BIBLE STUDIES

DEGREES OF SIN Pt 5

1-ARE THERE DEGREES OF SIN?
2-MANY SINS
3-NUMBER OF SINS IN THE BIBLE
4-ARE THERE DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT?
5-ARE THERE DIFFERENT DEPTHS IN HELL?

1-ARE THERE DEGREES OF SIN?

    A person might ask, "What do the degrees of sin have to do with Bible prophecy?" The answer is that the judgments and eternity are all part of Bible prophecy. Therefore, the question, "Are there degrees of punishment for eternity?" is part of Bible prophecy. If there are degrees of punishment for eternity, then the question needs to be asked, "Are there degrees of sin?" These are all part of the overall topic; they need to be included, if a complete picture of Bible prophecy is to be covered.
* JESUS ANSWERED, THOU COULDEST HAVE NO POWER AT ALL AGAINST ME, EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE: THEREFORE HE THAT DELIVERED ME UNTO THEE HATH THE GREATER SIN-Jn 19:11.
* WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGMENT, MERCY, AND FAITH: THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE-Mt 23:23.
* BUT WHOSO SHALL OFFEND ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM THAT A MILLSTONE WERE HANGED ABOUT HIS NECK, AND THAT HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA-Mt 18:6.
* THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, LIFT UP THINE EYES NOW THE WAY TOWARD THE NORTH. SO I LIFTED UP MINE EYES THE WAY TOWARD THE NORTH, AND BEHOLD NORTHWARD AT THE GATE OF THE ALTAR THIS IMAGE OF JEALOUSY IN THE ENTRY. HE SAID FURTHERMORE UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, SEEST THOU WHAT THEY DO? EVEN THE GREAT ABOMINATIONS THAT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL COMMITTETH HERE, THAT I SHOULD GO FAR OFF FROM MY SANCTUARY? BUT TURN THEE YET AGAIN, AND THOU SHALT SEE GREATER ABOMINATIONS. AND HE BROUGHT ME TO THE DOOR OF THE COURT; AND WHEN I LOOKED, BEHOLD A HOLE IN THE WALL. THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, DIG NOW IN THE WALL: AND WHEN I HAD DIGGED IN THE WALL, BEHOLD A DOOR. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, GO IN, AND BEHOLD THE WICKED ABOMINATIONS THAT THEY DO HERE. SO I WENT IN AND SAW; AND BEHOLD EVERY FORM OF CREEPING THINGS, AND ABOMINABLE BEASTS, AND ALL THE IDOLS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, PORTRAYED UPON THE WALL ROUND ABOUT. AND THERE STOOD BEFORE THEM SEVENTY MEN OF THE ANCIENTS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND IN THE MIDST OF THEM STOOD JAAZANIAH THE SON OF SHAPHAN, WITH EVERY MAN HIS CENSER IN HIS HAND; AND A THICK CLOUD OF INCENSE WENT UP. THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, HAST THOU SEEN WHAT THE ANCIENTS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL DO IN THE DARK, EVERY MAN IN THE CHAMBERS OF HIS IMAGERY? FOR THEY SAY, THE LORD SEETH US NOT; THE LORD HATH FORSAKEN THE EARTH. HE SAID ALSO UNTO ME, TURN THEE YET AGAIN, AND THOU SHALT SEE GREATER ABOMINATIONS THAT THEY DO. THEN HE BROUGHT ME TO THE DOOR OF THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE WHICH WAS TOWARD THE NORTH; AND, BEHOLD, THERE SAT WOMEN WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ. THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, HAST THOU SEEN THIS, O SON OF MAN? TURN THEE YET AGAIN, AND THOU SHALT SEE GREATER ABOMINATIONS THAN THESE. AND HE BROUGHT ME INTO THE INNER COURT OF THE LORD’S HOUSE, AND, BEHOLD, AT THE DOOR OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR, WERE ABOUT FIVE AND TWENTY MEN, WITH THEIR BACKS TOWARD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, AND THEIR FACES TOWARD THE EAST; AND THEY WORSHIPED THE SUN TOWARD THE EAST-Ezek 8:5-16.
   * IT IS REPORTED COMMONLY THAT THERE IS FORNICATION AMONG YOU, AND SUCH FORNICATION AS IS NOT SO MUCH AS NAMED AMONG THE GENTILES, THAT ONE SHOULD HAVE HIS FATHER’S WIFE-1 Cor 5:1.
   Sexual sins, such as fornication, adultery, lying with a beast, and homosexuality, are among the worst of sins.
   * EVERY SIN THAT A MAN DOETH IS WITHOUT THE BODY; BUT HE THAT COMMITTETH FORNICATION SINNETH AGAINST HIS OWN BODY-1 Cor 6:18.
   * THE ADULTERER AND THE ADULTERESS SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH-Lev 20:10.
   * IF A MAN...or A WOMAN...LIE WITH A BEAST...they SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH-Lev 20:15,16,15.                                     
   * IF A MAN ALSO LIE WITH MANKIND, AS HE LIETH WITH A WOMAN, BOTH OF THEM...SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH-Lev 20:13.
   * BECAUSE THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THANKFUL; BUT BECAME VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED. PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS... WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES: WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED FOR EVER. AMEN. FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS: FOR EVEN THEIR WOMEN DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE: AND LIKEWISE ALSO THE MEN, LEAVING THE NATURAL USE OF THE WOMAN, BURNED IN THEIR LUST ONE TOWARD ANOTHER; MEN WITH MEN WORKING THAT WHICH IS UNSEEMLY, AND RECEIVING IN THEMSELVES THAT RECOMPENSE OF THEIR ERROR WHICH WAS MEET. AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT...WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION...WHO KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, THAT THEY WHICH COMMIT SUCH THINGS ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM-Ro 1:21,22,24-28,31,32.
   * THERE IS A SIN UNTO DEATH: I DO NOT SAY THAT HE SHALL PRAY FOR IT-1 Jn 5:16.
   In the next verses, we have an indication of a lesser and greater sin by giving us two examples.
   * MEN DO NOT DESPISE A THIEF, IF HE STEAL TO SATISFY HIS SOUL WHEN HE IS HUNGRY; BUT IF HE BE FOUND, HE SHALL        RESTORE SEVENFOLD; HE SHALL GIVE ALL THE SUBSTANCE OF HIS HOUSE. BUT WHOSO COMMITTETH ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN LACKETH UNDERSTANDING: HE THAT DOETH IT DESTROYETH HIS OWN SOUL-Pv 6:30-32.
   * BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER IS ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER WITHOUT A CAUSE SHALL BE IN DANGER OF THE JUDGMENT: AND WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY TO HIS BROTHER, RACA, SHALL BE IN DANGER OF THE COUNCIL: BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY, THOU FOOL, SHALL BE IN DANGER OF HELL FIRE-Mt 5:22.
   * FOR I TESTIFY UNTO EVERY MAN THAT HEARETH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK-Rev 22:18,19.
   * ALL SINS SHALL BE FORGIVEN UNTO THE SONS OF MEN, AND BLASPHEMIES WHEREWITH SOEVER THEY SHALL BLASPHEME: BUT HE THAT SHALL BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST HATH NEVER FORGIVENESS, BUT IS IN DANGER OF ETERNAL DAMNATION-Mk 3:28,29.
   Are there degrees of sin? The answer is yes.

