Do Protestants Believe in Mortal Sins and Venial Sins?

[meltzerboy]

Are there any Protestant denominations which have a similar concept to that of Catholicism with regard to mortal sins and venial sins, or is this distinction found only in Catholicism? If there is a similar distinction in certain branches of Protestantism, what is the distinction? If not, what do various Protestant denominations say about the nature and types of sin?

 

[Legal_Eagle]

Are there any Protestant denominations which have a similar concept to that of Catholicism with regard to mortal sins and venial sins, or is this distinction found only in Catholicism? If there is a similar distinction in certain branches of Protestantism, what is the distinction? If not, what do various Protestant denominations say about the nature and types of sin?

I grew up Southern Baptist. According to them, all sin is equal. According to the Southern Baptists if I kill someone, or if I drink a beer its all the same to God. Of course, Southern Baptists also believe in “once saved always saved.” So that If I’m “saved” in 1975, but I go on a killing spree ending in my own suicide in 2011, then no biggie. I still get to go to heaven the same as Billy Graham.

Peace,

 

[Esdra]

Are there any Protestant denominations which have a similar concept to that of Catholicism with regard to mortal sins and venial sins, or is this distinction found only in Catholicism? If there is a similar distinction in certain branches of Protestantism, what is the distinction? If not, what do various Protestant denominations say about the nature and types of sin?

I only know of two types of sins:

The sin against the Holy Spirit and all the others.

And Jesus says about sins and the sin against the Holy Spirit in particular,

" 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:28-29 - NASB)

I think Jesus is pretty clear of the nature of sins here…

I personally like Matthew 12:31-32 better, because I think he puts it nicer than Mark,

“31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32 - NASB)

Oh, my affiliation is “charismatic (Northern) Baptist”. - You know, in Europe the bible-only, Baptist like Churches are a little bit different than in the US. (Therefore the strange denomination Name I used above.)

in Christ,

 

[Goldrock]

I only know of two types of sins:

The sin against the Holy Spirit and all the others.

 

[Goldrock]

I only know of two types of sins:

The sin against the Holy Spirit and all the others.

Dear Esdra,

St. John distinguishes between sin that leads to death (mortal sin) and sin that does not lead to death (venial sin): “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.” (1 Jn 5:16-17). St. John’s distinction is the same distinction made by the Catholic Church.

The sin against the Holy Spirit is an example of a mortal sin. It is the deliberate refusal to accept God’s mercy (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1864).

 

[JonNC]

Are there any Protestant denominations which have a similar concept to that of Catholicism with regard to mortal sins and venial sins, or is this distinction found only in Catholicism? If there is a similar distinction in certain branches of Protestantism, what is the distinction? If not, what do various Protestant denominations say about the nature and types of sin?

Lutherans generally don’t make this distinction. However, it is imporant to say that all sin can be mortal sin, as scripture says, “the wages of sin is death”. Interestingly, Luther makes the point that, "In the sight of God sins are then truly venial when they are feared by men to be mortal.” This is because it is the very dreaful sins, the ones we would consider mortal, that drives us to confession and the seeking of absolution. And the venial sins, the ones we overlook as not important, can be the dangerous ones, as they build, if not confessed, to drive a wedge between us and grace.

Jon

 

[Esdra]

Dear Esdra,

St. John distinguishes between sin that leads to death (mortal sin) and sin that does not lead to death (venial sin): “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.” (1 Jn 5:16-17). St. John’s distinction is the same distinction made by the Catholic Church.

The sin against the Holy Spirit is an example of a mortal sin. It is the deliberate refusal to accept God’s mercy (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1864).

Wow, you just made me stumble.

I now rethought it and I think John is indeed referring to the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
I think the key is “a” - There is a = one (in German a and one is the same - I read it in the German Bible - I considered Luther and Elberfelder Bible) sin that leads to death - which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, as I have written (and quoted) above.

All other sins can be forgiven, if we ask Jesus repentant for forgivness.

Verse 18 in the same chapter’s also interesting in this respect:

"18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. " (1 Jn 5:18 - NASB)

So, if we are indeed children of God, it is God who keeps us - and the Evilone does not have power over us. - This means if we stay in Him, and He stays in us, through studying and doing His word. (And the doing is really important - sadly enough I often have the feeling I do too less…)

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I grew up Southern Baptist. According to them, all sin is equal. According to the Southern Baptists if I kill someone, or if I drink a beer its all the same to God. Of course, Southern Baptists also believe in “once saved always saved.” So that If I’m “saved” in 1975, but I go on a killing spree ending in my own suicide in 2011, then no biggie. I still get to go to heaven the same as Billy Graham.

Peace,

I first started attending church in a pentecostal church, Assemblies of God. We were also taught that all sin is the same the only thing that makes one “worse” is consequences in the earthy realm but since all sin leads to hell there is no “worse” sin when it comes to hell. We were Armenian to the last degree. (you can lose your salvation at any point)

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

Are there any Protestant denominations which have a similar concept to that of Catholicism with regard to mortal sins and venial sins, or is this distinction found only in Catholicism? If there is a similar distinction in certain branches of Protestantism, what is the distinction? If not, what do various Protestant denominations say about the nature and types of sin?

