What Are The Seven Deadly Sins

QUESTION: What are the seven deadly sins?

ANSWER:

Many people are asking, “What are the seven deadly sins?” The seven deadly sins viewed by society and literature are:

• Lust – to have an intense desire or need: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).
  
  
• Gluttony – excess in eating and drinking: “for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” (Proverbs 23:21).
  
  
• Greed - excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness: “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:19).
  
  
• Laziness – disinclined to activity or exertion: not energetic or vigorous: “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway” (Proverbs 15:19).
  
  
• Wrath – strong vengeful anger or indignation: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1)
  
  
• Envy – painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2).
  
  
• Pride - quality or state of being proud – inordinate self esteem: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

What are the seven detestable sins according to the Bible?
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

One of our church leaders recently spoke on Acts 5:11. He mentioned how Ananias and Sapphira sold property and would give the proceeds to the church. However, they held back some of the money but said that they had given the entire proceeds. God’s judgment was immediate death. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not that they kept some of the profit, but that they lied to God and to the Apostles.

Such immediate result is not the usual way God deals with us today. However, judgment and retribution for our sins are part of God’s way of running a balanced moral universe. We need to get the message across that we do not go on sinning thinking that we won’t have to reckon with God and others.

When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we know He has conquered sin in our life. It is through His death that our sins have been cleansed and no longer to be remembered. Jesus’ life makes the difference. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” (Romans 4:7-8).

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