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Episode 23 of Christ for Us Bible Study Podcast on Mortal and Venial Sins. Learn more at Christforus.org. 
Mortal and Venial Sins


 

Introduction


 



The controversy between venial and mortal sin has led to great confusion, not only among Roman Catholics, but especially among Lutherans! The Roman Catholics erroneously define mortal and venial sins, so Lutherans laity have been led to believe that there is no such distinction between mortal and venial and many mistakenly assert that all sins are the same. However, there is a biblical distinction between mortal and venial sins. Lutherans still make this distinction. And this distinction is helpful for the justification and sanctification of a Christian.



 



A mortal sin simply means a sin leading to death. Venial comes from the Latin for pardonable or forgivable. So, a mortal sin is one that leads to damnation and a venial sin is a sin that does not lead to damnation. However, the question is why? The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize concupiscence as sin. Concupiscence is the activity of original sin, the inclination to sin. And because concupiscence, which is the very desire to sin, is not sin in Roman Catholic theology, concupiscence is not mortal, but venial. This is also how the Roman Catholic Church deals with lesser sins. They categorize them as venial, because they do not estimate them as serious enough to merit God’s wrath.

Roman Catholic Doctrine on Mortal and Venial Sins


 



The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Mortal Sin: A grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil act, and full consent of the will (1855, 1857)



 



The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Venial Sin: Sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it (1855). Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent (1862).



 

The Difference between Mortal and Venial Sin[1] (#_ftn1)


Do the remains of sin exist and remain in the reborn in this life?



They by all means are and remain. For though [the reborn] are ruled by the Holy Spirit, yet they complain that nothing good dwells in their flesh, in fact, also when they want to do good, evil is connected [with it] (Ro 7:18, 21)[2] (#_ftn2) , and that the flesh wars against the spirit (Gl 5:17)[3] (#_ftn3) . And even also when they are holy and serve God and are not conscious of any evil, yet they confess that they are sinners. 1 Cor. 4:4; Psalm 32:6; 130:3; 143:3.[4] (#_ftn4) In fact, he that does not acknowledge and confess this, but says that he has no sin, deceives himself. 1 Jn 1:8. Therefore all the saints have need in this life daily to repeat this: Father, forgive us our sins.



 



Is then David, committing adultery, nevertheless righteous and holy, and does he remain so?



By no means. For Scripture distinguishes between sins, namely that in the saints or reborn there are some sins because of which they are not condemned, but at the same time retain faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and the forgiveness of sins. Rom 7:23-8:1;[5] (#_ftn5) 1 Jn 1:8-9[6] (#_ftn6) ; Ps 32:1[7] (#_ftn7) . But Scripture testifies that there are also some other sins in which also the reconciled, when they have fallen, lose faith, the Holy Spirit, the grace of God, and life eternal, and render themselves subject to divine wrath and eternal death unless, turned again, they are reconciled to God through faith. Rom. 8:13[8] (#_ftn8) ; 1 Cor. 6:10[9] (#_ftn9) ; Gal. 5:21[10] (#_ftn10) ; Eph. 5:5[11] (#_ftn11) ; Col. 3:6[12] (#_ftn12) ; 1 John 3:6, 8[13] (#_ftn13) ; 1 Tim. 1:19[14] (#_ftn14) ; 2 Peter 1:9.[15] (#_ftn15) And the useful distinction between mortal and venial sin is drawn from this basis. Paul speaks of sin ruling against conscience or with conscience put away, and sin that indeed dwells in the flesh but does not rule.1 Tim. 1:19[16] (#_ftn16) ; Rom 6:12, 14[17] (#_ftn17) ; 7:17[18] (#_ftn18)



 



What is the use of retaining and earnestly inculcating this difference between mortal and venial sin in the church?


1. That we might learn to acknowledge and earnestly avoid mortal sins.


2. If we are caught in that kind of sins, that we do not obstinately persevere and continue in them impenitently.


• That we try the more to restrain and control sin that dwells in us, lest it become mortal. For, when this distinction is neglected or not rightly understood and used, Christians also often fall into security and impenitence. Pastors are therefore to be reminded and trained in the examinations not only to list the 7 mortal (or deadly, capital) sins,[19] (#_ftn19) but to be able to point out to their h...