The Church of Wells “Damnable State Doctrine” Refuted
Introduction
The church
of Wells is a cult group in Wells Texas. They have many false teachings and one
of them is their “damnable state” teaching. They believe if a Christian (a true
Christian) commits any sin, while being aware of their wrong doing, and does
not immediately repent of that sin then they enter into a damnable state. They
believe that while a Christian is in this damnable state they are still
children of God and they are still indwelt by the Holy Spirit but they are no
longer under God’s grace, they are no longer forgiven of their sins and they no
longer have true saving faith. Because of the intense scrutiny the church of
Wells has come under they have begun adopting deceitful practices and tried to
deny their true doctrinal teachings to new members and people who they are
trying to lead astray. I (Caleb Corneloup) however have spoken to the elders
personally, recorded our conversation and uploaded it for everyone to listen to
for themselves. Listen to the words which come directly from their own mouths.
All of the Church of Wells elders were present in this conversation. You can
listen to the video below and get these specific statements at the 10 minute
mark, 24 – 33 minute mark and the 48:25 minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Mvdg3kUMc
I (Caleb
Corneloup) have been accused of mis-representing the teachings of the church of
Wells but a careful examination of the recorded conversation reveals their
beliefs to be as follows;
- When a person commits any known sin of commission
or omission they enter into a damnable state.
- Most of the time a Christian reflexively repents
and comes out of that state.
- If a Christian does not reflexively repent they
remain in a damnable state.
- Christians in a damnable state are not forgiven
of their sins and Christ does not administer His blood on their behalf.
- Those in a damnable state are still Christians
and are children of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who strives
against their flesh to bring them to repentance.
- If a Christian dies in a damnable state they go
to hell.
The Refutation of their false teaching
The pillar
of their entire doctrine rests on their interpretation of Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins Hebrews 10:26
The church
of Wells interprets the meaning of “wilful sin” to mean any sin a believer
commits knowing it to be sin. However this definition is incorrect. We will
look at this definition more closely but before we do I want us to look a
little bit more at the context of Hebrews 10:26 and its counterpart in the Old
Testament.
The entire
context of the book of Hebrews is believers who have seen the power of God,
miracles and had the gifts of the Spirit distributed among them by God. However
because of the intense persecution some have considered defecting from the
Christian faith and returning to Judaism. Some have even forsaken the
assembling of the saints. The author of Hebrews has given a solid defence of
Christ and his sacrifice and proved that without Christ there is no forgiveness
of sins. In Hebrews 6:4-6 he makes it plain to them that if they fall away it
will be impossible to renew them to repentance because they would have to
re-crucify the Son of God afresh. Here the warning is just as severe and the
author says that if they sin wilfully “there remaineth no more sacrifice for
sins”.
For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how
much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29
In Hebrews
10:26-29 there is a clear reference to the Law of Moses, specifically Numbers
15. Any cross reference bible should make a clear connection between Hebrews
10:26 & Numbers 15:30. Numbers 15 prescribes atoning sacrifices for sins
done in ignorance (inadvertence) but when it comes to sins done presumptuously
(wilfully) it makes it clear that there is no atoning sacrifice available. This
is much like the passage in Hebrews 10:26 & Hebrews 6:4-6.
But the soul that
doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land,
or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off
from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath
broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. Numbers 15:30-31
This
passage is directly referenced in Hebrews 10:26-29 and referred to as wilful
sin (a connection made even by the church of Wells). It is clear that there is
no sacrifice for presumptuous or wilful sins in either Hebrews 10:26 or Numbers
15:30-31.
Here is
the problem; if you interpret wilful sin to mean any act knowingly done in
disobedience to Gods law then you have your first contradiction in the bible.
Leviticus 6 clearly prescribes an atoning sacrifice for lying, stealing and
deceit.
And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and
lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in
fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his
neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and
sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then
it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that
which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or
that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all
that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the
principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it
appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his
trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with
thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: And the priest shall
make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any
thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein. Leviticus 6:1-7
Do you see
the contradiction? If the Church of Wells interprets wilful or
presumptuous sins to mean “any sin you commit knowing its wrong” then they
contradict Leviticus 6:1-7. Leviticus 6:1-7 makes it clear that sins of
ignorance (inadvertence) are much broader then the church of wells understands
them to be, and consequently “wilful sin” must be much narrower than first
expected. What the church of Wells does not understand is that “wilful sin”
actually means a sin done in bold defiance of God. Numbers 15 actually gives us
a clear example. Israel had just witnessed the plaques of Egypt, the parting of
the Red Sea, they had seen God’s thunder & fire on Mt Sinai and heard his
booming voice from the mountain giving the Ten Commandments. Yet in Numbers 15
a man, in open defiance of God, publically collects firewood on the Sabbath day and by his actions he publically, finally and utterly rejected God.
This is wilful sin and "wilful sin" must carry the element of finally rejecting God in the same manner as the man exhibited in Numbers 15. If you look at Hebrews 10:28 you see that the context is
one of open defiance of Gods law. The author of Hebrews was writing to a Jewish audience who were well aware of what he meant when he said “wilful sin”. Notice also that Hebrews 10:29 ends with the words “and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace”, this is a clear reference to the unpardonable sin mention by Jesus. This is very different to a Christian
struggling with sin and yielding to temptation. Hebrews 4:15 says
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
When the Apostle Paul
persecuted the Christian church he was said to have done so in ignorance and
therefore obtained mercy (1Timothy 1:13), the Apostle Paul states that the
gentiles committed their sins ignorantly (Ephesians 4:18), Jesus prayed that
God would forgive those who were crucifying him and said “they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). I don't think any of us really understand the magnitude of our sins even as believers.
Historically
the church has said a Christian never fully sins wilfully, but rather
yields to the flesh and is overcome. They further have interpreted Hebrews
10:26 as meaning total apostasy from the Christian faith, of which there is no
return.
Those who sin, mentioned by the Apostle, are
not such as offend in any way, but such as forsake the Church, and wholly
alienate themselves from Christ. For he speaks not here of this or of that sin,
but he condemns by name those who willfully renounced fellowship with the
Church. But there is a vast difference between particular fallings and a
complete defection of this kind, by which we entirely fall away from the grace of
Christ. – John
Calvin
For when we - Any of
us Christians. Sin wilfully - By total apostasy from God, termed "drawing
back," Heb_10:38. After having received the experimental knowledge
of the gospel truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins - None but that
which we obstinately reject
– John Wesley
Here the truth taught
is that, if a Christian apostatizes, if he renounces his faith, and goes back
to the world, it is impossible to reclaim him. A backslider may be restored,
but anyone who should wilfully, after receiving the truth, reject it, has
rejected the only Saviour; he has rejected the only regeneration; and,
consequently, he is without the pale of the possibilities of restoration. – Charles
Spurgeon
The general truth here set forth is that, Should those who have been
converted and become Christians apostatize from Christ their state would be
hopeless. This is presented under the following details. First, because of the
nature of this sin, namely, a deliberate and final abandonment of the Christian
faith. Second, the ones warned against the committal of it. Third, the terrible
aggravation of it did such commit it. Fourth, the unpardonableness of it. – AW Pink
When
Hebrews 10:26 is properly understood then we can see that the very foundation
of the “damnanble state” doctrine taught by the church of Wells is utterly
ruined and bankrupt. The church of Wells simply demonstrates that they have a
poor grasp of scripture and are unfit for any office of eldership.
Written by
Caleb Corneloup
