I attended a bible study tonight and someone brought up different 'degrees of sin' i.e. little sin (white lie) vs. murder (big sin). As you can imagine the discussion was very lively. We had a group of about 20 single men and women, all Christians but with different religious backgrounds and maturity levels.
As I listened I noticed each person had a different perception of sin. As a Christian, the Holy Spirit convicts me when I sin. I know what it is however I like to review definitions when I study. Sin is defined as "a transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate. Theology. a. deliberate disobedience to the known will of God."
One of the guys in the group, who is an archer, mentioned that the word sin was used in archery to signify missing the mark (or bulls eye). The bulls eye is in the center of the target and the archers' goals is to hit the bulls eye. As God's creation he calls us to live holy and righteous lives. We miss this mark daily due to sin. 2 Corinthians 5:9 says, "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
One lady in the group did not think that everyone sins. Her perception was the different "degrees" or "levels" of sin and that some do not sin. I can't imagine being able to keep all of God's laws. God's Word is clear: Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
If we go back to Webster's definition of sin it says "deliberate". I believe we can sin unintentionally as well. In Psalms 19:12-13 David says "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression." David knew about sin--willful and unwillful. He pours His heart out to God in the Psalms. We are told in scripture that David was a man after God's own heart. David was not without sin--however, he was blameless and innocent in God sight as he repented of his transgressions.
One thing that I have found, the closer I stick to the Lord the more clearly I can see the sin in my life and confess immediately. When I lack of prayer, study and reading my sin (transgressions) do not seem so bad (degrees).
Lastly, if we are measuring sin we are doing it by human standards and we will look good to the next guy (or someone else) but the reality is our sin is judged next to a Holy and Righteous God--none can compare or stand up to that. Once we see our sin next to God we will immediately want to rid ourselves of it. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Father forgive me for not seeing my sin clearly and for comparing myself to others. May I be sensitive to my sin against you and confess immediately.
I am so grateful my God forigves ALL sin!! Jeremiah 33:8 says, "I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me."
I am holy and righteous through the blood of Christ!
