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What causes damnation?

Sins lead to damnation.

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die."  

                                                     - Ezekiel 18:20

"For the wages of sin is death (damnation); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  

                                                    - Romans 6:23

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  

                                                   - Revelation 20:15

What is the worst sin you can commit against your own soul?

Most spiritual and philosophical traditions would say the greatest harm to your soul comes from cutting yourself off from truth, love, or the divine.*

Any sin causes harm to the sinner's soul because, by definition, it is any action, thought, or attitude that goes against God's holy character, moral law, or will, which automatically separates the sinner from the divine.

Sin breaks fellowship between humankind and the Lord, as "your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2).

Therefore, the deadly cardinal sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth (failing to do the Lord's work) cause greater separation from both humanity and the Lord.

What, then, is the ultimate sin?

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered the ultimate or "unforgivable" sin mentioned in the Bible. Jesus discusses this in the Gospels, stating it is the one wrong choice that will not be forgiven.*

Jesus warns that speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or the next (Matthew 12:31–32, Mark 3:28–29, Luke 12:10).*

If speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, what is desecrating the Holy Spirit's temple?

Let's also consider the ultimate form of self-harm from the perspective of entering heaven.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”  

                                                            - Psalm 24:3-4

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  

                                                            - Matthew 5:8

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  

                                                          - Matthew 7:21

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  

                                                         - Matthew 18:3

So, what then is the ultimate sin? 

That which causes an impure heart, a corrupt mind, and the living death of the soul through blasphemy and damnation.

*Referenced from Google AI Overview search: sin and blasphemy. 

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