Categorizing Sin

Although the Bible mentions differences in the severity of the consequences of various sins, there is one consequence it doesn’t categorize. ALL sin is against God. All sin separates us from God. All sin brings eternal judgment.

One eternal consequence.
Isaiah told Israel, “…your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you…” (Isa 59:1-2). All sin breaks our relationship with God because, “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn 1:5). Everything we do, even secret things, will be brought into judgment (Ecc 12:14).

There is a temptation to think that some sins aren’t a big deal to God because they don’t seem to matter to us. But we have to remember that we aren’t the standard! Remember that Galatians 5:19-21 says that selfishness and envy are as sinful as idolatry and sorcery. Hatred is as sinful as murder, and lust is as sinful as adultery (Matt 5:21-22, 27-28). And in a list of sins in Romans 1 containing sexual immorality are also those who are “disobedient to parents” (Rom 1:28-32). Although there may be varying degrees of physical consequences to various sins, all sins have the spiritual consequence of offending God and bringing God’s eternal judgement. Minimizing sin gives people license to sin and makes them comfortable continuing in it. It brings spiritual and eternal disaster!

One eternal solution.
Just as there is one eternal consequence to sin, there is one eternal solution: Jesus. The advantage of not categorizing sin is that it is easy for us to accept one solution, one Savior, to resolve our spiritual problem. One problem: Sin. One Savior: Jesus.

Hebrews stresses that Jesus offered Himself “once for all” (Heb 7:27; 9:12, 25-28). There is not “salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac 4:12). In Christ, “…we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). Truly, “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7). ALL sin is cleansed. That means no sin is too big to be forgiven, but it also means no sin is too small to be forgiven. Categorizing sin may lead to overlooking sin that need to be turned from, confessed, and forgiven! To God, sin is sin – and it needs to be sin to us too!  dd