God, as the Sovereign Ruler of His creation, has every right to execute the penalty of death or allow it to occur on anybody at any time He deems appropriate, and in so doing, He is perfectly just. On some occasions in the Bible, God executed the death penalty with dramatic and terrifying suddenness. He struck down the sons of Aaron, probably with bolts of lightning, when they offered profane fire on the incense altar. God cut Uzza down when he stretched out his hand to steady the ark which David was bringing to Jerusalem on a cart. In the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira fell dead at Peter's feet after lying about their offering. In each case, their sin was directly and quickly connected to their death, giving vivid testimony of what God has every right to do. God can claim our lives for any unrepented sin. There are no truly innocent victims before God, for we have all sinned and deserve the death penalty. Nobody but the individual can stop his sinning unless God takes away the person's chance to repent by putting him to death. We cannot cheat God, for He sees not only the acts but discerns what is going on in the heart. Depending on our motivation, God's ability to see into our heart can determine the nature of our sin, whether it was one of weakness or a deliberate course of sin.

God's Word reveals that some sins bring stiffer penalties and greater condemnation than others. The principle of proportionate punishment dictates that the more serious sin requires more severe punishment. In ancient Israel, punishments varied; for instance, the punishment for kidnapping was death, whereas stealing livestock required restoration. This principle ensures that the punishment fits the crime, matching but not exceeding the harm done, as seen in the concept of an eye for an eye, which served as a guide for judges. In the example of David numbering Israel, his sin of faithlessness led to a severe consequence, costing the lives of 70,000 men through a plague, demonstrating how punishment can affect an entire nation to teach a vital lesson. Similarly, the sin of idolatry by the Israelites with the Golden Calf brought grave judgment, with the Eternal declaring that whoever sinned against Him would be blotted out of His book, indicating a profound penalty for such a transgression. Jesus Himself confirmed varying degrees of sin and punishment during His trial, stating to Pilate that the one who delivered Him had the greater sin, verifying that some sins carry heavier consequences. All sin separates us from God, and if unrepented, this separation can become permanent, leading to eternal death. Yet, with the strength of Christ, we can work to overcome all sin, prioritizing the eradication of greater sins to avoid such a horrible end.

Guilt is a condition, a state, or a relationship resulting from the tension between righteousness and sin. In the Old Testament, sin, guilt, and punishment are so interwoven that describing one inevitably involves the others, often using the terms interchangeably. Guilt assures eventual misery, as seen in Cain's despondent cry after slaying Abel, declaring his punishment greater than he could bear. Similarly, Joseph's brothers, haunted by guilt for selling him into slavery, only admitted their culpability when faced with consequences, recognizing that their distress stemmed from ignoring his anguish. Their guilt separated them from God, from Joseph, and from their father, Jacob. In the Psalms, willful and persistent sin is inseparable from guilt and consequent punishment, with David noting that the wicked will be found guilty when judged. Ignoring guilt does not erase it; a penalty for sin must be paid, and without submission to God and acceptance of Christ's sacrifice, the ultimate price—our lives—will be exacted.