What is the worst sin?

Answer

When comparing sins to the holiness of God, all sins are considered equal. Whether it is anger or murder, white lies or adultery, each sin will result in eternal condemnation (James 4:17;Romans 6:23). Regardless of its perceived magnitude, every sin goes against the nature and will of an infinite and eternal God, thus deserving an infinite and eternal punishment «And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. », (Isaiah 13:11). Therefore, there is no sin that is considered the “worst.”

Hence, all sins are inherently sinful, and no sin is greater than another. Every individual falls short of God’s glory «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23). However, sins can be viewed differently in two aspects:

Firstly, not all sins have the same earthly consequences. While both lust and adultery are sinful, adultery carries graver consequences. The repercussions of harboring lust in one’s heart are not as severe as committing adultery physically. Similarly, entertaining covetous thoughts versus engaging in theft have varying consequences. Although all sins are wrong, their penalties in this world differ. Therefore, some sins are considered worse than others.

The Scriptures highlight sexual sin as uniquely impacting the sinner: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body” «Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornicationSinneth against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18). In this passage, immorality is placed in a category apart from other sins as having a direct effect on one’s body. Does this mean sexual sin is the “worst” sin? Perhaps. It certainly means that sins involving sexual immorality have more severe consequences in this world.

Second, not all sins are equal in the degree of eternal penalty. Illustrating the need to be ready for His return, Jesus spoke of different degrees of punishment: “A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly” (Luke 12:47-48;NLT). So, sins of presumption and negligence warrant a heftier penalty in the final judgment than sins committed in ignorance. Hell is hot, but it might be hotter for some. In that sense, some sins are worse than others.

We should guard ourselves against three wrong ideas about the “worst” sin:

First, if there is a “worst” sin, that doesn’t mean that other, “lesser” sins are excusable. Sin is sin, and it is all unrighteous.

Second, we must not fall into the trap of comparing our sins with others’. When we compare, we will invariably conclude that other people are committing “worse” sins than we are; our sins are somehow “better.” Our first concern should be our own sin, whatever it is, and not the sins of those around us (Matthew 7:4-5). God’s standard is not how well we measure up to other people but how we measure up to Christ.

Third, even if there is a “worst” sin, God can still forgive it. Just as there is no sin too small to be worthy of punishment, there is no sin too big that God cannot forgive it. When a repentantWhen a woman who was a prostitute approached Jesus, she encountered grace. Jesus then addressed the bystanders, saying, “I tell you, her sins—though they are many—have been forgiven” «Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. », (Luke 7:47, NLT). Moreover, God has already forgiven the man who regarded himself as “the worst of them all” «This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. », (1 Timothy 1:15, NLT). Jesus sacrificed Himself to atone for all sin (John 3:16;1 John 2:2). “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” «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). For believers, there is no sin that Jesus’ sacrifice does not cover, as seen in Romans 8:1.

God detests sin. Thankfully, He has provided a means to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-10) through His Son, Jesus Christ «For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. », (John 3:17). Our Heavenly Father “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” «who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. », (1 Timothy 2:4).

InIn the final analysis, we might say that the “worst” sin is unbelief. Faith in Christ is how people rightly respond to God’s offer of salvation. “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” «How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; », (Hebrews 2:3). To reject the Savior is to accept the penalty for one’s own sin.