Baptism Washes Away Consequences?
“All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “The wages of sin is death”. “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’” “Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” These passages summarize the plight of those who have sinned and those who repent and are baptized living faithfully in repentance going forward. I was once asked if baptism washes away all sin. The answer, is yes, if there was repentance. However, baptism does not wash away all consequences of sin previously committed.
A predominant New Testament example of this is the Apostle Paul. Paul, named Saul before his conversion, was a devout Jew. However, in his persecution of Christians (all in earnest intention) Saul was guilty of sin. Following his baptism, His sins were forgiven. However, this did not change the fact that Paul had previously associated himself with violence against Christians. “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.” Paul had to live with the consequences of his actions.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.” Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian Christians. They had been washed in the waters of baptism and their sins had been forgiven. However, the fact they had lived different lives at one point is still recalled. It is a joy they once were those things, but the world will rarely forget and there are consequences to the prior behavior.
I was involved in the conversion of a man who had murdered another. He is serving time in jail for a sentence of around 45 years. He was baptized in jail. Baptism washes away repented of sin. He is a brother in Christ. However, he is still suffering the consequences of having murdered.
I have attended congregations with men who committed crimes against youth. Those men were not allowed to be alone with or near any youth. In cases where this occurs, there is often a person assigned to be in that person’s presence until they leave the property. They were still suffering the consequences of their sin. Baptism did not wash away the consequences.
There are men and women today who prior to becoming Christians divorced their spouses even though there was no adultery committed. The apostle Paul addresses this situation in I Corinthians 7. He tells the married couple they should not separate or divorce, but if this happens, they are to remain single or reconcile. Whether the spouses are Christians or not, they are accountable to God’s Law. Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 both establish whoever divorces except for the reason of fornication, commits adultery when they remarry. They also cause the new spouse to be an adulterer. But what if one repents and is baptized? Is there sin forgiven? Yes. However, what is the sin? If it is just having left their wife, they have two choices be single or reconcile. If it is the sin of adultery, the adultery is forgiven when the relationship is left. The verb tense of “commit adultery” identifies the sin continuing indefinitely in that relationship. The consequences also of having been previously married never go away. Scripturally, there cannot be another marriage to someone else. Secularly, if you were married and owe alimony or child support, those consequences also stay. Did you burn other relationships when you divorced? Baptism washes away repented of sin, but does not wash away all consequences.
Consequences of good and evil actions may follow us our whole lives. It would be great if they all disappeared at baptism. Unfortunately, this is not reality. Do not let someone fool you into believing the foolishness of a totally clean slate at baptism. Yes, repented of sin is forgiven, but you are still going to have to live with what you have left behind until you are called home to glory.