yes i agree to James. Sin is what separate God's creation to Him because God has laws and when the first sin entered into Lucifer which he then enfluenced to many angels it infested many including earth; us.

I agree that there are degree of sin in terms of punishments but there is no degree of sin as to our relationship with God. Sin is sin and it separated us from God. Sin is disobedience from God hence the eternal separation as a consequence.

I read this article from someone that long long before mankind was created when Lucifer fall into sin or disobedience/rebellion, he accused God of being an unloving God and unfair so to prove, God created mankind to show to His angels that He indeed is loving yet abideth to His laws. He set simple rules to Adam and Eve but lucifer tempted them, hence they were infested too. And so our first parents were separated from God too because just like lucifer they go against the laws of God. Lucifer knew that God is loving and compassionate so if God forgive Adam and Eve then he should be forgiven too. God cursed Adam and Eve and send them out of Paradise but although separated God watched over them from a distance making His move that one day His lovely created beings will be reunited with Him. Knowing in advance, the three Godhead made a discussion to redeem mankind and the Son in His compassion to His creation agreed to paid the price; even losing His throne and His glorious appearance for all eternity and so it did happened. God cover the abominable sites of mankind's sins from His sights with the holiness of His son. and in so doing it is not us whom God see but His son. The Son on the other hand spread His loving arms to those who truly calls and believe in what He does on the cross breaking the barrier that prevents man from entering the holy throne of God thru His holy blood. The only requirement Jesus asked us to obtain the forgiveness of our sins is to believe in Him. Lucifer in his trick losses the moment he crucified the Lord on the cross.

It is only an article and assumption so if you asked me if sins are the same yes it is the same big or small but all are forgivable because Jesus paid it all. However in the judgement day there it says somewhere in the bible that all lost people will be judge according to their works and the weight of their sins. Probably as to the weight of punishment or something.   

But to sum it all; how sad and lonely it would be for those who got chances in this life to know Jesus but rejected it. It is the loniest by far that i can imagine being away from our loving creator forever.

The funny thing is; that there are times when i feel this feeling of unworthiness? That i'd rather be crushed and destroyed forever than continue hurting the One that i love most because of my sinful life.    

 

After reading all of these posts a question creating conflict arises in my mind.  For the most part  protestants take the poition of equality in all sins.  However I remember catholics referring to VENAL SINS  and to  CAPITAL SINS .  Being new (to this forum) I naturally am confused.  Protestants and Catholics are all christians are they not?  I`m aware that there are some doctrinal differences but can there be seperate rules for sin?  I live in that some of my confusions may be relieved through this forum,ie: i`m here to learn.

"If you break one law, you've broken them all."

This passage gets us in all sorts of problems. It is not suggesting that one sin is as bad as another. Rather, it simply speaks to the fact that we are imperfect if we are not perfect. Once we are imperfect, there is nothing that can change that - especially if we are relying on Law for our justification.

The Catholic understanding that some behaviors are worse than others is correct. I don't know that I'd agree with their choices of venial and mortal sins, or of their proposed "fix" for them, but mass murder is clearly worse than speeding to church.

All sins are similar in that they all bring us below the line of perfection, which is why we need Jesus, but not all sins are the same in the effects that they have on ourselves or on others.
 To use an extreme example. to muder someone or to committ adultery are sins that deeply hurt and affect many others and that also have serious repurcussions for the person who committed them(ie by being sent to jail or  loosing you family etc), while saying a swear word when we hurt ourselves hurts no one else in this way and we can quicky repent and it is forgotton.
So in this way some sins are definatetly more serious than others and the Bible clealry implies that.

Also we are told that sexual sins are different becuase they are sins against our own bodies and that must affect us in a very serious way.
 

The motive behind a sin doesn;t make it any more or less a sin.

And any sin, un-forgiven, un-redeemed, un-drenched in the blood of Jesus' sacrifice, will keep us apart from our God.

The motivations and the general willingness to repent of the person in question -- that makes a huge difference in how things work out.  Thus David and the after-God's-own-heart label, and thus the two dying after the real estate lie.

But, as far as lack of God's own perfection, as far as the sinner needing forgiveness and healing -- sin is sin is sin.

There is severer punishment for some sin both in this life, and beyond this life. Undoubtedly, not accepting Christ as our Savior would hold the balance between heaven and hell, but we are talking of severity of judgment for the believer, and the nonbeliever. Unbelief is great sin.

1 Samuel 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (This life)
 
Mark 6:11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Future)

Unbelief in both instances are noted. Even Moses suffered being kept from the Promised Land because of unbelief. Numbers 20:12. The LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron,  Because ye believed me not,  - - ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

To answer Walker's question, a mortal sin was one of commission; a person purposefully breaks a commandment, even one set up by the Catholic such as a day of obligation. A venial sin is a lesser sin than a mortal sin, and is normally one not consented to. We might call it a sin of omission, or something we should have done not done. A person may not lie outright, but does not reveal the truth so as to cover up something. And the consequences can be severe; a venial sin's penance may be saying three hail Mary's, and one Our Father, whereas a Mortal Sin may require ten Hail Mary's, three Our Fathers, and an act of contrition to be forgiven. Contrition is having great sorrow over some mortal sin you've committed.
 
In Jesus' name - larry2

The sin of "unbelief"

There is an easily understood biblical answer to this.

The answer was explained by Luke to this question.

There are four types of sin. Each of them in successive order:

Sins of ignorance
Sins of negligence
Sins of planned separation from God
Sin of Unforgiveness/Judgmentalism.

In Luke there are a series of parables told to a Gentile world who knew nothing of sin and Luke has to explain it and their severity to an unschooled world.

The parables were told in order in order to help a world understand more clearly how God sees and views sin.

Lost sheep
Lost coin
Son who went away
Prodigal son (Prodigal taken from the Latin and meaning angry)

Jesus followed up these three parables with one last one of the "Shrewd Manager".
In this parable we see that Jesus understands that we as mortal men can't forgive as completely as God can...but that we are to forgive as comepletely as we can everyone equally...it is how we get to keep our positions as Children of God even if it is the worst sin that we can commit...