The difference between sin unto death and not unto death has puzzled many Bible students throughout history. Scripture clearly states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), yet not all sins seem to carry the same eternal consequences. While the Bible teaches that “all wrongdoing is sin” (1 John 5:17), there appears to be a distinction between ordinary sins and what John refers to as “the sin unto death” in 1 John 5:16-17.
In this article, we’ll explore this challenging biblical concept and examine what constitutes sins that lead to death versus sins that do not lead to death. The Apostle John provides hope by reminding us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. However, he also warns about a particular kind of sin—described as “willful, continuous, unrepentant sin”—that carries more severe consequences. As we dive deeper into Scripture, we’ll uncover which sins are considered abominations to the Lord Jesus Christ and how they relate to this critical distinction.
What does the Bible mean by ‘abomination’?
In Scripture, the term ‘abomination’ represents something far more severe than ordinary sin. This concept appears throughout the Bible as a description of actions, behaviors, or practices that God finds especially detestable.
Definition of abomination in Scripture
The Hebrew words translated as ‘abomination’ in the Old Testament include shiqquts, sheqets, and most commonly tôʻêbah (תֹּועֵבָה). These terms describe something morally disgusting or abhorrent, particularly in relation to God’s character. Essentially, an abomination is something that causes God to be utterly disgusted – something He loathes because it directly opposes His nature. The English translation accurately conveys this as something exceptionally loathsome, hateful, sinful, wicked, or vile.
Difference between sin and abomination
Though all sin separates us from God, the Bible distinguishes between ordinary sins and abominations. Whereas sin generally refers to missing God’s standard of righteousness, abominations represent a more severe category – actions so detestable they incur God’s fierce anger. Furthermore, abominations often involve deliberate rebellion against God’s established order, rather than merely falling short of His glory. This distinction matters because abominable sins frequently appear in contexts discussing idolatry, sexual immorality, and other practices fundamentally opposed to God’s nature.
Why some sins are called abominations
God labels certain sins as abominations primarily because they represent direct violations of the covenant relationship or undermine the divine order He established. The most common reasons include:
- Direct rebellion against God’s authority through idolatry
- Distortion of God’s created order (especially regarding sexuality and identity)
- Actions that harm the community or destroy relationships
- Hypocritical religious practice
Throughout Proverbs, abominations include pride, dishonesty, shedding innocent blood, wicked plans, bearing false witness, and sowing discord. Jesus Himself labeled self-justification and exaltation as abominable (Luke 16:15), notably the only sin He explicitly called an abomination during His earthly ministry.
Understanding abominations helps us grasp the severity of certain sins and their potential relationship to “sins that lead to death” mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.
8 sins that are an abomination to the Lord
Proverbs 6:16-19 provides a powerful list of behaviors God detests: “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him.” Let’s examine these deadly sins that God considers utterly detestable.
1. Pride
Pride heads the list of abominations God hates. “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 16:5). Pride created the devil himself, turning Lucifer into Satan. It ruins humanity by making us believe we’re self-sufficient without God. The seat of pride is the heart, and it precedes destruction. “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23).
2. Lying tongue
“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22). God abhors dishonesty because it stands in direct opposition to His nature of truth. Lying is mentioned twice in the Proverbs 6 list, underscoring its severity. Those who practice falsehood face severe judgment, as “all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire” (Revelation 21:8).
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
This refers to murder, particularly of the innocent. This includes the modern tragedy of abortion, which results in over a million innocent lives lost annually. God’s law made provisions for executing murderers, but the shedding of innocent blood is detestable to Him.
4. A heart that devises wicked plans
The heart that plots evil schemes deeply offends God. This describes someone who spends time thinking about and planning wicked activities. As Proverbs 15:26 states: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.” This isn’t simply falling into sin, but deliberately crafting ways to do evil.
5. Feet that run to evil
This describes eagerness to sin – those who pursue wrongdoing with vigor. Instead of fleeing temptation, these individuals run toward it, actively seeking opportunities to transgress God’s law.
6. False witness
A false witness distorts truth and perverts justice. This sin can lead to the condemnation of innocent people, as happened with Naboth when Jezebel employed false witnesses against him. Jesus Himself suffered from false testimony during His trial.
7. One who sows discord
The numerical pattern in Proverbs 6:16-19 suggests this might be the sin God hates most. Discord destroyers undermine unity through pride, selfishness, gossip, and tale-bearing. This violates Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17 and damages the body of Christ.
