I know we've all been told "sin is sin." BUT - It does seem like there are different degrees of sin. Maybe the Catholic's do have it right after all.
I'm not necessarily against different degrees of sins, but is the penalty for some sins less than other sins?
I concede the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and agree with you on it. So we can leave that one out of the discussion for now.
My personal conviction is that the "sin unto death" is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
But for all other sins....
Jas 2:10; For whoever keeps the whole law and
yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Rom 6:23; For the wages of sin is death,...
Rom 7:7; What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
Rom 7:8; But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
Simply coveting is just as a bad as every other sin.
If we go by specific sins listed in the New Testament, it is still a pretty big list. This isn't a complete list, but a pretty good sampling I think.
1 Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1 Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19; Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Rev 21:8; "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
1 Thes 4:3; For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thes 4:7; For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1 Thes 4:8; So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
I think all other sins can be forgiven (except blasphemy of the HS and taking the mark of the beast). But having said that... even though murder, homosexuality,
adultery and sins like this can be forgiven...
I don't believe they are unconditionally forgiven. Repentance is required. You cannot keep doing these sins, you cannot keep practicing these sins.
I don't know if every Christian has to be perfectly sinless. I suspect many aren't. But we cannot let habitual sin control us. It cannot be a lifestyle.
Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
1 Jn 2:4; The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
Now... even though I agree Christians can sin, and be forgiven for these sins. Is it true that they "have" to sin. Is it possible some could "be perfect".