The sins God condemns according to the Bible
Talking about sin is not fashionable. Many prefer to think that there is no absolute right and wrong, or that each person decides what is right. Yet the Bible speaks clearly of behaviour that God condemns, not because he wants to limit our happiness, but because such behaviour destroys human beings, harms others and separates us from him. In this article we present, respectfully and with balance, what the Bible teaches about sin, the main lists of sins found in Scripture and, above all, the good news of forgiveness in Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
What is sin?
In the Bible, sin is not merely breaking a rule. The Hebrew word chata and the Greek hamartia mean “missing the mark”, like an arrow falling short of its target. To sin is to fail to live according to the purpose for which God created us: to love him with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves. John also defines it as “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and James adds that sin is also knowing to do good and not doing it (James 4:17).
Sin includes actions, words, thoughts, attitudes and omissions. Jesus taught that hatred in the heart is akin to murder, and the lustful look to adultery (Matthew 5:21-28). God looks at the heart.
Why does God condemn sin?
God condemns sin because he is holy and because he loves us. Just as a father forbids his child to play with fire not to spoil his life but to protect him, God warns us of what destroys us. Sin breaks our relationship with God, harms other people, enslaves and brings painful consequences. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Yet the same verse ends with the best news: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Ten Commandments
The foundation of biblical ethics is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). The first concern our relationship with God: having no other gods, making no idols, not taking his name in vain and keeping the sabbath holy. The rest concern our relationship with our neighbour: honouring father and mother, not killing, not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness and not coveting. Jesus summed them up in two commandments: love God and love your neighbour (Matthew 22:37-40).
Six things the Lord hates
The book of Proverbs contains an especially well-known list:
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Proverbs 6:16-19
It is interesting that the list begins with pride (“a proud look”) and ends with sowing discord among brethren. God condemns not only great crimes, but also arrogance, lying and division.
The works of the flesh
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21
The list includes sexual sins, spiritual sins (idolatry and witchcraft), relational sins (hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings) and sins of excess (drunkenness and revellings). It is striking that most of the sins mentioned have to do with relationships: envy, anger and division are as serious in God’s eyes as other, more visible sins.
Other New Testament lists
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul mentions those who practise unrighteousness, sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, theft, greed, drunkenness, reviling and extortion, as well as other sexual practices contrary to God’s design according to Scripture, and states that those who persist in them will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the next verse is key: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Romans 1:29-31 lists unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, whispering, pride, disobedience to parents and lack of mercy. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 describes people who are lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, unthankful, without natural affection, false accusers and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. And Revelation 21:8 also mentions the fearful, the unbelieving and liars.
Sins we often forget
It is easy to point at others’ sins and forget our own. The Bible condemns with equal force religious pride, hypocrisy, gossip, greed, indifference to the poor and unforgiveness. Jesus reserved his harshest words for religious leaders who laid heavy burdens on others and neglected “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23). The prophets denounced injustice against the poor, the stranger, the widow and the orphan.
Are some sins worse than others?
Every sin separates us from God and needs his forgiveness. At the same time, the Bible recognises differences in seriousness and consequences: an impatient word is not the same as murder. Jesus spoke of “the greater sin” (John 19:11), and the law of Moses distinguished between sins of ignorance and deliberate sins. Some Christian traditions distinguish between venial and mortal sins; others prefer to stress that every sin is serious before a holy God. All agree that no sin lies beyond the reach of grace for one who repents.
Condemning sin, loving the sinner
The Bible never uses these lists to make believers feel superior or to despise others. Jesus was holy and at the same time a friend of sinners. Paul wrote: “judge nothing before the time” (1 Corinthians 4:5) and reminded us that we ourselves were once foolish and disobedient (Titus 3:3). The Christian attitude towards others’ sin is humility, prayer, truth spoken in love and an invitation to grace, never hatred, mockery or violence.
The good news: forgiveness and freedom
Speaking of sin without speaking of grace would leave the message half-told. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. On the cross he bore our guilt, and by his resurrection he gives us new life. Whoever repents and believes receives complete forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
What is more, the Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome sin day by day. It is not about being perfect immediately, but about walking in a new direction, getting up when we fall and trusting God’s grace. You can read our article I am a sinner: will God accept me?
Sin and conscience
Paul teaches that God wrote his law on the human heart, and that conscience bears witness, accusing or excusing our actions (Romans 2:14-15). That is why even people who have never read the Bible know that lying, stealing or betraying is wrong. Yet conscience can harden over time if it is ignored again and again. Listening to the voice of conscience, enlightened by God’s Word, is a great protection.
How to overcome sin
Acknowledge it without excuses: calling sin by its name is the first step. Flee temptation: Joseph fled from Potiphar’s house; sometimes the best strategy is to get away. Fill yourself with the Word: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Seek companionship: confessing our struggles to a mature believer strengthens us (James 5:16). Depend on the Spirit: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Interesting facts
Missing the mark: both the Hebrew and the Greek words for sin carry the sense of falling short of the target.
The seven deadly sins: medieval Christian tradition, drawing on writers such as Evagrius and Gregory the Great, summed up the vices as pride, greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth. They do not appear as a list in the Bible, but all are condemned in it.
The first sin recorded after the fall: the envy that led Cain to kill Abel (Genesis 4).
Prayer
Holy God, search my heart and show me what displeases you. Forgive my pride, my hurtful words, my selfishness and every sin I have committed against you and others. Thank you that in Jesus Christ there is complete forgiveness. Fill me with your Spirit to live in holiness, and give me a humble heart that does not judge others but shows them your grace. Amen.