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Does Baptism Cleanse an
Adulterous Marriage?
Some brethren teach that an alien sinner can marry and divorce several times,
then be baptized with the assurance that God will forgive all of his sins. They
say that baptism cleanses an adulterous marriage. With the increase of divorce
it is convenient to believe this. But does the Bible teach this?
Suppose an alien sinner steals a car? Afterward he hears the gospel and decides
to obey its commandments. Can he keep the car and still repent of his sins,
confess his faith in Christ and be baptized for the remission of his sins?
This would be mockery! He cannot repent as long as he keeps the car. Repentance
must be complete and it must precede baptism. The application is too plain to
be misunderstood. When an alien sinner repents he quits sinning and makes restitution
when possible.
If a man has killed someone he cannot restore life. Saul of Tarsus killed before
he became a Christian, but he did not continue to kill after he became a Christian.
Baptism cleansed him of all his past sins because he repented.
After he was baptized he devoted his life to preaching the gospel.
Many brethren can understand what is involved in repenting of killing and stealing.
Why don’t the same principles apply to repenting of an adulterous marriage?
Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery, go and sin no more. He did not say
continue to commit adultery. Those who continue an adulterous marriage continue
to commit adultery or continue to live in adultery. Those repenting of an adulterous
marriage sever it. They will quit the adulterous marriage. Baptism will then
cleanse them of their sins! But as long as they continue their adulterous marriage
they are in sin. Baptism does not cleanse an adulterous marriage.
I realize that what I have written on this subject is not popular, but I believe
it is right. We need to preach and teach the truth on this matter. This is especially
the responsibility of preachers and elders.
By Quentin Dunn
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