Will Baptism Make An Unscriptural Marriage Acceptable To God?

Will Baptism Make An Unscriptural Marriage
Acceptable To God?

Alex D. Ogden

In a previous article we examined the question, "Are unbelievers subject to God's laws on marriage?" We considered several arguments to show God's marriage laws do apply to the believer and unbeliever alike. Since they are universal in nature, unbelievers who divorce and remarry for reasons other than fornication (Matt.19:9) commit adultery.

There are some who will concede unbelievers commit adultery when they divorce and remarry without fornication as the cause, but will contend when the unbeliever obeys the gospel they are then forgiven of the adultery and they may, therefore, remain in that relationship. The idea is that the relationship, which was adultery in God’s eyes, is no longer considered adulterous by Him since those in the relationship became Christians.

Do the scriptures support the idea that baptism can change an unholy relationship into a holy one? May those unscripturally married before baptism remain in that relationship after baptism?

To answer these questions we need to forget for a moment the subject of divorce and remarriage and consider what one must do to be forgiven of sin and become a Christian.

Salvation is by "grace...through faith" (Eph.2:8). Grace, unmerited (undeserved) favor, is God's part. Since it was man who brought sin into the world (Gen.3), man must have a part in correcting the problem of sin and his part is faith. But what kind of faith must we have? We must have a faith which will cause us to obey all our Lord commands us to do. John 3:36 says, ".. he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life." So faith which brings salvation is faith which will obey all our Lord commands.

The following commands must be obeyed by faith in order to obtain the salvation God offers by grace: repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30), confessing our faith in Christ before men (Rom.10:10) and being buried with Christ in baptism (Mk.16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). If a person does all these things their sins will be washed away (Acts 22:16) and the Lord will add them to His church (Acts 2:47). However, if a person does all these things but one, regardless as to which one, no salvation will be given by God. God requires full obedience to all these things before salvation in His Son will be given.

To bring us back to the subject of divorce and remarriage we need to focus our attention on what is involved in repentance. Repentance is defined as a change of mind which brings about a change in action. Matt.21:28-30 records the story of the two sons which is a good illustration of true repentance. The son who said he would not go had a change of mind which brought a change in action -- he got up and went. The text says he "repented himself, and went." Since he repented he did not continue in the course which was displeasing to his father. He changed his course to do only that which would please his father.

The repentance required of the unbeliever to obtain salvation is along this same line. The unbeliever must have a change of mind about the sinful activities of their life. No longer will they simply consider those things enjoyable but will recognize that those activities are sinful and displeasing to our Heavenly Father. This change of mind about these activities of our life will lead to a change in action. No longer will we do those things we know are displeasing to our Heavenly Father. We will seek to do only those things which we know He would be pleased with.

If the unbeliever wishes to obtain forgiveness for the sin in their life they must cease to practice that sin, regardless as to the nature of the sin. The man who is a thief will have to stop stealing. The one who lies continually will have to stop lying. The drunkard would have to stop drinking and the idolater would have to stop worshiping idols. Why? Because of repentance. The Lord finds these activities unacceptable and if we truly repent of the sins of our life we will cease practicing those things which are sinful.

Is adultery unacceptable to the Lord? Most certainly. What must the unbeliever do in order to obtain forgiveness for this sin? Repent. The unbeliever must have a change of mind about that activity which will bring about a change in action. In other words, the unbeliever must recognize that adultery, sin, is committed every time they have sexual relations with their unlawful mate. Since the only way to maintain a right relationship with God is by our not engaging in those things which are sinful in His sight, the unbeliever must be willing to cease that which results in sin. In this particular case, the unbeliever must be willing to cease engaging in sexual relations with the unlawful mate. Otherwise, the unbeliever commits adultery each and every time.

Does baptism have an effect on the activities which are sinful in the life of the unbeliever who desires to become a Christian? Baptism will wash away the sin (Acts 22:16) but it will not change an unholy relationship into a holy one. Activities which are sinful before baptism continue to be so after baptism. Therefore, sexual relationships which are sinful before baptism are sinful after baptism.
God's laws on marriage apply to everyone who can marry (cf.Matt.19:10-12). Therefore, we need to make certain we understand the Lord's will for us and others in this relationship. We need to make it clear that through baptism we contact the blood of Christ and have our sins washed away. However, baptism cannot make an activity which was sinful before God to be suddenly acceptable to Him.

Let us learn to be content with the Lord's plan for marriage: one man for one woman for life.