Sin: Little Sins
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In the Christian theological framework, sin is understood as any action, thought, or attitude that falls short of God's perfect standard of holiness. While all sin is ultimately an affront to God, the concept of "little sins" refers to those transgressions that might be perceived as minor or insignificant by human standards. However, Scripture emphasizes that even these seemingly small sins are serious in the eyes of God.

Biblical Perspective on Sin

The Bible makes it clear that all sin, regardless of its perceived magnitude, separates humanity from God. In James 2:10 , it is written, "Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." This verse underscores the idea that even a single infraction renders one guilty before God, highlighting the gravity of what might be considered "little sins."

Examples of Little Sins

1. Idle Words: Jesus warns about the power of words in Matthew 12:36 , saying, "But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." This suggests that even seemingly harmless or idle words are significant in God's eyes.

2. White Lies: The Bible consistently upholds truthfulness as a virtue. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." Even small, so-called "white lies" are contrary to God's nature of truth.

3. Covetous Thoughts: The Tenth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:17 , instructs, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Coveting, often considered a private or internal sin, is nonetheless a violation of God's law.

4. Neglect of Good: James 4:17 states, "Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin." This highlights sins of omission, where failing to act righteously is itself sinful.

The Deceptive Nature of Little Sins

Little sins can be particularly dangerous because they often go unnoticed or are easily rationalized. In Song of Solomon 2:15 , the text metaphorically warns, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." This imagery suggests that small, unchecked sins can lead to greater spiritual decay.

The Call to Holiness

Believers are called to pursue holiness and to be vigilant against all forms of sin. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 , it is written, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness encompasses every aspect of life, urging Christians to be mindful of even the smallest sins.

Repentance and Forgiveness

The Bible assures believers that forgiveness is available for all sins through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This assurance encourages believers to seek God's grace and strive for a life that reflects His holiness.
Nave's Topical Index
Songs 2:15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin ...
... never attained any victory over your sins, and scarce ... even the godly, will not excuse
sin's domination and ... enemy, that ye who have both little knowledge and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxiii my little children.htm

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin ...
... 1 John 2:1.""My little children, these things write I unto ... end of the water"and
"if any man sin, we have Christ a propitiation for our sins." Here is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxii my little children.htm

Cups Running Over
... that year. When that happens it is due to only one thing"sin, just those
little sins that the devil drops into our cup. But if ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 2 cups running over.htm

Bunyan's Dying Sayings.
... No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of heaven ... the
sinner can find out a LITTLE God, it may be easy to find out little sins. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/miscellaneous pieces/bunyans dying sayings.htm

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin ...
... confess, he is faithful to forgive our sins,"""God so ... things written to this end,
"that ye sin not," you ... "These things I write unto you, little children." To ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi my little children.htm

Letter xvi. --Hatred of Sin.
... in the will to hate and to avoid sin, and resides ... One can accuse oneself of the graver
sins in a ... you attaching so much importance to the little comforts that ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xvi hatred of sin.htm

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our ...
... Now, let me apply a little to the encouragement of poor ... to satisfy you,"one to forgive
your sins, and another ... is not only desirous of pardon of sin"that is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xix if we confess.htm

Out of the Deep of Sin.
... Augustine found he could never conquer his own sins by arguing ... does bring us to it,
it is little matter whether ... Your sense of sin is not fanaticism; it is, I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/out of the deep/ii out of the deep.htm

The Curse Removed
... committed a little sin, thou art justly condemned, for a little sin hath in it the
essence of all sin; and I know not but that what we call little sins may be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 57 1911/the curse removed.htm

Salvation from Sin.
... suffering is for the sinner, that he may be delivered from his sin. ... evil in him only
as pain; he may know little and care nothing about his sins; yet is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/salvation from sin.htm

Resources
What is the definition of sin? | GotQuestions.org

The Study of Sin ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

If Jesus paid the price for our sin, why do we still suffer the consequences of our sin? | GotQuestions.org

