An exhortation not to sin willfully

 A practice of sinning willfully is the opposite of repentance unto life.

Read that again and consider your way.

If it’s the opposite of repentance unto life, it must be sinning unto death.

“Now wait,” you say, “this sounds like an awfully high standard. It’s even beginning to sound like justification by works!”

No no no. Come back from that cliff now. 

Sinning willfully is contrasted against sinning without the engagement of the will, as if by accident. Accidental sin is still properly sin and should be avoided, but is usually quickly repented of.

But sinning willfully is different. In this case it didn’t just happen. It had to be done intentionally and with the engagement of the will.

To defend any practice of sinning willfully must necessarily be to shift responsibility for that sin on to someone or something else. “It was the circumstances” “it was his fault and I had to do it”. 

This is to claim that there is some reason you don’t have control over your own will: something is compelling you to commit some sin. 

If that reason is internal to yourself, that isn’t a valid excuse because we’re told to have self control.

And if the reason is external, you are bound to obey God rather than whatever would override your will and force you to sin—unless you’re in the market for some other god. The scripture warns us that we should expect persecution from the ungodly. We don’t want persecution, but it’s fine if it happens: we obey God regardless. There is no one and nothing that can stand in judgment over God and his word and no power can be feared above his.

For the astute Christian, it also might be said that we have a sin nature that compels us to sin. That’s true, but not in such a way that our wills need to consent with it.

Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [15] These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The gospel teaching is to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. It’s to say “no” to them. Zealously—with fervor and excitement, earnest desire for the opposite of whatever is sinful. Not to see how close you can get to being sinful and stay clean.

The willful practice of sin in the life of a Christian is a serious problem therefore. It may very well be the sin John is talking about when he says “there is a sin unto death”, and I believe that’s the case. 

When I talk about “willful practice” I’m referring to something with characteristics such as being habitual, planned, excused, anticipated, and/or deliberately done without intending to stop. This is something that can be discerned in others, but is easily seen in your own heart if you care at all to look for it.

You know when you’re sinning deliberately. It’s not something you have to dig deep or go on a mystical journey to find out. And if you don’t know what God requires, you need to be taught by the word. It’s a willful sin to not search the scripture to know what you must do.

The right spirit is to do what Josiah did: read the word and say, “Why am I not doing this?” 

Some might say, “well I want to be done with it.” So be done with it. What’s stopping you? Is someone else in control of your will? Is someone else in possession of your soul? Repentance unto life is crucial: this is your soul! You don’t get a pass because you’re a Christian or because you think Christ died for it. Christ didn’t die to give you a license to sin. And I’m not just talking about the sins people can know about or the big sins. But the ones you allow to happen inside you. And especially the ones you don’t think are a big deal! Sin loves to tell you it’s not a big deal no matter what it is. Murderers, thieves, adulterers: none of them think it was a big deal what they did, unless they repent.

Don’t be deceived by it. 

“But I’m converted, I’ll willfully sin because I don’t need to repent any more. I did enough of that.”

No, you have to repent because you’re converted! God has devoted your sin to destruction and commands you to destroy it. Not run away scared because there’s giants among it. Not make a league or marriage with it. Not keep the choice parts for yourself. Not hide it in your tent. Kill it. Pray when it’s too hard, and then go to war in faith. He’s with you. He’ll never leave you or forsake you. But it’s a fight to the death and you can’t give up so you better run the race all the way to the finish. Some will be saved at the eleventh hour, but you better not stop at the eleventh hour or go to take a break. Run with confidence in God that he’s giving you the power to overcome. If he began a good work of faith in you, he’ll bring you to the finish. But you better not comfort yourself with that thought unless you’re running the race with your whole heart.

You say “I just want to be a regular Christian, go to the regular heaven and not have to hear about all this sin stuff”

Friend, we are in a field of wheat and tares. The battlefield is smoky and it’s hard to see who’s wearing which colors. But we have a sure word of prophecy.

Make no mistake. We are justified by faith alone. It is the gift of God, but don’t be deceived. Everyone who is justified goes in through the straight gate. There’s nobody who makes it in any other way. And the way is very straight and there are a few who find it. No good can come from trying to bear isolated and mishandled aspects of our theology like a weapon against the clear words of the Savior himself.

Note: Knowing about justification by Grace through faith is very different from having justification by Grace through faith and the only way you can know for sure you have it is if that faith is making you obey and grow. Otherwise it’s not the right sort. It’s some form of faith that isn’t doing anything good for you.

Consider:

Heb 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

1Jn 3:8-9 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

These verses are calling for radical self-reformation. It’s inescapable. Willful sin is not a disease, or an affliction, or a thorn in the flesh that we bear. It’s something to be repented of. With mourning that you allowed it to have power over a soul that God is sanctifying. Sin doesn’t need to define the life of a Christian, and it mustn’t.

You say, “Well, I’ll repent and then just go back to it.” You’re not fooled by that kind of repentance and God isn’t either. His means of grace in the New Testament should not be treated with this kind of contempt, as if God’s system can be gamed. That’s why the confession says repentance includes a full purpose and endeavor after new obedience.

Repentance is bitter when it needs to be taken, but sweet once it’s gone down and settles in the soul. There’s nothing so wonderful as true gospel repentance. But even the Christian quickly forgets the delight of repentance and sees only that bitterness of when it needs to be done again. Don’t be fooled by sin and its treacheries. Trust the Lord and act in his Spirit: repentance is never going to hurt you!

“Oh, this will wound my pride!”

Well you won’t need that in heaven anyway.