The Seven Deadly Sins
Killing the vices that live within us and seeking Christlike virtue together.
This summer we’ve been teaching a sermon series at Cityview Bible Church on a very old, and very relevant, topic: the seven deadly sins. This ancient framework has helped Christians examine their hearts for centuries, and in our modern world of moral confusion, distraction, and self-justification, we need it now more than ever.
We’re not talking about random missteps or moral slip-ups. We’re talking about deep heart-level patterns of vice—what the church fathers called habits of the soul—that lead us away from God, away from others, and into ruin. But by God’s grace, they can be named, resisted, and transformed into Christlike virtues.
Let’s walk through this journey together.
The History of the Seven Deadly Sins
The seven deadly sins are not a list you’ll find neatly spelled out in one chapter of the Bible. Instead, they emerged over time as church leaders and theologians sought to help believers understand the underlying motivations behind sinful behavior.
The earliest roots go back to a 4th-century monk named Evagrius Ponticus, who identified eight evil thoughts that he believed were at the root of all temptations. His student, John Cassian, brought those ideas westward, and eventually, in the 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great refined the list down to seven core vices. These were considered especially dangerous because they give birth to countless other sins.
The seven deadly sins are not meant to cover every possible sin. They are more like a diagnostic tool (a spiritual mirror) to help us ask: where is my heart disordered? Where is my love misdirected? They expose the roots, not just the fruit.
Church tradition has long paired each of the seven sins with a corresponding virtue, and for centuries, this framework was used to teach spiritual formation. Rebecca DeYoung, in her modern classic Glittering Vices, has helped many rediscover their value. She shows how these sins are less about external rule-breaking and more about inward distortion: sin that disguises itself as good, but is ultimately self-centered and destructive.
And while we may no longer use words like “vainglory” or “sloth” in everyday conversation, make no mistake, these sins are alive and well in our modern world.
Why It's Important to Understand Our Vices
Why study a list this old? Because our hearts haven’t changed.
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” In other words, we’re not as self-aware as we think. We need help. We need clarity and categories.
And most importantly, we need Jesus to search us. As Psalm 139:23–24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Understanding the seven deadly sins gives us language for what’s really going on in the heart. So many of our battles - emotionally, relationally, spiritually - are rooted in these deeper, more insidious patterns. And if we’re not paying attention, they’ll grow like weeds in the garden of our souls.
I’ve learned this firsthand. We have a small garden in our backyard, and when I neglect it, the weeds take over. Sometimes I get frustrated and just cut them down with my edger—but that only masks the problem. If I don’t pull them out by the roots, they’ll be back stronger than ever. The same is true with sin. Surface behavior change isn’t enough. We need heart transformation.
This is the beauty of the seven deadly sins: they help us pull the weeds up from the roots.
An Overview of the Seven Vices
Here’s a summary of each vice, along with a biblical diagnosis, a picture of how it shows up in our lives, a healing virtue, and some practical spiritual habits to fight back.
1. Vainglory
Definition: The desire to be recognized, admired, and praised by others.
Key verse: Matthew 6:1 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.”
Example: You post your Bible reading online, not to share God’s truth, but to subtly let people know you’re “spiritual.” Or you feel discouraged when your acts of service go unnoticed.
Virtue: Humility - being grounded in God’s love, not people’s applause.
Disciplines to Fight Vainglory:
Silence – resist the urge to self-promote or share every good deed.
Secret acts of righteousness – do good in hidden ways that no one but God sees.
2. Greed
Definition: The excessive desire to possess and control wealth or things.
Key verse: Luke 12:15 – “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Example: You never feel like you have “enough,” and giving away money feels threatening rather than freeing.
Virtue: Generosity - freely giving as God has given to you.
Disciplines to Fight Greed:
Giving – set aside money to give away first, not last.
Simplicity – choose contentment and limit excess.
3. Wrath
Definition: A disordered desire for justice rooted in rage, vengeance, or control.
