Over the course of my life, I’ve heard people call sinners, alcoholics particularly, “sorry,” “no good,” and “good for nothing.” But it isn’t true.

God counted them worthy. Jesus died for them. He counted them worthy.

It all started when they made the decision to try alcohol for the first time, giving “place to the devil.” Then he took advantage, moved in, and began building strongholds. His weapon against them—to steal, kill, steal, and destroy them (John 10:10)—was addiction.

In our eyes and way of thinking, some sins are big sins: addiction, living a homosexual lifestyle (Romans 1:24-27), murder, thievery, gambling, or perhaps other sins, but these sins are no worse than sexual immorality, coveting, envying, strife, deceit, backbiting, boasting, disobeying parents, being untrustworthy or unloving, not forgiving, and not showing mercy (vv. 29-31). In fact, verse 32 says those who commit any of these sins “are deserving of death.”

We may see some sins as big because they seem to be more difficult to overcome or to leave behind. We may feel some sins are big because they affect so many people around the sinner, but so does lying and withholding “good … [w]hen it is in the power of [our hands] to do so” (Proverbs 3:27).

Every sin carries the same penalty: death.

The good news—and you know it personally—is that Jesus died in our place, no matter the sin.

One death, one penalty paid for every repented sin.

More good news is that forgiving any specific sin is no more difficult for God than another, and delivering someone from a “big sin” is just as easy for Him as delivering from a “little sin.”

Some actions by sinners are sorry and no good, but the sinner himself or herself is loved—so loved—by their Savior.

And that is very good news!