Baptismal Regeneration?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Never heard of that one before.

Like I said, I may be wrong about it but it seems to me I heard it or read it somewhere.

What is the difference between baptismal regeneration doctrine and our view of water baptism's role in salvation? Do we believe in baptismal regeneration?

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

What is the difference between baptismal regeneration doctrine and our view of water baptism's role in salvation? Do we believe in baptismal regeneration?

Baptismal regeneration is the commonly held view that something mystical happens to an individual when they take a religious bath. Somehow, God pours out a special vial of blood and removes their sins. They believe you are not saved unless you are baptized, because it is the actual act of baptism that removes sin.

The only problem with this is if you sin again, you need to be rebaptised and we all know we sin again probably within a few minutes of the original baptism.

I recently heard a very well know UPC evangelist state that baptism removes sin and if you sin again, God will deal with you about it. This is the stupidest remark I've ever heard. He is considered one of the most sought after evangelist in the Organ.

However, this view detaches salvation away from Christ and his finished work and places it in our hands.

It totally negates the work of the cross and allows us to be co-contributors in our own salvation.

[bkstokes]

Originally Posted by Sam

I may be wrong here. Perhaps someone can correct me if I am. I seem to remember hearing or reading that Emperor Constantine waited until just before his death to be baptized because he believed that baptism would wash away sins and he wanted to be clean when he died. I don't have any historic writing to cite for that but it seems I heard or read it somewhere.

That is true sam. I have read the in one of my Christian History books (I believe the author was Eldridge). Also David Calhoun, seminary professor of I believe it is called Covenant Seminary (Presbeterian) in St Louis stated that.

If anyone wants free seminary lectures you can download like 20 different subjects from their web page. I heard Calhoun say that in one of his Early Church History lectures.

[bkstokes]

Originally Posted by staysharp

Baptismal regeneration is the commonly held view that something mystical happens to an individual when they take a religious bath. Somehow, God pours out a special vial of blood and removes their sins. They believe you are not saved unless you are baptized, because it is the actual act of baptism that removes sin.

The only problem with this is if you sin again, you need to be rebaptised and we all know we sin again probably within a few minutes of the original baptism.

I recently heard a very well know UPC evangelist state that baptism removes sin and if you sin again, God will deal with you about it. This is the stupidest remark I've ever heard. He is considered one of the most sought after evangelist in the Organ.

However, this view detaches salvation away from Christ and his finished work and places it in our hands.

It totally negates the work of the cross and allows us to be co-contributors in our own salvation.

Often UPC preachers imply that the blood is then applied afterwards during communion. This is why they will often say, now that we have taken communion let us rejoice because all of our sins since baptism have been washed away.

Like I said it is very similar to the Roman catholic view of imparted grace through special sacraments of the church.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by staysharp

Baptismal regeneration is the commonly held view that something mystical happens to an individual when they take a religious bath. Somehow, God pours out a special vial of blood and removes their sins. They believe you are not saved unless you are baptized, because it is the actual act of baptism that removes sin.

The only problem with this is if you sin again, you need to be rebaptised and we all know we sin again probably within a few minutes of the original baptism.

I recently heard a very well know UPC evangelist state that baptism removes sin and if you sin again, God will deal with you about it. This is the stupidest remark I've ever heard. He is considered one of the most sought after evangelist in the Organ.

However, this view detaches salvation away from Christ and his finished work and places it in our hands.

It totally negates the work of the cross and allows us to be co-contributors in our own salvation.

How do we contribute anything to remission of sins? By stepping in the water and calling on the name of the Lord?

We don't have to be rebaptized after our initial burial in the water. That is as bad as me saying (which I have) that One steppers have to be continually rebaptized in the Holy Spirit because the Spirit departs from them every time they sin ....how can the Holy Spirit fill an unclean vessel except remission of sins happens at repentance otherwise sinners were filled with the Spirit before their sins were remitted in Acts 10.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Sam

I may be wrong here. Perhaps someone can correct me if I am. I seem to remember hearing or reading that Emperor Constantine waited until just before his death to be baptized because he believed somewhere.

I can't site it for you off the top of my head either but I have read it before.

[Scott Hutchinson]

There is no virtue in H20 but at the same time we can't reduce MARK.16:16 to a mere suggestion either.

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

Often UPC preachers imply that the blood is then applied afterwards during communion. This is why they will often say, now that we have taken communion let us rejoice because all of our sins since baptism have been washed away.

Like I said it is very similar to the Roman catholic view of imparted grace through special sacraments of the church.

I haven't heard this; however it doesn't surprise me. It is possible this doctrine is why the Catholics take communion daily though. Makes sense if they actually teach your sins are removed through the sacrament.

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

There is no virtue in H20 but at the same time we can't reduce MARK.16:16 to a mere suggestion either.

Scott, baptism is what we do because of what he did!