8. Idolatry and sexual immorality
Throughout Scripture, idolatry and sexual immorality are consistently labeled abominations. Idolatry involves worshiping created things instead of the Creator, while sexual sins including homosexuality, adultery, and incest are repeatedly condemned as abominations that violate God’s created order.
How abominable sins relate to ‘sins that lead to death’
First John 5:16-17 introduces a critical distinction between sins that lead to death and those that don’t, connecting directly to our understanding of abominations.
Understanding 1 John 5:16–17
The Apostle John wrote about two categories of sin: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” This passage distinguishes between forgivable sins and those with more serious consequences.
“Sin that leads to death” primarily refers to willful, continuous, unrepentant sin. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply certain sins automatically cause eternal condemnation regardless of circumstances.
Can abominations be forgiven?
God forgives all sin in Christ except one—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This unforgivable sin involves knowing God’s power, being a partaker of it, allowing oneself to be overcome by Satan, denying truth, and defying God’s power. Consequently, those committing this sin become “Sons of Perdition” for whom “there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come.”
The role of repentance in avoiding spiritual death
Repentance stands as the dividing line between forgivable sins and those leading to death. John promised, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Moreover, genuine repentance involves not merely acknowledging sin but turning away from it completely.
The unrepentant heart eventually becomes incapable of repenting—like Esau who “found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” Accordingly, it’s not the specific sin but the hardened attitude toward it that ultimately leads to spiritual death.
Biblical examples of abominable sins and their outcomes
The Bible presents striking real-life examples of individuals who committed abominable sins and faced immediate, devastating consequences. These accounts vividly illustrate the distinction between sins that lead to death and those that do not.
Judas Iscariot: betrayal and despair
Before Judas Iscariot’s infamous betrayal, his name was respected. Subsequently, it became synonymous with treachery. As Jesus’ disciple, Judas managed the group’s finances but routinely stole from their shared purse. His love for money ultimately drove him to betray the Lord with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver. Unlike Peter who found restoration after failure, Judas felt remorse without true repentance. In despair, he hanged himself, becoming the “son of Perdition”—a tragic illustration of how abominable sin leads to spiritual death.
Ananias and Sapphira: deceit and sudden death
In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sold property and pretended to donate all proceeds while secretly keeping part for themselves. Their sin wasn’t withholding money (which was their right) but lying about their generosity. Peter confronted them: “You have not lied to men but to God”. Both died instantly upon exposure. This divine judgment purified the early church and established a sobering precedent—hypocrisy toward God can be a sin unto death.
The Pharisees: hypocrisy and judgment
Above all other sins, Jesus reserved His harshest condemnations for the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. Six times in Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”. He called them “serpents” and a “brood of vipers,” asking how they would “escape being sentenced to hell”. The Pharisees’ sin wasn’t simply falling short but deliberately maintaining a religious façade while practicing evil privately. Their abominable pride and self-justification, specifically elevating themselves before men, Jesus declared “an abomination in the sight of God”.
Conclusion
Throughout Scripture, we find a clear distinction between ordinary sins and those labeled as abominations. God views certain transgressions with particular detestation because they fundamentally oppose His nature and established order. Pride, lying, murder, wicked planning, eagerness for evil, false witness, discord-sowing, idolatry, and sexual immorality stand as prime examples of sins God utterly abhors.
Nevertheless, hope remains even for those who have committed abominable sins. The critical factor separating “sin unto death” from forgivable transgressions lies not necessarily in the act itself but rather in our response afterward. True repentance serves as the dividing line between restoration and spiritual death. Unlike Judas who felt remorse without genuine repentance, we can follow Peter’s example of heartfelt contrition that leads to restoration.
Scripture teaches us that almost any sin can be forgiven through Christ. Jesus died for all manner of transgressions, including those labeled abominations. However, the unforgivable sin—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—remains possible when someone persistently hardens their heart against God’s truth despite knowing better.
Sobering biblical examples like Ananias and Sapphira remind us that God takes sin seriously. The Pharisees likewise demonstrate how religious hypocrisy particularly offends the Lord. These cautionary tales should prompt sincere self-examination rather than paralyzing fear.
Ultimately, understanding which sins are abominations helps us grasp God’s character more fully. The Lord detests these actions because they destroy what He loves—truth, innocence, unity, and proper worship. Though all sin separates us from God, His grace proves sufficient for those who genuinely turn from their ways. Therefore, we must approach sin with appropriate gravity while simultaneously embracing the magnificent hope found in Christ’s redemptive work.
The wages of sin indeed remain death, but thankfully, the gift of God stands as eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This profound truth offers both warning and comfort as we navigate the challenging distinctions between sins that lead to death and those that do not.