Sin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Sin

Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Sin Being Equal

Sin in Believers is a Reproach to the Lord

Sin is of the Devil

Sin is the Transgression of the Law

Sin Money

Sin Money: General Scriptures Concerning

Sin of Eli's Household

Sin Offering

Sin: A City of Egypt

Sin: Against Knowledge

Sin: Against the Body

Sin: Aggravated by Neglecting Advantages

Sin: All Men are Conceived and Born In

Sin: All Men are Shapen In

Sin: All the Imaginations of the Unrenewed Heart Are

Sin: All Unrighteousness Is

Sin: Attempt to Cover, Vain

Sin: Babylon

Sin: Besetting

Sin: Blessings Withheld on Account of

Sin: Christ Alone Was Without

Sin: Christ Was Manifested to Take Away

Sin: Christ's Blood Cleanses From

Sin: Christ's Blood Redeems From

Sin: Coming from the Heart

Sin: Confession of

Sin: Confusion of Face Belongs to Those Guilty of

Sin: Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children

Sin: Conspiracy

Sin: Dead Works

Sin: Death, the Punishment of

Sin: Death, the Wages of

Sin: Deceitful

Sin: Defiles

Sin: Defiling

Sin: Degrees In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Counted In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Manna and Quail Given In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The Complaint for Bread In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The People of Israel Journey Through

