The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q84. What doth every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life,
and that which is to come.[1]

Proofs

[1] Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Lamentations 3:39; Matthew 25:41.

Comments

In the previous question we saw that some sins “are more heinous in the sight of God than others.” It is clear that this is a biblical doctrine, but it does not follow, as Romanism teaches, that there is such a distinction as venial sin and mortal sin. Mortal sin, they say, deserve eternal punishment, but venial sins are in their own nature so minor that they can be expiated in some temporary punishment in purgatory (see Catechism of the [Roman] Catholic Church, §1863).

The Apostle Paul teaches us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Nowhere does he even hint that some sin do not deserve death. The fact is that, even the least sin, being committed against a God who is infinitely holy, just and perfect, must, on that account, be objectively infinite, and consequently deserve an infinite punishment (cf. 2 Thes 1:9). “Every sin, even the least,… cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ” (WLC 152), for “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22), and only the blood of Christ is sufficient to pay for our sin (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:18–19). Indeed, through faith and repentance in Christ, even the greatest sin can be pardoned (see next question). David sinned so grievously when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, yet he received pardon when he repented. Peter denied the Lord three times, and yet the Lord forgave him and restored him.

Believers, on account of our union with Christ, have the penalty of our sin paid in full when Christ took upon Himself God’s wrath and curse which our sins deserve (cf. Rom 8:1, 33–34). Therefore we are not liable to any further punishment.

But such as are out of Christ may expect to experience God’s wrath and curse both in this life in the form of temporal and spiritual judgements, as well as hereafter in the form of eternal damnation in hell. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31).