I don’t know of any that do but Protestantism is a very, very big tent. I wouldn’t be surprised to find some individual Protestants, say conservative Anglo-Catholics or someone similar, that did indeed believe in the distinction between mortal and venial sins. I just don’t imagine such a belief in very commonplace among our Protestant friends.

 

[Goldrock]

I think the key is “a” - There is a = one (in German a and one is the same - I read it in the German Bible - I considered Luther and Elberfelder Bible) sin that leads to death - which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, as I have written (and quoted) above.

Dear Esdra,

St. John did not write in German so we cannot argue that a = one in his letter just because a = one in German.

St. John’s statement that there is “a” sin that leads to death can equally be interpreted as “there is a kind of sin that leads to death” (and this is indeed how the Catholic Church interprets it). That kind of sin is mortal sin and there are many particular sins that are of this kind.

 

[Esdra]

Dear Esdra,

St. John did not write in German so we cannot argue that a = one in his letter just because a = one in German.

St. John’s statement that there is “a” sin that leads to death can equally be interpreted as “there is a kind of sin that leads to death,” and this is indeed how the Catholic Church interprets it.

One quick note: The German Elberfelder Bibel is considered (similar to the NASB) most literal translation of the Original languages.

So we are both right then? - I know, you’ll naturally disagree, as you believe that the Catholic Church is the one and true Church…

 

[Goldrock]

One quick note: The German Elberfelder Bibel is considered (similar to the NASB) most literal translation of the Original languages.

So we are both right then? - I know, you’ll naturally disagree, as you believe that the Catholic Church is the one and true Church…

My point is that “a” does not have to mean one particular sin but can also mean “a kind of”, that is, a genera of sin that contains several species.

We cannot both be right if our arguments contradict. Someone is wrong.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

I first started attending church in a pentecostal church, Assemblies of God. We were also taught that all sin is the same the only thing that makes one “worse” is consequences in the earthy realm but since all sin leads to hell there is no “worse” sin when it comes to hell. We were Armenian to the last degree. (you can lose your salvation at any point)

The differences between the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptists on the point of losing one’s salvation I think pretty much sums up the problem with Protestantism in general. If I believe “X” and you believe “not-X” then whose to tell me I’m wrong and you’re right?

Gotta have the authority if the Church is to be One.

Peace,

 

[Esdra]

My point is that “a” does not have to mean one particular sin but can also mean “a kind of”, that is, a genera of sin that contains several species.

We cannot both be right if our arguments contradict. Someone is wrong.

If I agree that “a” can be interpreted as “one” as well as “a kind of” then we **are **both right.

I mean, I believe, as the Bible (as my pastor keeps telling) is consistent in itself and explains itself, that a means “one” - you do otherwise!

 

[Goldrock]

If I agree that “a” can be interpreted as “one” as well as “a kind of” then we **are **both right.

I mean, I believe, as the Bible (as my pastor keeps telling) is consistent in itself and explains itself, that a means “one” - you do otherwise!

No, it means that your first interpretation is wrong and your second is correct in this particular case. We are speaking of a particular case (the verse in question), so only one possibility can be right.

I agree that the Bible is consistent in itself, if interpreted properly.

 

[eegardner]

Some of the Baptists that I know say that all sin is equal in God’s eyes.
But I have a hard time thinking that stealing an apple from the market would be viewed as equal to murder.

My :twocents: two cents.

 

[bogeydogg]

I think this is easily settled, even though the Lutheran Church does not specifically use the language “venial” and “mortal” it does teach that some sin is more serious than others, the point is that in the Garden, Eve took the fruit first (and St Paul said she was deceived) and Adam took it without being deceived (and St Paul said that we died in Adam’s sin and not Eve’s). So it seems pretty clear that sin committed in error and lacking in a serious nature (venial) is less than sin committed with full knowledge, intent and severity (mortal).

So what’s the big controversy?

God Bless

 

[Goldrock]

Eve took the fruit first (and St Paul said she was deceived) and Adam took it without being deceived (and St Paul said that we died in Adam’s sin and not Eve’s). So it seems pretty clear that sin committed in error and lacking in a serious nature (venial) is less than sin committed with full knowledge, intent and severity (mortal).

Can you explain what you mean by Adam not being deceived and yet committing a more serious sin than Eve.

 

[meltzerboy]

Thanks to all for their informative responses! It seems there MAY be differences in kind and degree between sins, even along the lines of mortal vs. venial sins, although they are not named as such. On the other hand, some of you are saying that sin is sin and there are no real distinctions. Perhaps it depends somewhat on the particular Protestant denomination.

 

[PJM]

=Legal Eagle;8271921]I grew up Southern Baptist. According to them, all sin is equal. According to the Southern Baptists if I kill someone, or if I drink a beer its all the same to God. Of course, Southern Baptists also believe in “once saved always saved.” So that If I’m “saved” in 1975, but I go on a killing spree ending in my own suicide in 2011, then no biggie. I still get to go to heaven the same as Billy Graham.

Peace,

Please understand my comment is shard IN CHARITY to expose truth.

That is NOT what the Bible and therefore Christ Himself taught and believes; thus it is an invalid and soul endangering position to choose to hold.

Matt.16 Verses 18 to 19 " And I [JESUS] tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I*** will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."***

1John.1 Verses 8 to 10 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

1John.5 Verses 16 to 17 "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.

John.20 Verses 20 to 23" When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.** If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”**

God Bless,
Pat