This is a common question for many Christians who have strayed from their faith and fallen into sin. The good news is that the Bible offers hope and guidance on this issue. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what God’s Word says about sin, repentance, forgiveness, and baptism.
The Nature of Sin
First, we need to understand the serious nature of sin. When we knowingly go against God’s commands, we are rebelling against our Creator. Sin separates us from God and leads to spiritual death (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23). Every single one of us struggles with sinful desires and actions (Romans 3:23). Even after conversion, Christians still wrestle with sin and temptation (1 John 1:8).
So what do we do when we realize we have sinned as believers? Do we need to be re-baptized every time we stumble? The short answer is no. The Bible offers hope and a pathway back to restored fellowship with God.
Repentance and Forgiveness
When Christians fall into sin, the biblical response is repentance and confession. Repentance means having genuine sorrow for our wrong actions, asking God for forgiveness, and making a conscious effort to change (Acts 3:19). True repentance comes from a heart that is soft and receptive to the Holy Spirit’s conviction.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all of our sins – past, present and future. When we humble ourselves and confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us completely (1 John 1:9). We can be assured we are forgiven based on God’s promise, not our feelings. Lingering guilt after repentance could be an attack from the enemy.
King David is a great example of someone who grieved his sin before God. After committing adultery and murder, David cried out to God, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). David knew repentance was his only recourse.
As believers, we can take comfort that Jesus is our advocate before the Father (1 John 2:1). When we confess our sins, Christ intercedes on our behalf so that our relationship with the Father is restored (Hebrews 7:25). Our sin does not sever us from God’s grace (Romans 8:38-39).
One Baptism
The Bible teaches there is only one baptism required for believers (Ephesians 4:5). The act of water baptism is an outward demonstration of what has already occurred inwardly at the moment of salvation. It symbolizes Christ’s death, burial and resurrection on our behalf. Baptism also identifies us with Christ and His body, the church (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
Because baptism is a one-time event in the life of a believer, it does not need to be repeated. However, that does not give us free license to sin. Paul confronted this erroneous thinking when he asked, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2). While we can never lose our salvation, persistent sinful living can damage our fellowship with God.
Paul urged believers to walk in purity and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
Being Restored after Sin
Christians who find themselves trapped in sin can follow King David’s example by:
- Repenting immediately when the Holy Spirit convicts
- Confessing the specific sin and asking God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
- Relying on God’s promise to completely cleanse those who confess their sins (1 John 1:7)
- Asking God to help them turn away from temptation (Psalm 119:59)
- Seeking accountability from other believers (James 5:16)
- Walking in renewed dependence on the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13)
The Father cares more about the state of our heart than a rigid checklist. When it comes to ongoing sin patterns, God wants us to honestly assess if there is unrepentant sin blocking our closeness with Him. But we should not live in fear or condemnation either.
1 John 1:7 promises, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” This cleansing is not based on our performance, but the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
Assurance from the Father
For Christians who have sincerely repented of their sins and returned to the Father, there is blessed assurance. Jesus shared the parable of the Prodigal Son, who demanded his inheritance from his father, wasted it away and ended up desperate and famished. When the son came home in humility, the father did not lecture him or make him prove his repentance. Instead, the father welcomed him with open arms of grace (Luke 15:11-24).
God yearns for us to abide in close relationship with Him. But our sin cuts us off from intimate communion. Thankfully, our merciful Father is eager to reconcile and restore wandering believers who have repented. When we are forgiven, He remembers our sin no more (Hebrews 8:12).
If you have wandered far from God, He is waiting with open arms as a loving Father. Come to Him just as you are. There is no need to be rebaptized – only a need to repent and receive His full forgiveness. Christ’s perfect sacrifice is sufficient. We do not earn grace and forgiveness through rebaptism – it is freely offered by the Father’s love.
Counsel for the Remnant
For those believers who are walking faithfully with the Lord, reminders and encouragement can keep us progressing on the narrow way (Matthew 7:14). Here is some wise counsel from Scripture:
- Be sober-minded and watchful, resisting the devil (1 Peter 5:8)
- Put on the full armor of God to stand against spiritual attacks (Ephesians 6:10-20)
- Pray persistently to be delivered from temptation (Matthew 26:41)
- Meditate on God’s Word to fight sinful desires (Psalm 119:11)
- Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22)
- Do not love the world or anything in the world (1 John 2:15-17)
- Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
The Bible repeatedly warns believers to avoid being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13). Pride and self-reliance can subtly lead us away from wholehearted devotion to Christ. We must cling to the Lord daily through prayer, God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to live righteously.
