Degree of Sin
(by Bob Pulliam)
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It is sometimes difficult for us to remember that God views all sin as sin, and that all guilty of such will be punished. Even in Jesus’ day, people pigeon holed sins into major and minor categories. It was thought that some would be punished to a greater degree, and others less so.
In Luke 13, we read of the Jews telling Jesus of some Galileans who had suffered at the hands of Pilate. Jesus responded, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Lk 13:2f)
Of course, whenever I sin, it is never as bad as someone else’s sin. This was a problem the Jews had. “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” (Rom 2:1) We must beware of the tendency to condemn others for their sins while we harbor our own.
How often have you wondered why God allowed someone to continue in their sin. “Why doesn’t God strike them dead?”, some might wonder. He does not strike them dead for the same reason He does not strike us dead when we sin. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pt 3:9) Sin is sin, and when we sin, He might just as well strike us dead. But He does not because He wants us to repent and be saved. This should be our desire for others. When we see them caught in sin, our impulse should be toward their salvation rather than their destruction.
Even more importantly, we should see our own sins for what they really are. That they are our sins does not sanctify them. They deserve the same punishment as when anyone else commits them. We should all examine ourselves a little more closely, and try a little harder.
It is sometimes difficult for us to remember that God views all sin as sin, and that all guilty of such will be punished. Even in Jesus’ day, people pigeon holed sins into major and minor categories. It was thought that some would be punished to a greater degree, and others less so.
In Luke 13, we read of the Jews telling Jesus of some Galileans who had suffered at the hands of Pilate. Jesus responded, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Lk 13:2f)
Of course, whenever I sin, it is never as bad as someone else’s sin. This was a problem the Jews had. “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” (Rom 2:1) We must beware of the tendency to condemn others for their sins while we harbor our own.
How often have you wondered why God allowed someone to continue in their sin. “Why doesn’t God strike them dead?”, some might wonder. He does not strike them dead for the same reason He does not strike us dead when we sin. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pt 3:9) Sin is sin, and when we sin, He might just as well strike us dead. But He does not because He wants us to repent and be saved. This should be our desire for others. When we see them caught in sin, our impulse should be toward their salvation rather than their destruction.
Even more importantly, we should see our own sins for what they really are. That they are our sins does not sanctify them. They deserve the same punishment as when anyone else commits them. We should all examine ourselves a little more closely, and try a little harder.