Topic(s):  Christian Life, Salvation

Todd Clippard

Receiving forgiveness for adultery is no different than for any other sin. Initially, forgiveness comes through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he who believes (the gospel - TC) and is baptized shall be saved, he who does not believe will be condemned."

When Peter preached the first gospel sermon in Acts 2, those who believed his preaching and were convicted of their sins asked the question, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" (v 37). Peter answered, commanding them to "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (v 38). In verse 41, those who gladly received his word were baptized.

In connection with our present study, I want to focus on the phrase in Acts 2:38, "in the name of Jesus Christ." The phrase "in the name of" means "by the authority of." In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said through baptism one would be made a disciple. In Mark 16, Jesus said salvation (remission of sins) would come at baptism. In Luke 24:47, Jesus said that “repentance and remission of sins would be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem." These accounts of Jesus' command to preach the gospel to all men are commonly called "the Great Commission."

In Acts 2, all these passages come to fruition: the gospel was preached (vv 21-36), repentance and remission of sins was preached in Jesus' name (v 38), and baptism was commanded as the means of obtaining remission of sins and salvation, and to become a disciple of Jesus Christ (vv 38-41).

Now, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul writes to the church at Corinth concerning some of their former sins. Listen to what he said:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. NKJV

Note the washing and justification that took place "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Speaking of the Corinthians in Acts 18:8, the Bible says, "Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized." So, in 1 Corinthians 6 Paul reminds them of how they had been cleansed of their sins . . . through faith in the gospel message and baptism for remission of sins.

Such it is with all men. All must hear the gospel, believe it, repent of their sins, and be baptized to receive forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness for Christians differs from non-Christians. A Christian does not need to be baptized every time he sins. In Acts 8:5-20, Philip had preached the gospel in the city of Samaria. The response to his preaching was faith and baptism (vv 12-13), just as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission. Simon the Sorcerer was among those who believed and was baptized. However, later in chapter 8, Simon sinned by trying to buy the ability to pass on the Holy Spirit (a gift reserved only for the apostles - vv 18-19). In response to this sin, Peter commanded Simon to repent of his wickedness and pray to God for forgiveness (v 22).

The apostle John gives Christians the same command for forgiveness when they sin. In 1 John 1:7-10 he wrote:

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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NKJV

So, for the Christian to receive forgiveness, he must repent and confess his sin before God. It is of utmost importance to note that this means of forgiveness is never given to the non-Christian, but only to the Christian.

In conclusion, any sinner, adulterer or otherwise, who has not been baptized in order to receive remission of sins, must submit himself to the gospel of Jesus Christ. To the Christian who sins, he must repent of his sin and confess it to God with the intention of living faithfully to God thereafter.