By Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: Is it proper to baptize a person who is knowingly living in sin? We realize everyone sins before and after conversion.  So is it necessary to teach a person living in adultery to repent of that sin prior to baptism when we fail to mention other sins that need repentance?

          This question is posed to define the teacher’s responsibility to the lost.  Many churches of Christ willingly baptize people who they know are living in adultery without making any effort to teach them of their sin.  It is rationalized that as long as they attend services, eventually they will learn the truth. 

          Is this acceptable before God?

I. Repentance

          A. Repentance is a change of mind, a turning away from sin; remorse, and regret for past sinful conduct.  It is a continuous mind set to never return to the old man of sin (Rom. 6:6-7; Eph. 4:22-24).

          B. Repentance is required before baptism (Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; Luke 24:46-47; 2 Pet. 3:9).

          C. Assuming the convert who is living in adultery was truly repentant at baptism, than two problems exist.

                   1.  The convert in question is ignorant of the sin of adultery.

                   2.  The teacher knowingly did not teach the adulterer of his sin.

II. Dealing with the first problem: a convert who continues in sin will be lost.

          A. No adulterer will enter heaven even if the sin is done in ignorance (1 Cor. 6:9-10).  Such a convert is still lost despite his baptism if he continues in the sin.

          B. When Paul was presented with this same situation where a Christian was living in adultery; he immediately required repentance (2 Cor. 7:9-12)!

          C. Once the converted adulterer learns of his sin, he must repent of it or be lost.  This means he must then put away the adulterous relationship (Acts 26:20; Matt. 3:8; Mark 1:4).

          D. If he fails to repent, he is in a worse condition than had he not been baptized (2 Pet. 2:20).  

          E. But if that convert confesses his sin and repents, he will be forgiven (Jas. 5:15-16).

          E. “Re-baptism” would not be necessary (Acts 8:13, 18-24).  

III. Dealing with the second problem: a teacher who knowingly does not teach a Christian who is living in adultery has sinned himself.

          A. All teachers have a responsibility before God to warn those in sin (Ezek. 3:18; John 8:24; Gal. 6:1).

          B. It is deceitful to cause a person to believe he is saved when he is lost as long as he continues in his sin (Col. 3:9-10).  The very act of baptizing a person who is knowingly living in adultery is to deny your own salvation.

          C. A teacher who does not warn a potential convert of his sins denies that person the opportunity to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:26-33).  This is particularly important when the teacher knows the person is living in adultery (Luke 14:34-35).

          D. Jesus was a teacher who did not convert the lost for the sake of gaining numbers into the Church (Mark 10:17-33; John 6:26-27, 35, 65-66).  Jesus didn’t overlook the rich young ruler’s greed for wealth or the disciple’s desire for food just so he could have more followers!

          E. There is something terribly wrong when a teacher, preacher or Elder will not teach a person who is living in adultery of his evil (1 Cor. 5)!  We are not to make converts out of sexually immoral people; we are to withdraw from Christians who are sexually immoral (1 Cor. 5:1-2).  Does it make sense to convert a person living in adultery so we can withdraw from them as instructed after baptism?

          F. We are instructed, once converted, to leave the elementary principles of repentance and faith (Heb. 6:1-6).  Does it make sense for us to convert people who knowingly are living in sin so we can again discuss their need for faith and repentance?

          G. Paul told us to be careful how we build upon the foundation of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-17).  Our works will be revealed when they are tried by fire.  If we do a sloppy job and build with hay, our works will burn up.  If we defile our temple (ex. deceiving others about their salvation), we will be destroyed!

          H. No teacher should ever use craftiness nor handle God’s word deceitfully just to make converts (2 Cor. 4:2; Eph. 4:14-15).

Conclusion:  Our job as Christians is to teach the truth (2 Tim. 4:2).  There will be those who will not handle God’s word properly for the sake of numbers (2 Tim. 4:3-4).  Let us never convert those who knowingly are living in sin unless they are willing to repent.

Last modified: 05/02/08