Are All Sins the Same?

 By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:

Why We Must Consider the Effect of Our Transgressions Before God

Good Morning,

Today’s catechism lesson is one that answers a question that is often on people's minds, that there can be a difficulty in answering well. That is one of the many reasons why I love the catechism. It not only takes the inquiry but concludes it with grace and a succinct fullness we don’t normally find elsewhere. When we left off the last time the WLC asked us if anyone was able to perfectly keep the law, and we dutifully responded with no, no man after the fall of Adam is in any sense capable of perfectly performing the totality of the law’s commands. So, it makes sense that the next thing to see is whether or not every sin is the same, and then follow it up with seeking to know what every sin deserves. In today’s Q/A we’ll see an interesting stair step approach that I think is very helpful in assisting us to understand the logic behind the answer.

Here is this week’s Larger Catechism. I’ve underlined each of the sections:

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?

A. All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?

A. Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the persons offending; if they be of riper age, greater experience or grace, eminent for profession, gifts, place, office, guides to others, and whose example is likely to be followed by others. 2. From the parties offended: if immediately against God, his attributes, and worship; against Christ, and his grace; the Holy Spirit, his witness, and workings; against superiors, men of eminency, and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto; against any of the saints, particularly weak brethren, the souls of them, or any other, and the common good of all or many. 3. From the nature and quality of the offence: if it be against the express letter of the law, break many commandments, contain in it many sins: if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions, scandalize others, and admit of no reparation: if against means, mercies, judgments, light of nature, conviction of conscience, public or private admonition, censures of the church, civil punishments; and our prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants, and engagements to God or men: if done deliberately, willfully, presumptuously, impudently, boastingly, maliciously, frequently, obstinately, with delight, continuance, or relapsing after repentance. 4. From circumstances of time and place: if on the Lord’s day, or other times of divine worship; or immediately before or after these, or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages: if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled.

Continue here.