Is sin the same for everyone, or is it personal? What does the Bible actually say?

General Faith
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One of the most foundational questions in the Christian faith is also one of the least settled in everyday conversation: What is sin?

sin
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Most of us grew up with a basic list… lying, stealing, murder. But the deeper you go into Scripture, the more complicated it gets. And honestly? I think a lot of sincere, Bible-believing Christians land in some very different places on this topic.

Here are 2 perspectives worth considering:

1. Sin is breaking God’s law.
1 John 3:4 says “sin is lawlessness.” From this view, sin is objective and universal. The 10 Commandments, and the 613 laws of the Old Testament, define what sin is. It doesn’t change based on the person.

2. Sin is anything that separates you from God.
Isaiah 59:2 says “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” From this view, sin is relational. What separates you from God might look different than what separates someone else.

3. Sin is missing the mark on loving God and others.
Jesus summed up the entire law in two commands: love God, love your neighbor. The Greek word for sin, hamartia, literally means “to miss the mark.” From this view, sin is less about a list and more about falling short of love.

So here’s what I want to know:

Which of these views resonates most with you, and why?

Do you think sin is the same for everyone, or can something be a sin for one person but not another?

Has your understanding of sin changed over time?

And the harder question…Does it even matter how we define sin, as long as we trust in Christ’s forgiveness?

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This is the view that resonated the most. I was told that ‘sin’ is an archery term and anything less than a bullseye was sin. You’ve missed the mark set for you, and either you’ve missed by a little or a lot, you’ve missed it, so it is sin.

I think that it can be sin for one person and not sin for another. There’s an example in Romans 14 about eating food considered unclean. For some it’s sin to do so and for others it isn’t a sin. The difference is faith and Paul says that everything that does not come by faith is sin. We’re also given ways to behave and things to abstain from, but in many matters it depends on your heart’s motivation. We know that drinking alcohol was even commanded by the Lord for feast days so drinking is not a sin. Again, its the heart behind it. If you think alcohol is a sin and decide to drink anyways, then for you it’s a sin.

It’s not so much my understanding of sin that’s changed over time, but the realization that I am a sinner in need. I had always thought of myself as a fairly good person. I didn’t see my sin clearly. I didn’t think of myself as a sinner. Some time ago I sinned in a big way and my whole perspective changed. I saw myself in a new light and in that light, what Jesus had done for me became new. I know now that I need Him always. I need His forgiveness and I need His cleansing.

I don’t know how we can trust in Christ’s forgiveness without having a clear understanding of what sin is. I don’t mean a technical understanding, but a personal understanding. We don’t cheat. We don’t steal and we don’t murder and from there everything may look ok. We don’t get sin because we don’t get it’s opposite which is holiness. Our very nature is sinful. Full of selfish motives even when we think we’re being good. So does it matter how we define it? I would say that those who know themselves as sinners, are those most grateful for Christ’s forgiveness.

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That’s a good question. Scripture shows us 5 different categories of sin,.

I have found 5 terms for what we call sin. 1. Sin (To miss the mark), 2. Unrighteousness, 3. Trespass, 4. Transgression, 5, Iniquity.

I looked them all up before and there are distinctions among them. Some sin is worse than others. However, I see that I wasnt’’t taking good notes that day,.

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I went ahead and looked them all up again at BlueletterBible.org to show the differences.

  1. Sin: חַטָּאָה chaṭṭâʼâh, khat-taw-aw’; or חַטָּאת chaṭṭâʼth; from H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender:—punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering)…./BLB
  2. Unrighteousness: עֶוֶל ʻevel, eh’-vel; or עָוֶל ʻâvel; and (feminine) עַוְלָה ʻavlâh; or עוֹלָה ʻôwlâh; or עֹלָה ʻôlâh; from H5765; (moral) evil:—iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness)…./BLB
  3. Trespass: פֶּשַׁע peshaʻ, peh’-shah; from H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious):—rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass…./BLB
  4. Transgression: מַעַל maʻal, mah’-al; from H4603; treachery, i.e. sin:—falsehood, grievously, sore, transgression, trespass, × very.,/BLB
  5. Iniquity: עָווֹן ʻâvôwn; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 [7]), aw-vone’; from H5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:—fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin…./B:B

So we can see that not all sin is the same!

