The Danger of Classifying Sins as "Great" and "Small"
We risk minimizing Jesus' death on the cross.
We miss the point and the significance of sin when we attempt the highlight the “worst of the worst” among sins.
“Is it not our danger - I think we all must admit it - to think of sin merely in terms of ideas of morality, to catalogue sins and to divide them into great and small, and various other classifications?
There is a sense, no doubt, in which there is some truth in these ideas: but there is another sense in which such classifications are all wrong and indeed dangerous. For sin is sin, and always sin; that is what our Lord is emphasizing [in Matthew 5:27-30].
It is not, for example, only the act of adultery; it is the thought, and the desire also which is sinful.” - Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 215
It is tempting to promote certain sins as being beyond heinous, and to relegate other sins to the role of “well, you know it just happens sometimes.”
It is tempting to excuse or minimize the sin we find in ourselves, and to make the sins found in others the “major” sins.
There is some sense in which some sins are “great.” For example, I think of the passage in Proverbs about the “seven” things the Lord hates.
These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
When we classify certain sins as “much greater” than others - we tend to leave out sins that God has mentioned. For example, look again at the passage from Proverbs. Right before “hands that shed innocent blood” is “a lying tongue.”
Now - how many sermons have you heard that place lying alongside murder? Certainly, murder is sinful. Is not lying equally sinful?
On Sunday we may be rightfully appalled at the murder of innocent babies and people in our country, and then Monday, we may turn around and lie to our boss about needing a sick day when we really just want a long weekend.
Have we lost sight of the true significance of sin?
The Significance of Sin
Sin - all sin, not just the “major” ones - is why Jesus took our place.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Can you imagine telling the battered and bloodied Savior while He hung on the cross in your place, “Well, Lord, at least my sins weren’t some of the really bad ones?”
If we minimize sin, we minimize the death of Jesus on the cross. Plain and simple.
If we minimize sin, then we close our eyes to our need for the Savior’s blood.
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:17-19)
Those who have sinned even one time are deserving of death - no matter how “major” or “minor” the sin is thought to be (Romans 6:23).
We all need forgiveness because “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23).
As someone who has sinned and deserves death for my sin, I am so thankful I was able to obey some of the sweetest words found in Scripture.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:37-39)
The gospel message to sinners is that forgiveness is extended by the authority of Jesus Christ - the risen Savior. It doesn’t matter what your sin is - this “good news” message is for you, too!
Sin is sin.
The wages of sin are the same for all of us (Romans 6:23), but thank God that the glorious gospel is extended to us all (Romans 1:16-17)!