    Jesus said, HER SINS, WHICH ARE MANY, ARE FORGIVEN-Lk 7:47.

    As of this time, we have located approximately 667 sins mentioned in the Bible.

4-ARE THERE DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT?

    * AND THAT SERVANT, WHICH KNEW HIS LORD’S WILL, AND PREPARED NOT HIMSELF, NEITHER DID ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH MANY STRIPES.
   * BUT HE THAT KNEW NOT, AND DID COMMIT THINGS WORTHY OF STRIPES, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH FEW STRIPES. FOR UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL BE MUCH REQUIRED: AND TO WHOM MEN HAVE COMMITTED MUCH, OF HIM THEY WILL ASK THE MORE-Lk 12:47,48.
   * BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES, WHICH DESIRE TO WALK IN LONG ROBES, AND LOVE GREETINGS IN THE MARKETS, AND THE HIGHEST SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES, AND THE CHIEF ROOMS AT FEASTS; WHICH DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES, AND FOR A SHOW MAKE LONG PRAYERS: THE SAME SHALL RECEIVE GREATER DAMNATION-Lk 20:46,47; ref Mt 23:14; Mk 12:40.
   * BUT WHOSO SHALL OFFEND ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM THAT A MILLSTONE WERE HANGED ABOUT HIS NECK, AND THAT HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA. WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE OFFENSE COMETH-Mt 18:6,7.
   * OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT (or how much more severely...punished-NIV), SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT (or trampled) THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO (or insulted) THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?-Heb 10:29.
   * WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE COMPASS SEA AND LAND TO MAKE ONE PROSELYTE, AND WHEN HE IS MADE, YE MAKE HIM TWOFOLD MORE THE CHILD OF HELL THAN YOURSELVES-Mt 23:15.
   * AND THE TONGUE IS (also) A FIRE, A WORLD OF INIQUITY (or evil): SO IS THE TONGUE AMONG OUR MEMBERS, THAT IT DEFILETH (or corrupts) THE WHOLE BODY (or person), AND SETTETH ON FIRE THE COURSE OF NATURE; AND IT IS SET ON FIRE OF HELL-Ja 3:6.

    Are there degrees of punishment in hell and also in the lake of fire for eternity? The answer is yes.
   * FOR IT HAD BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAN, AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN IT, TO TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT DELIVERED UNTO THEM-2 Pe 2:21.

    The Bible indicates that there are different depths in hell.
   * A FIRE IS KINDLED IN MINE ANGER, AND SHALL BURN UNTO THE LOWEST HELL-Deut 32:22.
   * THOU HAST DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM THE LOWEST HELL-Ps 86:13.
   * HER GUESTS ARE IN THE DEPTHS OF HELL-Pv 9:18.
   * THE STRONG...SHALL SPEAK TO HIM OUT OF THE MIDST OF HELL-Ezek 32:21.
   * FOR IF GOD SPARED NOT THE ANGELS THAT SINNED, BUT CAST THEM DOWN TO "HELL," AND DELIVERED THEM INTO         CHAINS OF DARKNESS, TO BE RESERVED UNTO JUDGMENT-2 Pe 2:4. The Greek word used here for "hell" is "Tartaros" (or deepest abyss of Hades).