re: “To answer the question—Sin is sin. Whether it’s lying, or murder, or adultery, it’s all the same in the eyes of God.”
I’m not quite sure that’s true. Remember when Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:14-16:
“14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Similar passages are found in Matthew 11:24 and Luke 10:12.
Also, Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:5-7:
“6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”
It sounds like there are some sins which are worse in God’s eyes than others. I agree that all sin separates us from a Holy, totally Righteous and sinless God, and, in that sense, all sin condemns us. But, perhaps there will be greater punishment for certain sins?
There are rewards mentioned by the Apostle Paul that will be given at the Day of Judgement. Perhaps also greater punishments?
Also, in the Levitical law, not every crime received the same punishment. We don’t give the death penalty for parking tickets, so why might it be so strange that certain sins will receive greater punishment? Breaking the speed limit makes one a “lawbreaker”, just as a murderer is also a “lawbreaker”, so both are “breakers of the law. I think that’s what James is speaking of in James 2:9-11.
But, we don’t give the same punishment for murder as a speeding ticket because we all clearly understand that murder is a more heinous crime.
Not trying to argue, just thinking about the “all the same in God’s eyes”.
You raise some interesting points, and they are definitely possibilities. In the regard of greater/lesser punishments—I just always assumed that there is one lake of fire, and one punishment. Since Scripture is mostly silent on that particular question, I will be also. :)