Little Sins?

Read Romans 3:21–5:21

21. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
22. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
24. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
25. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:21-25

If you want to view the smallest leaves in the hardwood kingdom, look at a silk tree. Next to a maple or oak leaf, the silk tree leaflet is tiny. But despite its small leaves, the silk tree is one of the hardiest species in the world. It is a short but significant plant.

Some sins, like silk leaves, are small. But just as silk leaves are still leaves, so small sins are still sins. Paul reminds us that small acts of lying, lusting, and coveting all produce the same result as murder, adultery, and stealing—separation from God. Paul also explains how people can draw close to God and acquire joy. As you read, compare your life with Paul’s inspired words and determine to root out every sin.

In addition, in this section Paul shows how two men made significant changes in the world—one for the worse, the other for the better.

The Bible says that every person’s sin has separated them from God (Romans 3:23). Most people consider some sins to be bigger than others because they have such serious consequences. For example, murder is thought to be worse than hatred, and adultery worse than lust. In one sense they are, because they hurt others. But the fact that a person commits “smaller” sins does not mean that he or she is somehow less damned. Sin is incompatible with God, who is holy and without sin. All sin, therefore, leads to death, regardless of how great or small it may seem.

Don’t minimize “little” sins or overrate “big” ones. Understand and fear the effects of all sins, and ask God to help you live blamelessly before him.