Most Christians have heard of the seven deadly sins from the Bible, but what does that phrase mean? What are the seven deadly sins, and what does the Bible say about these cardinal sins? Is there a sin that is unforgivable according to the Bible, or is the grace of God extended to all people?
What are the seven deadly sins in the Bible?
The concept of the seven deadly sins first popped up in first came up in Roman Catholicism during the 6th century. It was brought up by Pope Gregory I then, and then was elaborated on by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. Scriptures confirm these sins in the Bible, but nothing states that God cannot forgive you for these sins.
What are the seven deadly sins in the Bible? Is that concept something that is from the Bible, or is it something the Church came up with? #ORBCFamily #sevendeadlysins #christianliving Click To Tweet- Lust
- Gluttony
- Greed
- Sloth
- Wrath
- Envy
- Pride
1) Lust
Lust is defined as a strong passion or longing for something, but especially sexual desires. Lust is mentioned in many passages in the Bible, most notably when Jesus says in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard it said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
He then goes on to say that “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29). Jesus is saying this is such a dangerous sin, that we must do what it takes to stop sinning in this way. For a more in-depth look at these verses, this study goes deep into the scripture to illuminate what Jesus is saying here.
2) Gluttony
What does it mean to be a glutton? The Oxford dictionary defines gluttony as habitual greed or excess in eating. Many verses speak on gluttony in one way or another. One of the more common verses is Proverbs 23:1-3. This verse says, “When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[a] is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.”
3) Greed
Greed is one of the biggest sins the Bible writes about. This sin is defined as an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. Jesus warns us against greed in Luke 12:15. In this scripture, he says life does not consist of an abundance of possessions.
While money itself isn’t evil, loving money over others and God is a sin. It is important to remember that money is a tool and not an idol.
4) Sloth
Sloth is the reluctance to work or make an effort. Our modern word for that is laziness. What does the Bible mean by that though? Does it mean any kind of lack of motivation? In the Bible, the examples of sloth speak about willful laziness, not conditions like depression and anxiety.
The clearest example of sloth in the Bible comes from Proverbs 24:30-34. This proverb warns us against excessive rest.
5) Wrath
Wrath is strong anger and hate towards another person. The Bible says that vengeance belongs to the Lord in Romans 12:19, so we should not take what is His. While anger itself is not a sin, using anger in a way that harms others or yourself is a sin.
6) Envy
Envy is an intense desire for something another person owns. This sin hurts your relationship with your loved ones and it damages your view of the world. The Bible speaks on it in Proverbs 14:30 where it says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
7) Pride
Having pride is a view of oneself that does not regard another person. An example of this is when someone is boasting about how great they are, and they are not considering that other people may be better at something than them. In Proverbs 11:2, the Bible says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
The Cure for Sin: Jesus Christ
Though there are many more sins than the ones we outlined here, all sins are wiped away by the blood of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for our sins because the Lord hates sins. If we confess our sins and believe that Christ died for us, then we will be saved.
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