Bible Reference > Bible Facts > Seven Deadly Sins
Quick Summary
In Catholic teaching, a mortal sin is a grave sin committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. It cuts a person off from God's grace until they repent, ordinarily through the sacrament of confession. A venial sin is a lesser sin, or a grave one committed without full knowledge or consent. It wounds a person's relationship with God but does not break it.
The language comes partly from 1 John 5:16–17, which speaks of "sin that is mortal" and "sin that is not mortal." Protestant churches read Scripture differently. Lutheran, Reformed and Presbyterian churches agree that some sins are worse than others, but most do not divide sins into two categories. They teach that every sin deserves death (Romans 6:23) and that no sin is too great for God to forgive in Christ.
Why a Presbyterian Pastor Is Writing About Mortal Sin
I'm a Presbyterian pastor, and I have served in ministry for more than 30 years. In my congregation, more than 40 percent of our members grew up Catholic. Many of them learned about mortal and venial sin as children, preparing for their first confession. So when they join a Presbyterian church, one of the questions I hear is some version of this: "If I commit a serious sin, do I lose my salvation?"
That question deserves a clear answer. Catholics and Presbyterians agree on a great deal. We both take sin seriously, and we both believe God forgives those who repent. But we differ on one big point.
In Catholic teaching, a mortal sin cuts a person off from God's grace until they repent and are forgiven, usually through confession.
In Presbyterian and Reformed teaching, grace does not get cut off. When God saves someone, God keeps them. Our tradition calls this the perseverance of the saints. The Westminster Confession says that those God has truly called and made his own "can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace." Jesus said of his sheep, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28). Paul was "confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
That leads to assurance of salvation. A believer can know they belong to God, not because they have avoided a certain list of sins, but because of what Christ has done. John wrote his letter "so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Paul says nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
This does not make sin small. Presbyterians still confess our sins every Sunday, and we believe serious sin does real damage to our lives, our relationships and our walk with God. But we confess as children who are already at home, not as people trying to get back in the door.
Below, I explain the Catholic teaching as fairly and clearly as I can, and then show how Protestants, especially Presbyterians, see it differently.
Scripture Reference
Sin that is mortal and sin that is not: 1 John 5:16–17
The wages of sin: Romans 6:23
Accountable for all the law: James 2:10
Greater and lesser sins: Matthew 5:19; 23:23; Luke 12:47–48; John 19:11
Sins that exclude from the kingdom: 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Galatians 5:19–21
Confession and forgiveness: Psalm 32:5; John 20:23; James 5:16; 1 John 1:8–9
What Is a Mortal Sin?
In the Catholic Church, a mortal sin is the most serious kind of sin. It is called "mortal" (from the Latin for "death") because it destroys the life of grace in the soul. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, mortal sin turns a person away from God by a serious violation of God's law. Unless the person repents and is forgiven, it leads to separation from God forever.
The Three Conditions for Mortal Sin
For a sin to be mortal in Catholic teaching, three conditions must all be met at the same time:
Grave matter. The act itself must be seriously wrong. The Catechism says grave matter is spelled out by the Ten Commandments.
Full knowledge. The person must know the act is sinful and seriously opposed to God's law.
Deliberate consent. The person must choose it freely, as a personal decision.
If any of the three is missing, the sin is not mortal. Ignorance that is not the person's fault, strong emotion, outside pressure, or illness can reduce how responsible someone is. This is why Catholic teaching says only God can judge whether a particular person's sin was mortal.
Mortal Sin and the Seven Deadly Sins
The seven deadly sins and mortal sins are not the same thing. The Catholic Church calls the seven deadly sins "capital" sins because they are sources that give rise to other sins. A capital sin can be mortal or venial depending on how serious it is. An extra dessert is gluttony, but it is not a mortal sin. Wrath that leads to murder would be. See What Are the 7 Deadly Sins?
What Is a Venial Sin?
A venial sin is a less serious sin. The word comes from the Latin venia, "pardon," meaning a sin that is readily forgiven. In Catholic teaching, a sin is venial when it involves a lesser matter, or when it involves grave matter but without full knowledge or complete consent.
Venial sin does not cut a person off from God, but it is still sin. It weakens love, makes it harder to resist temptation, and, if left unchecked, can lead toward more serious sin. Catholics are encouraged, though not required, to confess venial sins. The Catechism teaches that venial sins are also forgiven through sincere repentance, prayer and receiving the Eucharist.
Mortal Sin vs Venial Sin: The Difference
The difference comes down to seriousness and effect.
Seriousness. Mortal sin involves grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent. Venial sin falls short on at least one of the three.
Effect. Mortal sin breaks a person's relationship of grace with God. Venial sin wounds it.
Forgiveness. In Catholic practice, mortal sin is ordinarily forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). Venial sin can be forgiven in many ways, including private prayer and the Eucharist.
Communion. Catholic teaching asks those aware of mortal sin to go to confession before receiving Communion. Venial sin does not bar a person from Communion.
