Willful or deliberate sin as the bible states is when a person continues in habitual sin with no attempt or will to want to stop committing those sins.
Descriptive of unbelievers - 1 John 3:8 -
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Plus it is not my gospel it is the Lord's gospel I am speaking on, as He showed multiple times in His word that believers in Him will also be doers of His teachings and commands.
The gospel is the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.. (Romans 1:16).
Lord Jesus did not tell the goats in Matthew 25 that they did not get eternal life because they had no faith in Him, He told them it was because they denied to do for others.
Which was a manifestation of their
unbelief.
The 5 foolish virgins, and the unprofitable servant in the other two parables in this same chapter did not receive eternal life either, they were shut out for not preparing and doing the will of God in their lives.
The wording of the five foolish virgins in our text is all too familiar to the reader of Matthew’s Gospel:
Matthew 25:11 - "Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ 12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth,
I do not know you!"
Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven" but only the one who does the
will of my Father in heaven -
*See John 6:40. 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful works?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you who work iniquity!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
Taking Matthew’s words literally, I read that the difference between the foolish virgins and the wise virgins:
The wise virgins had oil for their lamps, while the foolish virgins did not. The wise virgins had the opportunity to obtain oil, and did so. The foolish virgins had plenty of opportunity to procure oil, but did not.
It is possible to be in close contact with Christ, and with Christians, and yet not be saved. I am reminded of a similar passage in the Gospel of Luke:
Luke 13:23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" So he said to them, 24 "Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you,
‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from!
Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Jesus is warning us in this parable that there will be a number of people who look like Christians, who associate with Christians, and who even think they are Christians, who will be shocked to learn that they are not saved at the return of our Lord. What a sobering thought!
Also those in Matthew 7:21 that called Him Lord He did not say to them it was because they had no faith why they didn't get eternal life. He said it was because they continue to practice iniquity/lawlessness (meaning sinful lifestyles).
They practiced iniquity/lawlessness because they did not have saving faith in Christ. They were self righteous and trusted in THEIR WORKS! They said, Lord, Lord, didn't WE. Correct answer - Lord, Lord, didn't YOU.
A person who continues to willfully/deliberately keep sinning shows no signs of the working of the Holy Spirit in them !!!
Such a person demonstrates they are not born of God - 1 John 3:9-10.