Why the Church Cannot Baptize Without Repentance
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
— Luke 6:46
Baptism is one of the most powerful and public declarations a person can make in the Christian faith. It proclaims before heaven and earth: “Jesus has saved me from my sins, and I now live under His rule.” But what happens when someone wants the sign without the surrender? What if a person says, “I believe in Jesus,” but refuses to let go of a life or behavior the Bible clearly calls sin?
This question is not hypothetical. It strikes at the heart of what it means to follow Christ and what the church is entrusted to guard.
Baptism Is More Than Symbolic
Baptism is not a cultural ritual or a rite of passage. It is a sacred act given by Jesus to mark those who have:
- Repented of their sin
- Believed in Christ as Savior
- Submitted to Him as Lord
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
— Acts 2:38
When someone asks for baptism but refuses to confess a known sin or refuses to repent of it—whether it’s sexual immorality, unforgiveness, dishonesty, or anything else—they are attempting to retain Christ as Savior while rejecting Him as Lord. That’s a false gospel.
Grace Isn’t Permission — It’s Transformation
Yes, the church is a place for sinners. But it is not a place for sin to be normalized, excused, or redefined. Christ meets us in our brokenness—but He does not leave us there. Baptism is the sign of death to sin and new life in Christ:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death… so that we too might walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4
To seek baptism while clinging to a sin that Scripture condemns—and refusing to let it go—is to mock the cross and confuse the church.
The Early Church Took This Seriously
In the early centuries of Christianity, baptism was never automatic. Converts underwent instruction, moral examination, and a clear profession of faith and repentance. They renounced sin and pledged obedience to Christ.
Even the thief on the cross, though he wasn’t baptized, showed this kind of heart: he confessed his guilt, acknowledged Jesus as King, and entrusted himself to His mercy (Luke 23:40–43).
True Confession Requires True Repentance
Saying “Jesus is Lord” while knowingly rejecting His Word in any area of life is not confession—it’s contradiction.
“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
— 2 Timothy 2:19
The church is called to be a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), not an institution of empty affirmation. Extending baptism to someone who refuses to repent is not loving—it is spiritually negligent.
What Should the Church Do?
If a person refuses to acknowledge a sin as sin—or insists on continuing in it while asking to be baptized—the church must, in humility and love, say:
“Not yet.”
Not until the heart is willing to turn. Not until repentance is real. Not until the person is ready to receive the gospel as it truly is—a call to die to self and live to Christ.
Repent, believe, be baptized… and follow Him.
Written by Iam Kerr with research and editing assistance from Chat GPT
Things I Wish My Family Knew 
Leave a comment