1stCenturyLady
Well-Known Member
Not willfully sinning does not mean not sinning at all.
Paul makes it very clear that we will all sin until we lose this flesh. It is called the old nature flesh.
When reading the Bible you must be careful to identify the audience. Are they born again, are they unsaved but believe in Christ, as Satan does? Are they just church attendees that are not saved?
The seven churches of Revelation makes it very clear one can belong to a church without belonging to Christ.
Yes, there is other sin that is not willful called trespasses Leviticus 5:15. And it is possible for a born again Christian to commit these unintentional sins, and the blood of Jesus cleanses them. 1 John 1:7. However, it is also possible that a Christian can follow the Spirit so closely that they don't even commit trespasses. John says so in 1 John 2:1. For those unintentional sins Jesus is our Advocate, but not for willful sin. (1 John 5:16-17 shows the difference.) That is rebellion against God. And if one commits these sins of lawlessness after being sanctified (filled with the Spirit), belief in OSAS certainly will not matter. Our only assurance comes to those who continually walk in the Spirit, endure to the end, and who do the will of the Father 1 John 3:18-23. It is the only way to be righteous or even holy. Revelation 22:11
There are many in churches that have NEVER truly repented and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit - the power to not willfully sin. Those that fall into that category are not saved anyway, and they WILL willfully sin because they have never been born again of the Spirit. Their old man, the carnal nature is still in control. I'm not talking about them. Their teachers in the same boat will say things like, "sin is sin" and "all sin is willful" and "we will always sin until we shed our bodies of flesh." That is the blind leading the blind. They are still in the drawing stage of their life regarding the Spirit. They even call Jesus their Lord, but He will say to them, "I never knew you." They MUST REPENT AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, because only those who have been born again of the Spirit and continue to the end will be saved.
That is why I am against anyone teaching that willful sin cannot separate you from God. It is a teaching of the devil. There is assurance, but the blanket OSAS teaching of Baptists and Reformed denominations is deceitful. We do have free will, which they also deny.
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