Does falling back into sin make a baptism invalid?
Question:
This idea has come up many times in Bible studies. It concerns sin before baptism and the process of repentance. The Scriptures teach that one must repent before baptism and that Christians will sin after baptism. I don't know of anyone who would think that a Christian can live sinless.
I also believe that a person will most likely have some of the same sinful ways after baptism as they did before baptism, even while trying not to fall into the same. Simon the sorcerer comes to mind in Acts 8. He sinned after baptism with some of the same sins he seemed to have before baptism.
Generally, when I study with people, one of the obvious sins that come to the surface is fornication, maybe even sometimes a couple living together unmarried. I've faced that on more than one occasion, for sure. If I know it, we discuss it in light of scripture that fornication or living together needs to be repented of before baptism happens. It seems like there are a host of other sins we don't focus as much on, such as gossip, backbiting, and idolatry, which are very prevalent among many humans.
My question is: What's the difference between a person falling back into some of those sins we don't focus on versus fornication or even adultery? I do the same as well during studies as far as focusing on fornication if I know it. Well, what if that person commits to stopping fornication but falls back into it quickly? Some would consider their baptism invalid, but not for the person who falls back into gossip, idolatry, or some "lesser" sins that man may regard in that way.
This is a tough concept for me as I study the Bible with others and discuss repentance before baptism. I believe throughout the life of a Christian, he or she will repeat or fall back into some of those things that were a temptation before baptism. These are just some things that I question as I'm studying with people. I also think of someone on drugs and addicted to them who may take some time to get off them. At what point would he need to be baptized, after rehab when he's finally clean, or the point at which he is committed to being clean but yet might have a relapse after baptism?
Answer:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
Repentance is more than the stopping of specific sinful behavior. It is a change in attitude toward all sin.
If I was teaching a person about the sin of fornication, and he declared that he was going to stop having sex until he was married and asked to be baptized, I would joyfully do so. The problem I've been seeing is that some, knowing they are in sin, are either not told about the sin or are baptized first with plans to address the sin later. Such doesn't follow the example Peter set forth.
In Acts 2, Peter charged the Jews in his audience with killing the Son of God: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:35). They were cut to the heart by the charge and asked what they needed to do. Peter answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Following further teaching, 3,000 people were baptized that day. "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them" (Acts 2:40).
Notice that these people were saved, so they were baptized and had repented. Yet, there was no demand for proof that they would not kill Jesus again or perhaps not kill one of God's prophets. Repentance was shown because these people changed their ways. That proof of a change had not been demonstrated in their lives at the point of their baptism isn't important. A change was required, and their baptism into Christ showed their commitment to change.
A person who is stealing should not expect that he can continue to steal after becoming a Christian. A person in an adulterous relationship should not expect to stay in adultery after baptism. Becoming a Christian is about conversion, not getting a person wet.
There may be sins that the new Christian commits but is unaware of and that the one leading him to Christ is also unaware of. Eventually, as a Christian grows, he will learn of his mistakes. None of us know everything when we become Christians. We are expected to grow. "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (I Peter 2:1-3). Logically, I will learn some of the things I practice are wrong. The proper response is to correct life my life so as not to continue in sin. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Romans 6:1-2).
John meant this when he said, "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" (I John 3:9). John is not saying a Christian never sins. That contradicts what he earlier stated in I John 1:8-2:1. John is saying that a Christian doesn't make a practice of continuing in sin. Sin is now contrary to his nature. Yes, he will sometimes sin, but he gets up, makes corrections, and continues living righteous. "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity" (Proverbs 24:16).
Being a Christian is not about being sinlessly perfect but maturing over time to become more like our Lord. "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
Thus, when leading someone to Christ, we deal with the obvious sins, like Peter in Acts 2, who rebuked his audience for participating in the killing of God's Son. However, we also must discuss sin in general and commit to fighting against it for the rest of our lives. We let people know that they are expected to grow and change their lives.
None of us wants to return to our old way of life, but it might happen. Our commitment is that we won't accept a life of sin. This doesn't mean my initial commitment was invalid or I must be baptized again. I must get up, dust off the sin, and return to the race. This is what repentance is about. "For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter" (II Corinthians 7:11).
