Question 151. Which sin is more heinous than another?

 

Question 151. Which sin is more heinous than another?

Answer. Sins are more aggravated in the following ways:

1. According to the persons who sinned. The more so when the offender is of advanced age, or of greater experience or grace, or of distinction in his calling, talents, position, or office, and is a leader to others, and an example worthy of imitation.

2. According to the persons who are injured. The more so when the offense is against God, his attributes, and his worship; against Christ and his grace; against the Holy Spirit, his testimony, and work; against superiors, excellent men, or those to whom we have a special relationship and promise; against the souls of some saints, especially the weak, either of the whole or of individual saints; or when it is done to the good of all or of many.

3. According to the nature and ground of the offense, whether it be committed in the law, or in many commandments, and therefore many sins are included in it; or whether it is conceived in the heart, and poured out in word and deed, and slandered others, and not willed to make reparation; or whether it be committed willfully, shamelessly, proudly, maliciously, frequently, obstinately, joyfully, continually, or after repentance, against the means of grace, the works of mercy, judgment, the light of nature, the judgment of conscience, public or private admonition, church discipline, worldly punishment, or our prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants, or errands to God or men.

4. According to the circumstances of time and place. Whether the offense is committed on the Lord's Day, or in other times of worship, or just before or after worship; or whether they were prevented or helped to correct it, or whether they were incited or degenerated in public, or in the presence of others.

The laws of the world can be divided into serious crimes and misdemeanors. Punishment also varies depending on the severity of the law. The question, “Which sin is more evil than another?” is based on the laws of the world. The laws that God gave to the people of Israel are different from the laws that other countries made, promulgated, and enforced. This is why such a statement comes about because these laws are viewed on the same level as the laws of the world.

The law that God gave to the people of Israel is a law that makes them look at this land and the kingdom of God at the same time. Acting according to the provisions of the law is to show the world that the people of Israel who lived on this land are the people of the kingdom of God by being loyal to the high priests, judges, prophets, and kings appointed by God according to the regulations.

For example, when guiding and teaching students at school, there are school rules, and students may act freely, so by strictly enforcing the rules and controlling their behavior, they can act properly in society in the future.

Students who are trained in this way according to the rules will go out into society and improve their ability to control themselves, so that they can act in a way that helps the country, society, and family. Of course, not everyone will do that.

God gave the law so that those under the law could see their own sinfulness through the net-like control of the articles, and so that those who realize the meaning of the law and repent can see the kingdom of God through the law of the Holy Spirit.

Even at home, when children are students, parents control them and scold them when they make mistakes, but when they become adults, there is a reason why they do not do that and treat them freely and equally.

Therefore, those who think of the law as a set of rules to control people, like doctrine, are still under the law. Galatians 3:22-25 “But the scripture has confined all under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in chains under the law, kept until the faith that would be revealed. So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

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