Examples of Mortal Sin in Catholic Teaching
The Catholic Church does not publish one official list of mortal sins. Instead, the Catechism names many acts as grave matter. When they are done with full knowledge and deliberate consent, they are mortal sins. Examples include:
Murder and abortion
Adultery and sexual relations outside marriage
Blasphemy and perjury
Abandoning the faith (apostasy)
Deliberately missing Sunday Mass without a serious reason, such as illness or caring for an infant
Serious theft or fraud
Serious damage to someone's reputation through lies (calumny)
Drunkenness to the point of losing the use of reason
Examples of Venial Sin
Venial sins are the everyday failures most people recognize in themselves:
Impatience or a sharp word
A small lie told to avoid embarrassment
Gossip that does not seriously harm someone
Petty selfishness or envy
Laziness in prayer or small duties
Overeating
Minor disrespect toward parents or others
The same kind of act can be venial or mortal depending on how serious it is. A white lie is venial. A lie that seriously harms someone or breaks a solemn promise can be grave.
Is Mortal Sin in the Bible?
The phrase "mortal sin" does appear in some English Bibles. In 1 John, the elder writes: "If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one... There is sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal" (1 John 5:16–17). See Assurance of Eternal Life (1 John 5:13–21).
Scholars and churches disagree about what John meant. Some read "sin that is mortal" as the sin of those who have left the community and denied Christ, a refusal of the very life God offers. Others connect it to the unforgivable sin of Mark 3:29. The Catholic tradition drew on this passage, along with others, as part of its basis for distinguishing mortal and venial sin.
Scripture also clearly teaches that some sins are worse than others. Jesus told Pilate that "the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin" (John 19:11). He spoke of the "weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith" (Matthew 23:23) and said that a servant who knew his master's will and ignored it would be punished more than one who did not know (Luke 12:47–48). Paul lists sins whose practice means that "those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21; see 1 Corinthians 6:9–10).
At the same time, Scripture teaches that every sin is serious before God. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" (James 2:10). How these two lines of teaching fit together is where Catholics and Protestants part ways. See What Is Sin in the Bible?
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Catholic and Protestant Views of Mortal and Venial Sin
| Question | Catholic Teaching | Reformed and Presbyterian Teaching |
|---|---|---|
| Are some sins worse than others? | Yes | Yes (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 150) |
| Two categories of sin? | Yes: mortal and venial | No: every sin deserves death (Romans 6:23) |
| What makes a sin deadly? | Grave matter, full knowledge, deliberate consent | Any sin, apart from Christ |
| Can a believer lose grace by sinning? | Yes, through mortal sin | No sin condemns those in Christ (Romans 8:1) |
| How is serious sin forgiven? | Ordinarily through confession to a priest | Repentance and faith, confessing to God (1 John 1:9) |
| Key text | 1 John 5:16–17 | James 2:10; Westminster Confession 15.4 |
The Catholic View
The Catholic Church teaches the distinction between mortal and venial sin as part of its official doctrine, found in the Catechism. It rests on Scripture (especially 1 John 5:16–17), on long tradition going back to Augustine and the early church, and on the church's practice of penance. The distinction shapes Catholic life in concrete ways: preparing for confession, receiving Communion, and understanding how grace is lost and restored.
The Lutheran View
Martin Luther and the Lutheran confessions kept a version of the language. Lutherans teach that all sin is truly sin and deserves God's judgment. But they also teach that a person who deliberately persists in sin against their conscience drives out faith and the Holy Spirit. In that sense, "mortal sin" for Lutherans is sin that kills faith, while the daily sins of believers are forgiven through ongoing repentance and trust in Christ.
The Reformed and Presbyterian View
John Calvin rejected the Catholic division of sins into mortal and venial. He argued that every sin is mortal in the sense that it deserves death, because every sin is rebellion against a holy God. Yet for those in Christ, no sin brings condemnation, because their sins are forgiven through his mercy. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
The Westminster Standards, which Presbyterian churches have long used, put it in two memorable sentences. The Westminster Confession says, "As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation, so there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent" (Westminster Confession of Faith 15.4).
Reformed teaching still holds that sins differ in seriousness. The Westminster Larger Catechism asks whether all sins are equally heinous and answers: "All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others" (Larger Catechism Q. 150). A sin may be worse because of who commits it, whom it harms, how deliberately it is done, or how much light the sinner had.
Presbyterians, then, agree that some sins are worse than others. What they reject is sorting sins into two categories, one that breaks grace and one that does not. In Reformed teaching, a believer's standing with God rests on Christ's work alone.
Confession in Protestant Churches
Most Protestant churches do not require confession to a priest. Believers confess their sins to God directly, trusting the promise of 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Many churches, including Presbyterian congregations, include a prayer of confession and an assurance of pardon in Sunday worship. James 5:16 also encourages believers to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another," and many Protestants find great help in confessing to a pastor or trusted friend.
