If you willful sin, are you doomed to hell?

QUESTION:

If you willfully sin, you were either not born again in the first place or you have thrown out your faith to serve the devil, and the promise that we can know that we will be saved if we endure to the end. You can lose your salvation as we have already done by disobeying God's Commands. Like Adam, we have partaken of the Tree of Knowledge and broken God's law. Thus, now spiritually dead, and the reason we need the second spiritual awaking, ie: to be born again. 

Any sin in a believer will bring about spiritual death if allowed to come to fruition where our names are blotted out of the lamb's book of life. The reason they are blotted out is because of disobedience to God's will in the first place.

At the time of accepting God's offer of salvation, we are grafted into the tree again, because God is able to graft in the branches that are broken off if they repent. To be eventually saved we must remain in the true vine of Jesus Christ, and if in Christ we will not commit willful sin. If when the bridegroom returns you are out of oil, you will be out of heaven also, a stark warning.

ANSWER:

There is nothing in Paul's letters to indicate that our names can be blotted out of the book of life. Our salvation is secure as we are hid with Christ in God. We have peace with God through Jesus Christ. We cannot be separated from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ. We become members of the Body of Jesus Christ. We are sealed unto the day of redemption. It is utterly contradictory to say we can lose our salvation based on the statements I have just mentioned. The concept of being blotted out is based on the works program of Israel. This ties into your second argument of running out of oil when Jesus returns. These concepts are based on adherence to the law and the works requirements of the Kingdom gospel. This gospel also requires the person to endure to the end to be saved. Absolutely none of these concepts are even vaguely mentioned in the writings of Paul for the grace program. These contradictions are a result of blending together, or mixing up, the two unique dispensations together and creating doctrines that sow discord and confusion.

Romans 5:1 tells me that when we are justified (by having faith in Christ), we have peace with God. For me, this means “PEACE”, as in rest, as in no more striving, as in favour and reconciliation.

However, if this peace is dependent on my performance, this will definitely break this harmony. I don’t ‘willfully’ sin, but my flesh is still sinful. Jesus said that even if a man looks at a woman wrongfully, he has committed adultery in his heart. If this is the case, I sin ‘willfully’ often, as beautiful women are eye-catching. Now, if this is the case, this peace that God has given me is up and down, and very inconsistent. Am I saved one day and then not saved the next (when I see a beautiful woman)? Sin is not just what you do. It occurs in your heart too.

Paul, our apostle, who expressly tells us to follow his example, even openly confessed to the weakness of the flesh. In Romans 7 he battles the flesh saying that he wants to do that which is good, but he is sold to sin. He ends with “oh wretched man that I am”.

Now, I never condone sin, but I am saying it is inevitable. Sin is in the flesh! Period!

So, if God’s promise of justification is based on our performance, how can he promise peace? It makes no sense. How can God curse us in the garden and then expect us to be perfect according to his absolute standards? Again, I don’t condone sin, but it is in our nature.

Therefore, God justifies us 100% through Christ. It is Jesus’ righteousness that is imputed to us and gives us the peace that God promises in Rom.5:1. This justification is absolute because Christ’s righteousness is absolute. This means our peace with God, through faith in Christ, is absolute.

Lastly, after God's grace justifies us through our faith in Christ, God’s grace continues to work in us. God does expect us to grow up in Christ and reflect Him in our daily lives. God expects us to apply His word and walk by the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the flesh. God expects us to transform into the likeness of His Son. But this is a work over the course of our lives. It does not happen instantly. We are transformed day by day as the mind is renewed. This is our reasonable service to God, simply because we love Him and are thankful for His gift of life.

Your case regarding ‘willful’ sin will sentence me, and everyone on this earth to an eternal hell, because we all sin. I don’t murder or fornicate. I am faithful to my wife. I mostly don’t steal, but I have swiped a pen or paperclips from the office without consent. I try not to lie, but a white lie does come out when I feel cornered. As hard as I try not to, and believe me I try, because I love God and I love His Word, yet, I sin. Period.

BUT, I have peace with God because I know it is Christ’s righteousness that is imputed to me and to which my life is judged. Praise God.