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Definitely interesting - and definitely different than how I was brought up to think of sin.

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Yes, me too. I was always taught that one sin is just as bad as another. On one level that makes sense, but in a practical sense it doesn’t because why would God put serial killers on the same level as somebody who doesn’t live in sin but they lied yesterday to someone who they didn’t trust? Essentially they told them a little white lie to protect his family or interests? Soon after I saw in scripture where some will go to the lake of fire and others are cast into outer darkness? What’s with that? It could be a clue. ??

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I grew up with the belief that all sins were equal EXCEPT murder and suicide. I learned that those were two things you could never come back from.

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@JennyLynne

From my understanding, the Bible is very clear on what “the mark” is that sin is said to “miss”. The “bullseye” as it were is Holiness. Holiness is perfection, and The primary atttribute of God. To “miss the mark” is to be “unholy” in any way, i.e. imperfect. Holiness is the standard and we are to pursue holiness …, without which no one will see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14) Holiness is the non-negotiable for any created being to be in the presence of God, or to have God (The Holy Spirit) reside presently within you.

All sin is unholiness.
KP

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I, too, was taught that all sin was the same. Sadly, if I were curious enough, the answer is and has always been no.

Two verses have often been used to suggest that all sin is equal.

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

While the result of sin (separation) may be universal, the Bible frequently categorizes certain sins as more severe or carrying greater earthly and spiritual weight.

The “Greater Sin”: In John 19:11, Jesus explicitly tells Pontius Pilate, “The one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin,” implying a hierarchy of culpability.

The Old Testament (specifically in Proverbs and Leviticus) uses the word “abomination” (to’evah) to describe specific acts, such as pride, lying, and murder, suggesting they are particularly detestable.

Then, in 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul argues that sexual sin is unique because it is a sin " against one’s own body," distinguishing it from external sins.

Also, in the Law, we see Intentional vs. Unintentional, the Mosaic Law made a sharp distinction based on the heart of the person committing the act. Unintentional sins: Numbers 15 describes sacrifices for those who sin defiantly versus those who sin “unwittingly.” Sins committed “with a high hand” (deliberate defiance) often carried much stricter penalties, including being “cut off” from the community.

From what I have learned, there is only one"unpardonable" sin. In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus states that while every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, “blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

Now, suicide is not mentioned in this context, nor is it linked to this specific spiritual state in the scriptures. The idea that suicide is unpardonable often stems from church tradition rather than direct scripture. Historically, some argued that because suicide is the final act of a person’s life, they cannot repent of it. Since repentance is a key part of forgiveness, they concluded that the sin remains.

However, many theologians point out that salvation in the Bible is based on the finished work of Christ and a person’s overall relationship with God, not on the very last action they take before death. Romans 8:38-39 famously states that neither “death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God.”

Did you know that there are Biblical examples of suicide?

Saul (1 Samuel 31:4)

Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)

Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)

Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:5)

In these accounts, the Bible records the events as tragic ends to troubled lives, but it does not include a specific divine pronouncement that these individuals are eternally barred from forgiveness solely because of the act of suicide itself.

I guess you could say that in the Bible, sins are equal in their effect (they all require grace) but unequal in their weight (some cause more damage and carry heavier judgment).

I feel like I need to add this. Especially since I saw someone mention it this morning.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org in the US and Canada, or call 111 in the UK. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Peter

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I’ve thought about this question a lot, and the more I read Scripture, the more I’ve realized it’s not just one simple answer—it’s actually both. On one hand, sin is absolutely objective. The Bible clearly says in 1 John 3:4 that sin is the transgression of the law, and Romans 3:23 says we’ve all sinned. There are things that are always sin, no matter who the person is. God’s standard doesn’t shift based on culture or personality, so in that sense, sin is the same for everyone.

