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Baptismal Regeneration
George
L. Faull
Often those who are in
disagreement with the Restoration Movement about baptism being essential to
salvation, accuse us of being "water regenerationists." For example,
David Reagan, who is to speak at the North American Christian Convention this
year, accuses us of being baptismal regenerationists. I do not know if he is
ignorant or dishonest. Regardless, the charge is untrue, unfair, and absurd. No
one hates the denominational dogma of baptismal regeneration more than the
Churches of Christ. We are fully aware that "water in and of itself is
useless in giving new birth." Our Churches have historically fought that
false system. We deny the whole Calvinistic "TULIP" philosophy.
T - Total depravity
U - Unconditional
election
L - Limited atonement
I - Irresistible grace
P - Preservation of the
Saints
We do not baptize infants,
nor baptize a person against his will, nor unbelievers nor those we know have
not repented. To charge us of teaching that "water regenerates," is
to lie. To believe that putting water on an infant regenerates him, is
ludicrous. You might as well teach that the blind man, who had to wash in the
Pool of Siloam, was healed by water, or that Jordan's waters cleansed Naaman of
his leprosy!!! They obeyed the command given for their ailment, and they
received the promise that God promised would result from their obedient faith.
It was the operation of God that healed them, not the water.
Likewise, when one believes
and is baptized, they receive what Jesus promised. "He that believes and
is baptized, shall be saved." We have faith that God will do what He
promised, not that the water has any power in and of itself.
Colossians 2:12-13, "12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."
"Oh," some
ignorant one will say, "But that destroys grace, because if you have to do
anything, yes, even so much as twitch
an eye, you are
teaching salvation by works. Salvation is a gift." Let me
ask you a question. Was the promised land a gift to Israel? Did He give them
the promised land? Yes. Were any battles fought for it? Yes. Was Noah saved by
grace? Yes. Did he have to build the ark? Yes! Look at Hebrews chapter 11, the Faith Chapter, and you will note that faith
is always accompanied by a verb. Verbs show action and faith must be active or
it is dead.
The following excerpts are
from Alexander Campbell's writing "The Remission of Sins". We do not quote these for authority, but
rather to show both new and old commemorators understand that regeneration and
baptism are a simultaneous event, and baptism is used as metonymy for the new
birth.
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Dr. James Macknight says, "Through baptism, called the bath of regeneration, not because any change in the nature" (but I would say in the state) "of the baptized person is produced by baptism; but because it is an emblem of the purification of his soul from sin." He then quotes in proof, (Acts 22:16.) 'Arise, and be immersed, and wash thee from thy sins.' He supports this view also from Ephesians 5:26, and John 3:5. 'The bath of regeneration,' is then, according to this learned Paidobaptist, Christian immersion.
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Parkhurst, in his Lexicon, upon the word loutron, connects this same phrase, the washing or bath of regeneration, with Ephesians 5:26, and John 3:5, as alluding to immersion. So say all the critics, one by one, as far as I know. Even Matthew Henry, the good and venerable Presbyterian commentator, concedes this point also, and quotes: Ephesians 5:26, Acts 22:16, and Matthew 28:19-20, in support of the conclusion, that the washing of regeneration refers to baptism.
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Bishop White says, that "regeneration, as detached from baptism, never entered into any creed before the 17th century."
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Timothy Dwight, president of Yale, said, "To be born again, is precisely the same thing as to be born of the water and the Spirit." --"To be born of water is to be baptized. He who, understanding the nature and authority of this institution, refuses to be baptized, will never enter into the visible nor invisible Kingdom of God."
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George Whitfield, writing on John 3:5, says, "Does not this verse urge the absolute necessity of water baptism? Yes."
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John Wesley asserts, that "by baptism we enter into covenant with God, and everlasting covenant, are admitted into the church, made members of Christ, made the children of God. By water as the means, the water of baptism, we are regenerated or born again." [Preservative, pp. 146-150]
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The Epistle of Barnabas states: "For this he saith, 'Blessed are they, who, putting their trust in the cross, descend into the water; for they shall have their reward in due time.'"
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W. Wall states, "There is not any one Christian writer, of any antiquity, in any language, but who understands it of baptism; and if it be not so understood, it is difficult to give an account how a person is born of water, any more than born of wood."
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W. Wall also states, "The Christians did, in all ancient times, continue the use of this name 'regeneration,' for baptism; so that they never use the word 'regenerate,' or 'born again,' but they mean, or denote by it, baptism."
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W. Wall wrote, "Because his is the most ancient account of the way of baptizing, next the Scripture; and shows the plain and simple manner of administering it. Because it shows that the Christians of those times (many of whom lived in the days of the Apostles) used the word 'regeneration' (or 'being born again') for baptism; and that they were taught to do so by the Apostles. And because we see by it that they understood John 3:5, of water baptism; and so did all the writers of these 400 years, NOT ONE MAN EXCEPTED." [p.54]
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Justin Martyr (taught by the Apostles) wrote: "Then we bring them to some place where there is water and they are regenerated by the same way of regeneration by which we were regenerated: for they are washed in water in the name of God the Father and Lord of all things, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit: for Christ says, Unless you be regenerated you cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven; and everybody knows it is impossible for those who are once generated (or born) to enter again into their mother's womb."
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He continued, "And we have been taught by the Apostles this reason for this thing. Because we being ignorant of our first birth, were generated by necessity (or course of nature) and have been brought up in ill customs and conversation; that we should not continue children of that necessity and ignorance, for of will (or choice) and knowledge, and should obtain forgiveness of the sins in which we have lived, by water (or in water.) Then is invoked over him that has a mind to be regenerated, the name of God the Father, etc. And this washing is called the enlightening."
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As for Chrysostom, he expressly says, "There is no receiving or having the bequeathed inheritance before one is baptized; and none can be called a son till he is baptized." [p.183]
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Cyprian states: "While (says he) I lay in darkness and uncertainty, I thought on what I had heard of a second birth, proposed by the divine goodness; but could not comprehend how a man could receive a new life from his being immersed in water, cease to be what he was before, and still remain the same body. How, said I, can such a change be possible? How can he, who is grown old in a worldly way of living, strip himself of his former inclinations, and inveterate habits? Can he, who has spent his whole time in plenty, and indulged his appetite without restraint, ever be transformed into an example of frugality and sobriety? Or he who has always appeared in splendid apparel, stoop to the plain, simple, and unornamented dress of the common people? It is impossible for a man, who has borne the most honorable posts, ever to submit to lead a private and an obscure life: or that he who was never seen in public without a cross of attendants, and persons who endeavored to make their fortunes by attending him, should ever bear to be alone. This (continues he) was my way of arguing: I thought it was impossible for me to leave my former course of life, and the habits I was then engaged in, and accustomed to: but no sooner did the life-giving water wash the spots off my soul, than my heart received the heavenly light of the Holy Spirit, which transformed me into a new creature; all my difficulties were cleared, my doubts dissolved, and my darkness dispelled. I was then able to do what before seemed impossible; could discern that my former life was earthly and sinful, according to the impurity of my birth; but that my spiritual birth gave me new ideas and inclinations, and directed all my views to God." Cyprian flourished A.D. 250.
This is sufficient to
conclude that the earliest Christians knew that "born of the water"
refers to Christian baptism. It is not the cause but the occasion of our new
birth. We suggest the some today are running so far from Rome that they pass
right by Jerusalem.