Discernment and Righteousness

I would like to address a faulty mindset today that is fairly common among those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. That mindset is that "all sin is the same." What people mean when they say this is that God sees all sins as being on the same level of evil, meaning that sin is sin. I'm certain that everyone understands that one sin or another differ by what is actually done or said that constitutes a sin, but the ideology is that all sins are on an equal level of unrighteousness. By no means however is all sin the same, nor are all sins the same. We can actually see the truth of the matter in one scripture passage in the new testament: "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death" (I Jn. 5:16,17). So while John tells us that "all unrighteousness is sin," he also stipulates that "there is a sin unto death," and that it won't do any good to pray for someone who has committed that sin. That sin of course is the blasphemy of the holy Ghost, because Jesus plainly told us, "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mk. 3:29). This article is not about that sin, but in short order I will just say that for one to blaspheme the holy Ghost he would first have to have received the holy Ghost, and afterward at some point totally disbelieve that Christ died for his sins, and that he rose again bodily. The reason that someone cannot be forgiven for that sin is because they have eliminated to themselves the only forgiveness and forgiver of sins that exists, which is Jesus Christ. That is why the scripture says of that sin, "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26,27). The second part of that passage says the same thing that Jesus said about someone who blasphemes the holy Ghost, but the first part of the passage tells us why one cannot be forgiven, saying; "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Christ is the ONLY sacrifice for sins, and if we remove all faith in him for who he is from our hearts, then we have absolutely nowhere to go and no one to go to, to have our sins forgiven.

Someone who has blasphemed the holy Ghost is actually not going to be concerned about sin, forgiveness, or anything of the like anyway. Nonetheless it is certain that all sins do not carry the same weight of unrighteousness, when there is a sin that cannot even be forgiven. But that really is the most extreme example of the truth that all sin is not the same, so we will look next at the most telling and confirming aspect of the reality that indeed all sins are NOT the same. But first I would like to make the point that any and all sins that are kept till the end of one's life, not having been repented of, will certainly result in eternal damnation. One verse will suffice for the moment, to make that point clearly: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). The term 'holiness' actually means to be without sin or moral defilement of any kind. That is why we are told the following in regard to the new Jerusalem where God will be: "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Rev. 21:7). That verse lends to another saying of Jesus as well: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Mat. 5:8). So in that sense all sins are the same, but in the overall sense all sins are not the same at all, and the best indicator of that is the old testament law that was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai by God, for his chosen people of Israel to know and do his will. Every aspect of the law was an expression of God's will, and in fact the holy Ghost that Jesus made available to us by his death and resurrection, is that same law written in our hearts when we are baptized with the Spirit (II Cor. 3:3; Heb. 10:15-17). The law contained different kinds of laws within it, some of which pertained to worship and service to God, some for the moral code of living, and others that were penalties for breaking the moral laws. It is in those penalties for sins committed by the people that we see most clearly that all sins are absolutely not the same in the sight of God. For example, the penalties for someone who committed theft against their neighbor, were such that they had to restore what they had stolen, plus some. Here is an example of what I'm saying: "If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep" (Exd. 22:1).

But the penalty for someone who engaged in sexual relations with his neighbor's wife incurred a much greater penalty: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death" (Lev. 20:10). We can also see there that the woman who allowed herself to be seduced by a man other than her husband was put to death as well. When you think about it that makes perfect sense. Stealing someone's sheep or oxen is one thing, but stealing someone's wife is quite another. At least God thinks so, and that is why he stipulated such a penalty for that offence. By the way, not one thing has changed in the mind of God about any of these commandments or penalties against those who break them. It is true that we have the cross of Christ to forever run to if we sin, that we might escape such a severe judgment. But it is also true that if not repented of, such sins will incur great severity in the end. Many of the commandments and penalties for breaking them, in the law, are like this; meaning that different sins incurred different levels of penalty. A saying that we're all familiar comes from a verse that shows us clearly that some sins are different from others in severity: "And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (Deut. 19:21). If someone recklessly caused another person to lose their eye, then their penalty would be that they lose their own eye. But if someone caused someone else to lose their life, they had to pay for that sin with their own life. Remember now, this was and is the law of God, not some men's opinion. This is the same law in fact that Jesus said the following about: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Mat. 5:17,18). There are many reasons for the penalties against various sins being so different. Nonetheless all of those reasons are just and right, because God is just and right in all things. Just think about it a little and it's easy to see why all sins are not the same, nor were they or are they of equal worthiness of recompense.

It's really not that damaging to a person's overall life if someone steals something from them, and then later has to repay it, with interest if you will. It's certainly wrong, and it surely causes problems for someone to be stolen from; but it's not something that can't be recovered from. But if someone's husband or wife commits adultery against them with another person, that is a really major injury to someone's spirit and person; both by the spouse and the third party as well. That is something that is very difficult to recover from emotionally, spiritually, and mentally; and in today's world causes major financial upheaval often times as well. Stealing worldly goods or things from someone is one thing, but stealing and corrupting a person's husband or wife is a severe violation of someone's very person; seeing that the person that they have literally been made 'one' with, has been totally breached. There are many like examples I could demonstrate from the law, but if go and study it yourself and you will see the same pattern throughout the law, in regard to differing sins incurring differing penalties. So the truth of the matter is that some sins are more damaging than other sins, both to others and to one's self as well. The real issue however is how sins that someone commits affects other people, because the entire will of God for men is summed up in one saying, as Jesus told us: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Mat. 7:12). And in regard to the commandments of God, and how they relate to this saying, the apostle Paul maybe said it best: "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Rom.13:9). So anything that violates the sanctity of that divine concept is sin, as the beloved apostle assured us: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (I Jn. 3:4). God's law was given to men so that they would be steered into dealing with one another in a mutually beneficial way. Since the condition of sin in the heart and soul could not be cured by the law that God gave to Israel, he sent his only begotten Son to pay the ultimate price at Calvary, so that we COULD BE cured of the condition of sin in the heart and soul (Gal. 3:21; Heb. 10:4; Heb. 7:19; Heb. 9:13,14; Rom. 8:1-4).

Wen we are baptized with the holy Ghost by Jesus, we receive all of the commandments of God written in our hearts and minds, along with the new nature and divine power to DO those commandments without strain (Rom. 6:3,4; I Jn. 5:3). Jesus suffered and died, and then rose from the dead to go back to heaven to make this glorious reality available to us (Acts 1:4,5). And he did it so that we could follow purely after the commandments of God in our lives, and thereby be blessed beyond measure, bless others immensely, and be with he and the Father forever when this life is over. How we live among and toward one another in this life is going to determine our eternal destiny, and he made it easy for us to have an eternal life circumstance that supersedes all capacity to perceive, for goodness and glory sake (Mat. 25:33-46; I Cor. 2:9). All we have to do is exercise faith in him on a daily basis, so keeping ourselves filled with his love and power, which will fully equip us to fulfill our mutual calling, which Jesus simply laid out for us: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (Jude 1:20,21; Jn. 13:34). The Bible tells us plainly that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). Anything that breaches that holy love is sin, and be assured that some sins are far more damaging than others, and will have far greater repercussions in our lives, and in the lives of those affected by our sins. Also as John said, "All unrighteousness is sin," and any sin or sins kept in one's life till the end will damn him, as the scripture shows: "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after" (I Tim. 5:24). There is simply no reason not to confess and repent of any sin, and make it right with someone else if needed. Jesus will always forgive us if we come to him with humility, honesty, and faith about anything (I Jn. 1:9). But let's take the better route, which is to stay free from sin, so that we can be as the apostle Paul said, "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philip. 2:15). I like the sound of that. Amen.