts such as judgment, mercy, and faith.
We find another very interesting statement made by Jesus.....
John 19:11- "Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin"
Here, Jesus plainly talks about having "the greater sin"....those who knew, and those whom Jesus had come to had rejected him. This was viewed as more serious than Pilate's sin, although Pilate's sin was still serious.
Matthew 7:3-5........"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."
Here in this passage, Jesus takes 2 two objects that are obviously of different sizes, to illustrate that we shouldn't try to correct everyone on their "smaller" (for lack of a better word) sins, if we ourselves have a much larger sin or struggle that we have to contend with.
And another study altogether....the Bible mentions a "sin unto death" and a "sin not unto death" (1 John 5:16-17). Though much discussion and debate surrounds what these explicit sins are, the fact remains that these would obviously be very different as far as their seriousness goes.
I hope this has briefly shed some light on this subject. I know a lot more could be said about it, but hope this helps.