Sin: Disgraceful

Sin: Entered Into the World by Adam

Sin: Excludes from Heaven

Sin: Fools Mock At

Sin: Forgiveness of

Sin: Fruits of

Sin: God Has Opened a Fountain For

Sin: God is Provoked to Anger By

Sin: God is Provoked to Jealousy By

Sin: God: Abominates

Sin: God: Alone Can Forgive

Sin: God: Marks

Sin: God: Punishes

Sin: God: Recompenses

Sin: God: Remembers

Sin: Guilt of Concerning

Sin: If we Say That we Have No, we Make God a Liar

Sin: Ignorant

Sin: Israel's

Sin: Jealousy

Sin: Known to God

Sin: Leads to Disease

Sin: Leads to Disquiet

Sin: Leads to Shame

Sin: Like Scarlet and Crimson

Sin: Little Sins

Sin: Love of

Sin: Ministers should Warn the Wicked to Forsake

Sin: Murder

Sin: National, Punishment of

Sin: No Escape from the Consequences of

Sin: No Man Can Atone For

Sin: No Man Can Cleanse Himself From

Sin: No Man is Without

Sin: None in Heaven

Sin: Not Counted Against Righteous People

Sin: Often Manifold

Sin: Often Mighty

Sin: Often Presumptuous

Sin: Often Very Great

Sin: Omission of What we Know to be Good Is

Sin: Paul's Discussion of the Responsibility For

Sin: Pleasures of

Sin: Prayer Hindered By

Sin: Progressive

Sin: Punishment of

Sin: Reaching to Heaven

Sin: Rebellion Against God

Sin: Redeemed

Sin: Reproaching the Lord

Sin: Repugnant to God

Sin: Repugnant to Righteous People

Sin: Saints: Abhor Themselves on Account of

Sin: Saints: Ashamed of Having Committed

Sin: Saints: Cannot Live In

Sin: Saints: Dead To

Sin: Saints: Have Yet the Remains of, in Them

Sin: Saints: Made Free From

Sin: Saints: Profess to Have Ceased From

Sin: Saints: Resolve Against

Sin: Scripture Concludes all Under

Sin: Secret Sins

Sin: Separates from God

Sin: Shall Find out the Wicked

Sin: should be Abhorred

Sin: should be Avoided Even in Appearance

Sin: should be Confessed

Sin: should be Departed From

Sin: should be Guarded Against

Sin: should be Hated

Sin: should be Mortified

Sin: should be Mourned Over

Sin: should be Put Away

Sin: should be Striven Against

Sin: should be Wholly Destroyed

Sin: Sinfulness of

Sin: Sometimes Open and Manifest

Sin: Sometimes Secret

Sin: Specially Strive Against Besetting

Sin: The Abominable Thing That God Hates

Sin: The Egyptians

Sin: The Entangling

Sin: The Fear of God Restrains

Sin: The Fruit of Lust

Sin: The Ground Was Cursed on Account of

Sin: The Holy Spirit Convinces of

Sin: The Israelites

Sin: The Law by Its Strictness Stirs Up

Sin: The Law is the Strength of

Sin: The Law is Transgressed by Every

Sin: The Law: Curses Those Guilty of

Sin: The Law: Gives Knowledge of

Sin: The Law: Made to Restrain

Sin: The Law: Shows Exceeding Sinfulness of

Sin: The Sodomites

Sin: The Sting of Death

Sin: The Thought of Foolishness Is

Sin: The Unpardonable

Sin: The Wicked: Boast of

Sin: The Wicked: Cannot Cease From

Sin: The Wicked: Dead In

Sin: The Wicked: Defy God in Committing

Sin: The Wicked: Delight in Those Who Commit

Sin: The Wicked: Encourage Themselves In

Sin: The Wicked: Encouraged In, by Prosperity

Sin: The Wicked: Excuse

Sin: The Wicked: Expect Impunity In

Sin: The Wicked: Guilty of, in Everything They Do

Sin: The Wicked: Heap Up

Sin: The Wicked: Led by Despair to Continue In

Sin: The Wicked: Make a Mock At

Sin: The Wicked: Plead Necessity For

Sin: The Wicked: Servants To

Sin: The Wicked: Shall Bear the Shame of

Sin: The Wicked: Tempt Others To

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on God

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on Others

Sin: The Wicked: Try to Conceal, from God

Sin: The Word of God Keeps From

Sin: To be Hated

Sin: Toil and Sorrow Originated In

Sin: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To, Defining and Illustrating

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Cleanse Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Deliver Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Forgive Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Keep Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Make Us Know Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Search For, in Our Hearts

Sin: Whatever is not of Faith Is

Sin: when Finished Brings Forth Death

Sin: Works of Darkness

Related Terms

Sin-offerings (8 Occurrences)

Sin's (3 Occurrences)

Sin-money (1 Occurrence)

Sin-offering (115 Occurrences)

Sinlessness

Committing (30 Occurrences)

Kid (42 Occurrences)

Sinoffering

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Confessed (19 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Committeth (22 Occurrences)

Sinneth (25 Occurrences)

Afford (12 Occurrences)

Suffice (22 Occurrences)

Sinning (59 Occurrences)

Acknowledge (61 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Continual (55 Occurrences)

Sinful (61 Occurrences)

Blot (23 Occurrences)

Convict (12 Occurrences)

Atone (8 Occurrences)

Sting (5 Occurrences)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Confession (22 Occurrences)

Azazel (3 Occurrences)

Slaves (119 Occurrences)

Conception (6 Occurrences)

Year-old (6 Occurrences)

Contrite (5 Occurrences)

Contrition (1 Occurrence)

Covet (14 Occurrences)

Coveting (3 Occurrences)

Advocate (7 Occurrences)

Atoned (8 Occurrences)

Sinfulness (3 Occurrences)

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Sinner (88 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Commit (142 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Salvation (386 Occurrences)

Agony (20 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)

Committed (201 Occurrences)

Bullock (95 Occurrences)

Confess (65 Occurrences)

Conscious (93 Occurrences)

Shown (131 Occurrences)

Community (77 Occurrences)

Blemish (71 Occurrences)

Covetous (11 Occurrences)

Convicted (4 Occurrences)

Carnal (11 Occurrences)

Charging (27 Occurrences)

Cloke (7 Occurrences)

Concupiscence (3 Occurrences)

Afforded (2 Occurrences)

Acquittal (7 Occurrences)

Abound (36 Occurrences)

Advantage (44 Occurrences)

Abides (37 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Serving (85 Occurrences)

Sincere (18 Occurrences)

Stands (111 Occurrences)

Seizing (7 Occurrences)

Can't (180 Occurrences)

Sentence (53 Occurrences)

Claim (30 Occurrences)

Attack (221 Occurrences)

Sincerity (17 Occurrences)

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)

Kinds (110 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Sin: Like Scarlet and Crimson
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