Are All Sins the Same? 

James 2:10,11 says,

"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.  For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law."

Now, some will say that verse says ALL sins are the same.  That's not what it said at all.  All this scripture says is that if you commit murder then you have still broken the law just because you didn't commit adultery.  James was simply making the point that if you keep the whole law but break one point, you are still a transgressor of the law. There is nothing in this passage that states all sins are the same.  Even in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel chapter 8, you will see of detestable things, and more detestable, and even more detestable than those!

Jesus himself taught that there are sins GREATER than others (John 19:11).  There is a type of sin that is eternal (Mark 3:29) where other sins are not. We have sins that are against own body if we are living in sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18). 

Also note what John says in 1 John 5:16, 

"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that."

Now look at what he says in the very next verse,

"All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death."

Here we see that there is sin that does not lead to death while there is sin that does.

Even Paul talks about sin unto death.  (Rom. 6:16)

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

What are those sins? Now you may say, "Paul did not say 'sins' (plural), but 'sin.'"  Well, he also said "obedience" unto righteousness."  Does that mean only "one act" of obedience unto righteousness?  Paul is in agreement with John. Either one is walking in complete obedience, not serving sin, or walking in disobedience.

The Bible tells us that there is a sin unto death, and just one of those sins can send a person to hell.  It tells us what sins, and it only takes one of them (or all), can bring about spiritual death that will keep us from inheriting the Kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."  (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."   (Gal. 5:19-21)

"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."  (Eph. 5:5-6)

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.?  (Rev. 21:8)

"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." (Rev. 22:15, etc.) 

It is very clear what sins will keep one out of God's kingdom. 

Now, in the Bible we are told not to be anxious about anything (Phil. 4:6).  Should we become anxious over something, will we end up in Hell?  We are told to give thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:18).  If we lack thankfulness, will we spend eternity in Hell?  We are supposed to be humble and gentle (Eph. 4:2). Are we always humble and gentle?  Will this send us to Hell?

Nowhere does the Bible say these people will end up in the lake of fire because they are guilty at times of such sins as worry, unthankfulness, and not being completely humble and gentle; however, you have seen passages that clearly states what kind of sins will cause eternal doom in Hell.

Soul-Damning Sins

Above were listed sins that will damn the soul to hell.  Here are 17 manifestations of the sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21:

Adultery - Looking on another to lust (in person or via technology); unlawful relations involving a married person.  Any sex outside of holy matrimony where God designed it to be enjoyed (Heb. 31:4).

Fornication - Every and all forms of illicit sexual activity, whether in thought or deed.  Any sexual activity outside of marriage.

Uncleanness - Anything opposite of purity; all forms of sexual impurity.

Lasciviousness - Licentiousness, lust, lewdness, unchasity.  Anything promoting or inciting sexual lust; lack of restraint.

Idolatry - Image worship.  This includes anything other than the LORD upon which the affections are passionately set.

Witchcraft - Sorcery.  The practice of dealing with evil spirits, magical incantations, casting spells or charms by means of drugs or potions to inflict harm on another.  Witchcraft includes the evil manipulation of control of others by any means.

Hatred - Enmity, bitter dislike, malice, abhorrence; tendency to hold grudges against or be angry with another without cause.

Variance - Discord, dissentions, quarreling, debating and disputes.

Emulations - Striving to excel at the expense of another person; seeking to surpass or outdo another.

Wrath - Rage; determined enduring anger; fierce indignation with turbulent passions.

Strife - Disputations, strife about words, angry contentions; vindictive endeavor to repay another evil for evil.

Seditions - Parties, factions; stirring up strife among people.

Heresies - The rejection of truth for fallacy; departure from divinely revealed truth.

Envyings - Ill will toward another's good will

Murders -  To kill or mar the happiness of another.

Drunkenness - Intoxication from the overuse of alcohol.

Revelings - Rioting; lascivious and boisterous feasting including obscene music and other sinful activities; carousing.

Paul called these the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19, 24).  God's word tells that any person who partakes in any of seventeen sins "SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God."

With the Bible so clear, there are those who would dare us to "come up with any sin that can undo the great salvation of God and tie this together with Christ's perfect work of redemption on the cross."  This simply reveals complete denial of biblical truth and intellectual dishonesty.  Christ's redemptive work is surely perfect yet the choice is left up to each person to receive and abide in His salvation.  We just read specific sins that defile and disqualify one from God's kingdom!

Such sins separates us from a holy God (Isa. 59:2; Rom. 6:23; Acts 1:5; Gal. 5:17-19; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:8,27).

Jesus said there are sins which defile a man.  The word "defile" simply means to make unholy or unfit to be in God's holy presence.  In Matthew 15:19, Christ informs us that what proceeds from one's life comes forth "out of the heart" and "defile a man." 

• "evil thoughts"
  
• "murders"
  
• "adulteries"
  
• "fornications"
  
• "thefts"
  
• "false witness"
  
• "blasphemies"
  

God's word tells us not to be deceived for there are certain sins that disqualify a person from Heaven.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  1 Cor. 6:9-10

Again, we have:

• "Fornications"
  
• "Idolaters"
  
• "Adulterers"
  
• "Effeminate"
  
• "Abusers of themselves with mankind" (homosexuals)
  
• "Thieves"
  
• "Covetous"
  
• Drunkards"
  
• "Revilers"
  
• "Extortioners"

Remember1 John 5:16? 

"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that."

There ARE certain sins (sin unto death - Rom. 6:16; 1 John 5:16) that will disqualify a person from the kingdom of God, even if he was once in grace, from heaven/eternal life.  If he doesn't repent, he is disqualified.

Over in Revelation 21:8, there are more soul-damning sins added to the list, some you will already recognize which were covered above:

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

• "Fearful" (spiritual cowards, men pleasers)
  
• "Unbelieving"
  
• "Abominable"
  
• "Murderers"
  
• "Whoremongers"
  
• "Sorcerers"
  
• "Idolaters"
  
• "All liars"

All of these sins are important since God takes the time and effort to give us a detailed list of these sins to His own sheep.  If it were only "believe" and be saved at one moment in one's life and then eternally secure, these warnings would mean nothing to us. 

God's covenant people, Israel, were kept out of their promised land of blessings, but only by those who chose to live separated from God in sin.  There are 5 sins that kept them out.

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Cor. 10:1-12)

• "Lust"
  
• "Idolatry"
  
• "Fornication"
  
• Tempting Christ"
  
• "Murmuring"

As we can see, the Bible does tell us there are soul-damning sins.  It doesn't matter whether it be done from those who are not saved and by those who are saved and go back to living a life of sin.

Now that we have mentioned the soul-damning sins, what about evidence of those who are abiding in Christ?  The Bible says,

But the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23)

The fruit or evidence (works or deeds) is manifested in one's life by how he lives. 

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were (not anymore) the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  (Rom. 6:16-22) 

Don't let the "Once Saved, Always Saved" keep you off your spiritual guard. Don't let this false gospel blind you anymore from believing God's truth. Half truth is not the WHOLE truth. 

 

We must be faithful unto the end. 

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,  who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:  eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,  tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;  but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:4-11

"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." -1 Peter 1:9

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