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What does the Bible say about all sins being equal?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that all sin makes us guilty before God and deserving of judgment, yet Scripture also recognizes that sins may differ in seriousness and consequences. Romans 3:10 and 3:23 declare that none is righteous and all have sinned, while James 2:10-11 shows that breaking even one command makes us transgressors of God’s law. Jesus warns against self-righteous judgment in Matthew 7:1-5, calling us to repent of our own sins. At the same time, 1 John 5:16-17 speaks of sin leading to death and sin not leading to death, and Jesus identifies blasphemy against the Spirit as uniquely grave in Matthew 12:31. All sin requires Christ’s atoning grace, for sin’s wage is death, but eternal life is God’s gift in Him.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • James 2:10

    For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all.

  • Matthew 7:1-5

    [1] "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

  • Romans 3:23

    for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

  • James 2:10-11

    [10] For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

  • Romans 3:10

    As it is written, "There is no one righteous. No, not one.

  • 1 John 5:17

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

  • 1 John 3:15

    Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

  • 1 John 5:16-17

    [16] If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this. [17] All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

  • Matthew 12:31

    Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

  • Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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