Does A Christian Who Goes Back Into A Practice Of Sin Have To Be Re-baptized?
A sinner who trusts and obeys Jesus Christ for his salvation will believe in Him (John 8:24), repent of his sins (Acts 3:19), confess His wonderful name (Romans 10:9,10), and be immersed in water to come into contact with the blood of Jesus that washes away his sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Revelation 1:5,6; Romans 6:3,4).
Sometimes a Christian returns to the patterns of this evil world (Romans 12:1,2) because he has sadly lost his love for God (1 John 2:15-17). What does the erring Christian need to do in order to be in a right relationship with God? Does he or she have to be re-baptized? No ( read the story of the new convert Simon who fell shortly after his conversion in Acts 8:18-24).
1 John 1:7-10 states: "But 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Notice that the promise of the passage is conditional because it uses the word "if". The term "walk" is in the present tense showing that a Christian must diligently continue a life of faithful service to God. The walk must be made in the "light" (the word of God). If a Christian keeps on walking in the light, then the Lord's blood will continue to cleanse the Christian of his sins. It is implied in these verses that we will receive the continual cleansing of Christ's blood based on the condition that we keep on repenting and confessing our sins.
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