As we walk by the Spirit, we will avoid carrying out the sinful desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). God wants us to pursue consistent growth in holiness while extending grace to fellow believers struggling with sin. The church must hold fast to biblical truth while also leaving room for the Spirit’s conviction and restoration.
Godly Repentance Leads to Salvation
For those who have never placed their faith in Christ, baptism alone cannot wash away sins. The cleansing comes through surrendering one’s life to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Genuine repentance results in receiving redemption through Jesus Christ.
Even for those who were baptized or confirmed at a young age, a personal relationship with Christ is essential. Scripture warns against relying on religious rituals or upbringing without true heart conversion (Matthew 3:7-10; John 3:3). Nicodemus was a religious leader who learned new birth was required to enter God’s kingdom.
Paul described repentance leading to salvation as “godly sorrow [that] brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Conviction from the Holy Spirit draws unbelievers to repent and receive God’s gift of eternal life (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:8-9). This regeneration of the heart is a one-time event that leads to forever belonging to Christ.
Baptism: Public Profession of Faith
While baptism does not impart salvation, it marks a vital step in the believer’s new life in Christ. Just as a groom publically exchanges rings and vows with his bride, baptism allows a new Christian to publically pledge devotion to love and obey Jesus Christ.
Baptism also connects believers to the body of Christ. The unity of all believers across time, cultures and denominations is beautifully symbolized through water baptism. According to 1 Corinthians 12:13, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were given the one Spirit to drink.”
Just as a citizen is welcomed into a new country through public oaths of loyalty, baptism is the oath through which Christians are ushered into the kingdom of God. The cosmic realms witness this public declaration of allegiance to King Jesus. Baptism is thus about far more than just the individual – it is a commitment to Christ’s family.
New believers model this step of obedience by following Jesus’ example of baptism, even though salvation is not earned through works or ceremonies. Baptism is an outward sign of submission to Christ as Lord and Savior. It also reminds believers of their death to sin and resurrection to new life in Jesus.
Buried and Raised with Christ
Baptism powerfully represents a believer’s co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with Jesus Christ. As Paul explained, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4).
Going under the waters symbolizes dying and being buried with Christ. Emerging from the waters represents being raised to walk in new spiritual life with Him (Colossians 2:12). Baptism does not impart new life – it is the outward response to new life already received in Christ.
Believers do not earn salvation through baptism or maintain salvation through rebaptism. It is Christ’s grace alone that saves. But baptism marks a new believer’s public entrance into God’s kingdom as His child.
Galatians 3:27 describes it this way: “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Just as a graduation robe and cap represent the completion of academic training, baptism adorns us in Christ’s robe of righteousness.
One Baptism, Many Fillings
While only one water baptism is needed, believers can experience multiple fillings of the Holy Spirit throughout life. At conversion, all Christians are permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). However, we are commanded to go on being filled with the Spirit continually (Ephesians 5:18). This happens as we yield more of ourselves to the Spirit’s control.
The early church provides an excellent example of believers who walked in the Spirit’s power and frequent fillings. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were initially baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). As they surrendered to the Spirit’s leadership, the Holy Spirit empowered them repeatedly.
In Acts 4:31, believers were filled again: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Their bold witness ushered in more conversions. Further persecution led to more prayer and another filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29-31).
Paul commanded Christians to “go on being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). As we obey this command, we gain power to endure trials and serve God. Sin grieves the Spirit and quenches His power. But continual obedience and surrender lead to renewed fillings.
The key to this dynamic spiritual life is not repeating baptism, but maintaining a receptive heart. The Lord promised His disciples, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). May we stay thirsty for the Spirit’s fillings!
Baptism: A First Step of Obedience
For both new and mature believers, resisting sin through the Spirit’s power is a daily process. Our security rests in Christ’s completed work, not our own righteousness. At times, God graciously allows His children to undergo adversity that exposes sin and leads to deeper repentance.
David pleaded with God, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). When we sincerely seek the Lord in repentance, He is eager to restore us.
No matter how long we have walked with Jesus, we never outgrow our need for His mercy and forgiveness. Thankfully, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). His grace is greater than all our sin.
But how should new believers begin this lifelong journey of repentance, faith and obedience? Baptism marks the starting line. It signifies a new life devoted to serving Jesus with wholehearted reverence.
Just as a wedding ring reminds spouses of their covenant commitment, baptism reminds believers of our pledge to pursue Christ above all else. When we fail and fall, God lovingly picks us up as His beloved child. The old is gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17). By His grace, may we walk faithfully with our Savior all the days of our life.