Are there levels of sin

Each and every sin is hardcore, a capital crime, deserving of a death sentence — an eternal death sentence. This is a gift with no strings attached or no payments demanded in return. This is a gift purchased by Jesus for us. Friends, accept that gift. Believe that eternal life is not a reward you earn, but a gift given to you by a forgiving God.

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Your Questions. Are there different levels of sin? Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. Share on Pinterest. Share on Pocket. Share on Email. I must confess, these are difficult questions to answer. My present thoughts are as follows: first, I am not as confident of my own judgment as I am of the judgment of Christ and the apostles. Therefore, any judgment I would make regarding an individual would be tentative.

Second, there are examples in the Bible and church history of individuals who nearly committed the unpardonable sin but who were converted.

The prime example is the apostle Paul. According to his own testimony, he was the foremost sinner ever saved 1 Tim. Acts 7, 8. In summary, Paul was the archenemy of the early church. The point I want to make is that it may have appeared to some that Paul had committed the unpardonable sin.

Luke tells us in Acts 9 that the church of Jerusalem was not initially eager to accept his profession of faith. But as it turns out, Paul had not committed the unpardonable sin. This fact should caution us against complete writing off individuals who seem opposed to the gospel. Those who persist in defiance against God and persecution of the church, however, may legitimately become the object of imprecatory prayers rather than intercessory prayers Pss.

The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not serve to restrain us from sin, shall not serve to exempt us from punishment; nay, the nearer any are to God in profession, and the kinder notice he has taken of them, the more surely, the more quickly, and the more severely will he reckon with them. Commentary on the Whole Bible, en loc. I believe Moses may be speaking of two sides of the spectrum of sin.

In one sense, there are no sins that are absolutely done in ignorance cf. Obviously, the unpardonable sin of defiance must involve an unusually high degree of knowledge and malice directed towards God. I am inclined to view this sin as identical to or at least of the same category as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit Matt.

Systematic Theology Eerdmans, , There is a textual variant. But the evidence is in favor of the more unusual reading, aioniou hamartematos , which most modern versions follow cf.

This has led some to the conclusion that such persons were once genuinely saved but lost their salvation. However, I believe such an interpretation should be rejected for the following reasons: first, there are numerous passages of Scripture that teach the preservation and perseverance of all genuine Christians unto the end John ; Rom. Second, the Bible sometimes attributes religious experiences to those who in fact never were actually converted.

The subsequent interchange between them and Christ reveals that they had not truly believed. Indeed, Jesus goes on to call them children of the devil v. Peter speaks of individuals who had experienced some sanctifying influence from the truth, but later apostatized 2 Pet.

Those who advocate the so-called hypothetical view of Hebrews take this as a literal reference to another historical crucifixion of Christ. Since such a scenario is in fact impossible, then, they argue, it is likewise impossible that a genuine Christian should ever apostatize.

In light of the undeniable warnings directed to believers elsewhere in Hebrews ; , it is best not to view the apostasy as merely hypothetical but as potentially real.

Should they relinquish their hostility towards Christ, they could be renewed unto repentance. In this case, their apostasy would not be irreversible. Jesus clearly states that such a sin is beyond forgiveness in this life and the next Matt. Once again, he seems to be describing an irreversible condition cf. That conclusion becomes even more clear when Peter goes on to compare them to a dog that return to eat its own vomit or to a pig that return to the mud after being washed v.

Nadab and Abihu Lev. Other examples might include those who have committed a crime worthy of capital punishment.

Berkhof gives Jerome and Chrysostom as proponents of this view. Berkhof sees Hebrews 6 as a particular form of the unpardonable sin that would have been limited to the apostolic age Note in particular the struggles of Abraham Gen.

Ye have done worse than your fathers, your sins have exceeded theirs. Some sins have a blacker aspect than others; to clip the king's coin is treason; but to strike his person is a higher degree of treason. A vain thought is a sin, but a blasphemous word is a greater sin. That some sins are greater than others appears, 1 Because there was difference in the offerings under the law; the sin offering was greater than the trespass offering.

Matt Ye shall receive the greater damnation. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? It is true, all sins are equally heinous in respect of the object,' or the infinite God, against whom sin is committed, but, in another sense, all sins are not alike heinous; some sins have more bloody circumstances in them, which are like the dye to the wool, to give it a deeper colour. The less the occasion of sin, the greater is the sin itself. Under the law there was no sacrifice for presumptuous sins.

Num What is the sin of presumption, which heightens and aggravates sin, and makes it more heinous? To sin presumptuously, is to sin against convictions and illuminations, or an enlightened conscience. They are of those that rebel against the light. Conscience, like the cherubim, stands with a flaming sword in its hand to deter the sinner; and yet he will sin. Did not Pilate sin against conviction, and with a high hand, in condemning Christ?

He knew that for envy the Jews had delivered him. He confessed he found no fault in him. His own wife sent to him saying, Have nothing to do with that just man. Yet for all this, he gave the sentence of death against Christ.

He sinned presumptuously, against an enlightened conscience. To sin ignorantly does something to extenuate and pare off the guilt. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin,' that is, their sin had been less. John But to sin against illuminations and convictions enhances men's sins. These sins make deep wounds in the soul; other sins fetch blood; they are a stab at the heart. How many ways may a man sin against illuminations and convictions?

He is not ignorant that it is a duty to read the Word, yet he lets the Bible lie by as rusty armour, seldom made us of. He is convinced that it is a duty to pray in his family, yet he can go days and months, and God never hears of him; he calls God Father, but never asks his blessing.

Neglect of family-prayer, as it were, uncovers the roof of men's houses, and makes way for a curse to be rained down upon their table. Thou that judges, does the same things. As Augustine says of Seneca, He wrote against superstition, yet he worshipped those images which he reproved. The snuffers of the tabernacle were of pure gold: they who reprove and snuff the vices of others, had need themselves be free from those sins.

The snuffers must be of gold. Thy vows are upon me, O God. A vow is a religious promise made to God, to dedicate ourselves to him. A vow is not only a purpose, but a promise. Every votary makes himself a debtor; he binds himself to God in a solemn manner. Now, to sin after a vow, to vow himself to God, and give his soul to the devil, must needs be against the highest convictions.

The trumpet of the gospel has been blown in his ears, and sounded a retreat to call him off from his sins, he has been told of his injustice, living in malice, keeping bad company, yet he would venture upon sin. This is to sin against conviction; it aggravates the sin, and is like a weight put into the scale, to make his sin weigh the heavier.

If a sea-mark be set up to give warning that there are shelves and rocks in that place, yet if the mariner will sail there, and split his ship, it is presumption; and if he be cast away, who will pity him? God has thundered out threatenings against such sins. God shall would the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses. Though God set the point of his sword to the breast of a sinner, he will still commit sin.

The pleasure of sin delights him more than the threatenings affright him. Like the leviathan, he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Nay, he derides God's threatenings. Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it:' we have heard much what God intends to do, and of judgement approaching, we would fain see it.

Isa 5: For men to see the flaming sword of God's threatening brandished, yet to strengthen themselves in sin, is in an aggravated manner to sin against illumination and conviction. God not only thunders by threatening, but lets his thunderbolt fall.