The Orthodox View
Eastern Orthodox churches generally do not use the sharp Western categories of mortal and venial sin. Orthodox teaching tends to describe sin as a sickness of the soul that needs healing, and confession as a place of spiritual healing more than legal judgment. Orthodox writers do recognize that some sins are far more serious than others.
Can a Mortal Sin Be Forgiven?
Yes. Every Christian tradition agrees that God forgives those who truly repent. In Catholic teaching, mortal sin is ordinarily forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation, based on Jesus' words to the apostles: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them" (John 20:23). The Catechism also teaches that perfect contrition, sorrow that comes from love of God, forgives even mortal sin when it includes the intention to go to confession as soon as possible.
In Protestant teaching, all sin is forgiven through repentance and faith in Christ, confessed to God. The only sin Scripture calls unforgivable is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28–29), which most teachers understand as a settled, final rejection of God's grace. A person worried that they have committed it is almost certainly not someone who has. See What Is the Unforgivable Sin?
David's prayer after his great sin is a model for every tradition: "Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (Psalm 32:5). See Biblical Forgiveness and What Is Biblical Repentance?
Is It a Mortal Sin? Common Questions
These answers describe Catholic teaching. Most Protestant churches do not use the mortal and venial categories, though they treat many of these acts as serious sins.
Is lying a mortal sin?
Usually not. In Catholic teaching, most lies are venial. A lie becomes grave when it seriously harms justice or love, such as perjury under oath or a lie that ruins someone's reputation.
Is gossip a mortal sin?
Ordinary gossip is usually venial. Revealing someone's faults without a good reason (detraction) or spreading lies about them (calumny) can be grave when it seriously damages their reputation.
Is missing Mass a mortal sin?
Catholic teaching holds that deliberately missing Sunday Mass without a serious reason is a grave matter. Illness, caring for infants or a genuine inability to attend excuse a person from the obligation.
Is getting drunk a mortal sin?
Catholic teaching treats drunkenness to the point of losing the use of reason as grave matter. Drinking in moderation is not a sin. See Gluttony in the Bible.
Is lust a mortal sin?
Lust is one of the seven deadly sins. Whether a particular act or thought is mortal depends on the three conditions. A passing temptation is not a sin at all. Catholic teaching treats sexual acts outside marriage as grave matter. See Lust in the Bible.
Is premarital sex a mortal sin?
Catholic teaching treats sexual relations outside marriage as a grave matter, which would be a mortal sin when done with full knowledge and consent. Many Protestant churches also teach that sex belongs within marriage, though they do not use the term mortal sin.
Is gluttony a mortal sin?
Usually not. Gluttony is a capital sin, but ordinary overeating is venial.
Is suicide a mortal sin?
The Catholic Church teaches that taking one's own life is gravely wrong. It also teaches that serious psychological disturbance, anguish or fear can greatly reduce a person's responsibility, and that we should not despair of the salvation of those who have died by suicide. The church prays for them and entrusts them to God's mercy. Many Protestant churches likewise reject the idea that suicide is unforgivable.
If you are thinking about ending your life, please reach out now. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?
A mortal sin is a grave sin committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. It breaks a person's relationship of grace with God. A venial sin is less serious, or lacks full knowledge or consent, and wounds that relationship without breaking it.
What are the three conditions for a mortal sin?
Grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent. All three must be present.
Is there a list of mortal sins?
There is no single official list. The Catechism of the Catholic Church names many acts as grave matter, using the Ten Commandments as its guide.
Is mortal sin a Catholic teaching?
The formal distinction between mortal and venial sin is Catholic teaching. Lutherans keep a version of it. Reformed, Presbyterian and most other Protestant churches do not divide sins this way, though they agree some sins are more serious than others.
Do Presbyterians believe in mortal sin?
Not as a separate category. Presbyterian confessions teach that every sin deserves God's judgment and that no sin is too great to be forgiven for those who repent (Westminster Confession 15.4). They also teach that some sins are more heinous than others (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 150).
Are the seven deadly sins mortal sins?
Not necessarily. The seven deadly sins are capital sins, sources of other sins. Each can be venial or mortal depending on how serious it is and how freely it is chosen.
Do venial sins need to be confessed?
In Catholic practice, confessing venial sins is recommended but not required. They can also be forgiven through prayer, acts of love and the Eucharist.
Can you receive Communion in a state of mortal sin?
Catholic teaching asks anyone aware of mortal sin to go to confession before receiving Communion. Protestant churches generally invite believers to examine themselves and confess their sins to God before the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28).
What does 1 John 5:16 mean by mortal sin?
Interpreters disagree. Many think John meant the sin of those who had rejected Christ and left the community. The Catholic tradition has drawn on the passage to support the distinction between mortal and venial sin.
Works Consulted
The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version.
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion.
The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism, in the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Smalcald Articles and the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, in The Book of Concord.
Raymond E. Brown, The Epistles of John.
Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Glittering Vices.