Key verse: Ephesians 4:26–27 – “Be angry and do not sin… do not give the devil a foothold.”
Example: You replay conversations in your mind, imagining how you could have put them in their place. Your anger boils quickly, and people walk on eggshells around you.
Virtue: Patience - entrusting justice to God and responding with restraint.
Disciplines to Fight Wrath:
Confession – admit anger before it turns into bitterness.
Breath prayer or meditation – slow down to align with God’s peace.
4. Gluttony
Definition: The overindulgence of food or drink (or comfort) for selfish pleasure.
Key verse: Philippians 3:19 – “Their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Example: You eat or drink to numb pain, escape stress, or find joy—using consumption to cope.
Virtue: Temperance - self-control that honors the body and glorifies God.
Disciplines that Fight Gluttony:
Fasting – abstaining from food to remind yourself that God is your portion.
Mindful eating – slowing down and giving thanks before meals.
5. Envy
Definition: A resentful longing for what others have, accompanied by self-pity or comparison.
Key verse: James 3:16 – “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Example: You scroll through social media and feel bitter, not inspired. You rejoice less in others’ blessings because it reminds you of your lack.
Virtue: Contentment - resting in what God has given you and trusting His goodness.
Disciplines that Fight Envy:
Gratitude journaling – write down daily gifts from God.
Celebrating others – intentionally affirm and rejoice in others’ successes.
6. Sloth
Definition: Apathy toward spiritual growth and the responsibilities God has given. A failure to do what love requires.
Key verse: Proverbs 24:33–34 – “A little sleep, a little slumber… and poverty will come on you like a thief.”
Example: You feel spiritual lethargy—you avoid prayer, resist repentance, and live in autopilot. You procrastinate when prompted by the Spirit.
Virtue: Diligence - faithfully doing what God has called you to, even when it’s hard.
Disciplines that Fight Sloth:
Daily rule of life – establish a rhythm of work, rest, prayer, and Scripture.
Accountability – invite others to check in on your faithfulness.
7. Lust
Definition: Disordered sexual desire that seeks self-gratification rather than covenant love.
Key verse: Matthew 5:28 – “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Example: You excuse what you watch, fantasize about, or engage with because “at least it’s not physical”—but your heart is enslaved.
Virtue: Chastity & Purity - honoring God with your body and viewing others as image-bearers.
Disciplines to Fight Lust:
Accountability online – pursue purity with digital accountability.
Scripture memorization – renew your mind with truth (Psalm 119:9–11).
Change is Possible
If you’ve read this list and feel exposed, don’t despair. That’s the point. I’ve talked to too many people over the years who feel hopeless because of their repeated, failed attempts to change. Transforming long-held sinful patterns is difficult, but not impossible.
The goal of studying the seven deadly sins is not to heap guilt on our backs, but to bring our struggles into the light where grace can heal. Shame thrives in darkness. Sin gains power when we hide it. But the gospel breaks the power of sin.
In Christ, we are not defined by our vices. We are defined by His victory.
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the penalty of sin has been paid, the power of sin has been broken, and the presence of sin is being pushed back by the Holy Spirit in our lives. This means real change is possible—not by white-knuckling our behavior, but by opening our hearts to the Spirit’s work.
We need the Spirit to convict us. We need the Word to guide us. We need the church family to walk with us. And we need God’s grace to cover us.
Here’s the invitation: don’t battle your vices alone. Bring them into the light. Confess them to a trusted brother or sister. Begin practicing the habits that train your soul for holiness. Receive grace when you fall, and get up again. Progress is slow, but it’s real.
As Rebecca DeYoung writes:
“The point is not to master sin management techniques but to become the kind of person who loves what is truly good.”
That’s the journey we’re on, learning to love rightly. Loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Loving our neighbors as ourselves. And trusting that Jesus, who began this work in us, will be faithful to complete it.
Let’s walk in the light. Let’s fight the good fight. And let’s trust God to transform us from the inside out.
“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 1:6