But at the same time, I can’t ignore how personal sin becomes once truth is revealed to someone. That’s where James 4:17 really hits me: “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” That tells me accountability increases with understanding. It’s not that truth changes—it’s that once God deals with your heart and shows you what’s right, your response matters in a deeper way. What might be ignorance at one point becomes willful disobedience once you know.

That’s why I always come back to Acts 2. When those people in Acts 2:37 were “pricked in their heart” and asked, “What shall we do?”—that wasn’t just a general question. That was conviction becoming personal. And Peter didn’t give them multiple options—he gave a clear response: repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). Then when you look at Acts 2:1–4, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues. Even the disciples, who already believed and followed Jesus, still had to wait to be endued with power. So to me, that raises a serious question—if they had to wait and receive that experience, how much more should we today?

So I don’t see sin as just a checklist, and I don’t see it as completely subjective either. I see it as God’s unchanging standard meeting a person’s personal response. When God reveals truth to me and I know what I need to do, that’s where it becomes real. At that point, ignoring it isn’t just a difference in perspective—it becomes sin. And that’s why I think it really does matter how we define sin, because how we define it shapes whether we actually respond when God deals with us.

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I like the way you put that. That makes complete sense to me.

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David was a murderer

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Would you mind adding the verse you got these from? I am not disagreeing just would like to know. thank you.

I could add the sin of omission, in Matt 6:12 the word debt(which in many translations has become trespass which is a completely diff word) means that which is owed. In other words, the sin of omission. James also speaks to this in 4:17.

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I believe all 3 are accurate. However, they all stem from #3 . Falling short of love is most likely the first step towards sinning and it progresses from there. I dont think everyone sees sin as being the same. I think we might even blind ourselvies to the fact that we are sinning.I would hope to trust Christ’s forgiveness if not im in serious trouble lol

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I can do better than that Brother, I’ll link you blue letter Bible .org and it will show you every place in the bible that the word is used. Like Sin:

So you can see all of the scriptures and how they all use the term and so forth, then just click on that and read that term in Tools for the original language Definition & Usage.

Unrighteousness:

Trespass:

Transgression:

Iniquity:

Now I don’t know Greek or Hebrew but I just browsed some verses and took what I thought was how it was using it. Sometimes the term may definition out as a slightly different term or meaning because of the original language quirks which I dont know the language so would otherwise not know.

Hope this helps Brother.

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This is not a question we get to answer by preference or by what seems to resonate with us. God has already spoken on this, and our place is not to choose between ideas, but to submit to what He has revealed.

Scripture defines sin plainly. It says, “sin is the transgression of the law” ~1 John 3:4. That means sin is not personal or flexible, and it does not change from one person to another. It is not based on how something affects you emotionally or relationally. It is defined by God’s standard, not ours. When God commands something and it is broken, that is sin, regardless of who commits it.

It is true that sin separates us from God. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” ~Isaiah 59:2. But that verse is describing the result of sin, not giving us a new definition of it. The separation is real, but it comes because God’s law has been broken, not because sin is something that shifts depending on the individual.

The idea of “missing the mark” also needs to be understood correctly. The mark is not whatever we think love should look like. The mark is God’s holiness. Scripture says, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” ~Romans 3:23. We have not simply failed to love perfectly. We have failed to meet the righteous standard of a holy God.

Because of that, sin is the same for everyone. God does not have one standard for one person and a different standard for another. “For there is no respect of persons with God” ~Romans 2:11. What He calls sin remains sin, no matter who commits it or how they try to frame it.

And this is where the issue becomes serious. It absolutely matters how sin is defined. If sin is misunderstood, then the need for Christ will also be misunderstood. Jesus said, “they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” ~Luke 5:31. If a person thinks sin is just a personal or relational imbalance, they will never fully see their guilt before God, and they will never understand why they need to be saved.

The gospel is not built on a vague idea of falling short in love. It is built on the reality that we have broken God’s law and stand guilty before Him. That is why Scripture says, “God commandeth all men every where to repent” ~Acts 17:30. Repentance is not optional, and it is not based on personal definitions. It is a response to what God has already declared to be true.

