It can happen even in careful systematic theology. How much more so
in popular parlance? We take what the Bible actually teaches, rephrase
it so we can understand it, and end up believing our own phrasing,
rather than the actual biblical truth. It’s not malicious, but it is
dangerous. What follows are five common thoughts, common expressions,
within the evangelical church that just aren’t so.
1. “All sins are equal in the sight of God.”
Well, no. It is true enough that every sin is worthy
of God’s eternal wrath. It is true enough that if we have broken part
of the law we have broken the law (James actually says this.) It is true
enough that unjust anger is a violation of the commandment against
murder (Jesus actually says this.) None of this, however, means all sins
are equal in the sight of God. To say that because all sins deserve
eternal wrath means they are all equal is like saying that all numbers
over 100 are equal. The truth is that Jesus said of the Pharisees that
while they rightly tithed their mint and their cumin, they neglected the
weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23). No sin is weightless, but some weigh more than others. Continue at R. C. Sproul Jr.
