A popular concept within evangelical churches, especially college-age and young adults, is the idea that one can “rededicate” their life to Christ. The assumption is that he or she was saved at a young age, but either didn’t have a complete understanding of the grace of Christ, or has otherwise “fallen away” into an unrepentant sinful lifestyle, and now desires to return to Christ, and begin to follow Him again.

Some people may even turn to an endless cycle of sin and rededication, with multiple “rededications” over their lifetime. There are events that are devoted to rededication services, and some claim hundreds, or even thousands have “rededicated” their lives to Christ. But is this practice biblical, and does this concept exist in Scripture?

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” As Christians, we should be growing daily, through sanctification, in conformation to Christ. This is not to say that Christians will never have moments of weakness, be tempted to sin, or even fall into sin for a while. But one who is genuinely saved will be under the sanctifying ministry of the Holy Spirit, having their sin exposed, and will repent of it regularly. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” The Christian’s walk with Christ is a constant rejection of sin, and faith in Jesus.

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Psalm 10:4

We don’t choose God–He chooses us. In John 6:44, Jesus says “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” and Romans 3:11, “no one understands; no one seeks for God.” We are dead, completely unconscious and immobilized, in our sins and transgressions (Eph 2:1, Col. 2:13). We have no ability to choose Christ, but thankfully, he has decided to choose us (John 15:16, Eph 1:4), and when he does, he promises,

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:28

So does this mean that Christians can’t fall into sin? No, it doesn’t. Christians will be tempted by sin, and even fall into sin for short periods. But the Holy Spirit will expose our sin (Hebrews 4:12).

Repentance is not rededication. When you are born again, and come to Christ in repentance and faith, you are given a new heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Under the ministry of the Holy Spirit, repentance is an ongoing, constant change of heart and mind to the alignment of God’s will–and it’s a gift of God, not a work of man (2 Tim 2:25).

If you find yourself in a cycle of “rededication,” sadly to say, you may be deceiving yourself. If your life is not marked by genuine repentance, and a true desire to follow Jesus, and obey God’s word, you very well may be lost.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

1 John 2:19

Further, Paul considered a complete understanding of the Gospel necessary for salvation (2 Cor 11:4, 1 Cor 15:1-4). If you prayed a prayer, signed a document, or otherwise believe you have come to Christ, but you show no fruits of salvation, or you didn’t understand the basic tenets of the Gospel, (i.e. your sinful state, and Christ’s death, burial and resurrection) (Matt 7:16) or otherwise have continued to live a life of unrepentant sin, it’s not rededication that you need, but salvation.

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.

1 Cor 6:9-10

See Also: Three False Gospels That May Be Masquerading in Your Church.