So the real question is not which view feels right. The real question is whether we will let God define sin on His terms, or whether we will reshape it into something more comfortable. One leads to conviction and a true understanding of the gospel. The other can leave a person thinking they are right with God while still standing in need of repentance.

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@bdavidc that’s how I understand sin. Sin is sin, regardless of the “type” of sin. It’s separation from God. We can’t be holy no matter how hard we try, how much we pray, how much scripture we read, all the “good” works we do, and all of this points to the fact that we need Jesus, His grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and the gift of salvation. I KNOW I fall short every day. I even have a tshirt that says “Walking by faith..tripping constantly”. That’s me. Every single day. So I turn to Him. Every day. All day in fact. I’ll never be perfect..not in this earthly life..but He is perfect, and He perfects my daily walk with Him

Repentance doesn’t mean I just say sorry for sinning but that I ask for forgiveness AND for conviction. I always ask that He strengthens me and changes my heart and leads me according to His will. I also ask Him to never let me go.

I just want to be in His presence all the time, living in His will..so I pray..a lot.

Thank you for stating what I’ve always believed about sin - God is serious about sin.

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James 4:17

**17 **Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin…./KJV

The thing is, once a person hears this or that in a sermon, from their Mom, or even the Law or reading the Word, then they are responsible for what they know and so to be true to it. If they do it anyway, then it is sin to them. But it also says in Roams I think that if one man dont eat meat and another does neither man in that and consideration for people’s prefrence should be applied.

My ex BIL was dating some girl from IDK where but she doesnt eat pork. And BIL likes to cook. She moved in with him briefly and he tried for some sex and she says she dont do that either. So he got mad at her and cooked up some Beef Stew and cooked some pork into it because he was mad about it. I thought that incredibly rude but that’s on him. It had something to do with her religion IDK which one it wasn’t something from the middle east? I think he told me but I forgot. But. If that was her faith to not eat pork and then she was tricked into it unknowingly…did she sin of her faith? I’m inclined to say no because of the trickery and some women have been as dumb as Eve was, who also got tricked.

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Some of this is in the grey area so it is good to discuss in this way. Here’s an example, I’ve carried a pistol for self defense for around 40 years now. I never felt I needed a permit from anyone so never got any thing like that. So I suppose I was breaking the law and CCW. But was I? How do you know?

That’s easy, their police record. Do they have violence on it? Assault? Rioting? Drunk & Disorderly? People either have violence on their record or they don’t. I’ve never had any sort of violence charge against me. I may walk around armed to the teeth but the presence of the weapon is what keeps me out of trouble. Sure I’ve been inside hundreds of banks with no incidents. I never got the urge to rob one, lol but I do have to make it back to my truck. People who are like that and dangerous will show it on the arrest record. SO on one hand, I was sinning in the eyes of the law and could go to jail!

But no way it would stick. So I carry a gun, so what?

But isn’t that dangerous?

Yes sir it sure is. But I’m competent with it. If I have have been a butthoe with it, where are the menacing threats from previously? No armed robbery’s? Anything? Nope just a long list of speeding tickets. I was even married for 26 years and there never was any domestic violence. They love charging people with domestic violence because then they get to lean on you over weapons. Not at my house. She didn’t slap me around, I din slap her around. No reason. They had nothing on me.

We can’t find anything Judge. They would have to give me my weapon back and release me. They have tried one time and had my pistol for 2 years! And in the end when I went to retrieve my weapon at the evidence locker, she tried to tell me that they get destroyed every 6 months or so and was gone…I said hey Mamn, I have an order to preserve property signed by Judge would you like to see it. She knew she was defeated at that point. Please check again! And Tada! They found it and gave it to me. She was incredulous and said, we don’t do that normally, how did you do that?

I said, I told them when I had the encounter with the officer that I was a good guy and not a punk…So I had a major victory in that and I praise the Lord for it! I was ok for those two years they had my pistol because I just carried a different one that I owned.

So I say, no sin there. But man’s law would argue. In this sort of case follow God’s law. No sin.