sorrow over our sins are no hindrances to assurance. 5. Willful sin inescapably erodes assurance; indwelling sin does not. Newton is careful to maintain a distinction between indwelling sin and willful sin. Willful sin is committed in light of full knowledge of its evil, and yet with willful continuance of the disobedience (Num. 15:22–31; Heb. 10:26). Perhaps it’s easier to explain willful sins as a string of interlocking
