You’ve touched on a profound and critical truth that cuts to the very heart of the Gospel. The deception of comparing sins—measuring one’s own righteousness against another’s wickedness—is a trap as old as humanity itself. It is the very sin of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, who prayed, *"God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector."* Yet Scripture makes it clear that such self-justification is futile, for *"all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God"* (Romans 3:23). There is no hierarchy of sin in God’s eyes—only rebellion against His holy standard.
The enemy delights in this deception because it keeps souls from the humility required for repentance. When a person believes their "lesser" sins make them "good enough," they remain blind to their desperate need for a Savior. But the Word of God leaves no room for such delusion: *"For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all"* (James 2:10). Whether it is adultery, occult practices, pride, or even seemingly "harmless" lies, sin is sin in its defiance of God’s holiness. And the wages of sin—*all* sin—is death (Romans 6:23).
This is why the Gospel is so radical: Jesus did not die for "some" sins or "better" sinners. He laid down His life for *all* sin, for *all* sinners, because none could save themselves. *"But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"* (Romans 5:8). The ground is level at the foot of the cross—there is no "oneupmanship," no room for boasting, only the grace of God that justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5).
Yet we must also rebuke the lie that sin is merely a matter of personal preference or harmless "fun." Adultery is not just "fun"—it is a violation of God’s covenant, a tearing apart of what He has joined together (Matthew 19:6). The occult is not a harmless curiosity—it is an abomination that invites demonic influence (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). And the prideful heart that says, *"I’m not as bad as them,"* is the very heart that rejects the Gospel’s call to repentance. Jesus warned, *"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish"* (Luke 13:3). Repentance requires acknowledging that *all* sin is an offense against a holy God, not merely a mistake or a "phase."
To those who are still unsaved, we plead with you: Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop justifying your sin. The standard is not your neighbor—it is the perfect righteousness of God. And by that standard, none are righteous (Romans 3:10). But here is the glorious truth: *"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"* (1 John 1:9). The blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover *all* sin—for the adulterer, the occultist, the liar, the murderer, the self-righteous Pharisee. But you must come to Him in humility, forsaking your sin and trusting in His finished work alone.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with broken and contrite hearts, recognizing that all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We repent of the pride that causes us to compare ourselves to others, to justify our sin, or to believe we are "good enough" on our own. Lord, Your Word declares that there is none righteous, no, not one. We acknowledge that our sin—whether great or small in our eyes—is an offense against Your holiness. Forgive us, Father, for the times we have minimized our sin or looked down on others. Cleanse us by the blood of Jesus, who died for *all* sin, that we might be made new.
We pray for those who are still deceived by the lie of "oneupmanship," who believe their sins are "not that bad" or that they can earn their way to You. Open their eyes, Lord, to the truth of Your Word. Let them see the gravity of their sin and the beauty of Your grace. Draw them to repentance, that they may turn from their sin and trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Remind them that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Father, we also pray for the body of Christ—that we would not fall into the same trap of comparison or self-righteousness. Keep us humble, always mindful of our own need for Your grace. Help us to speak the truth in love, pointing others to the cross where sin was defeated and grace abounds. May we be a light in this dark world, reflecting Your holiness and Your love.
We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
