Baptism Does Not Regenerate eBook

The Apostle Paul, Augustine of Hippo, and John Calvin — all rejoiced in being saved by grace alone. Being an issue of Calvin, as the author Dr. Lee prefers to call himself, he never grows weary of emphasizing that man is saved solely by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Baptism does not change this. It does not regenerate.

Dr. Lee is a man of astounding erudition and — of much greater importance — one who humbly and unreservedly accepts the authority and infallibility of Holy Scripture. He is one of the few Scholars of our day who has really probed the literary heritage of the great Reformer John Calvin.

This paper is no exception to the rule: solely by grace! Infant baptism is based on the Covenant of grace. Depraved man has no meritorious works. Regeneration and the seed of faith thus implanted in the heart of the smallest child, are indispensable for Baptism. But these are gifts of God!

The prior existence of faith as deserved merit, could never be proved — not even before Baptism. That is why the Belgic Confession (art. 21) explains: “We do not mean that faith itself justifies us.”

However, faith is indeed the implied prerequisite for all advocates of Adult Baptism alone. Indeed, the [Adult] Heathen — who have as yet had no participation in the Covenant — do need to profess their faith before receiving Baptism.

–from the forward

Product Details

Format: eBook, PDF
Laguage: English
Publisher: NiceneCouncil.com
Pages: 166

1. Rune Sjøblom says:

   April 2, 2012 at 6:29 pm

   Interesting!
2. PastorSean says:

   April 2, 2012 at 6:33 pm

   The Bible clearly teaches that a person is saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

   The Bible also clearly teaches that Baptism is one of the miraculous means of grace (together with God’s written and spoken Word) through which God creates and/or strengthens the gift of faith in a person’s heart (see Matt. 28:18-20; Act. 2:38; John 3:5-7; Act. 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5-6; Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Cor. 12:13). Thus, again, even through these means of grace we are still saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

   Although we sinful humans cannot fully understand how this happens or how it is possible, because of what the Bible says about Baptism (it is an act of God upon a sinful human being) we *do* know that when an infant is baptized God creates faith in the heart of that infant. (This is sometimes called “Baptismal Regeneration” by some church bodies.) This faith cannot yet, of course, be expressed or articulated, yet it is real and present all the same (see e.g., 1 Peter 2:21; Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:5-6; Matt. 18:6; Luke 1:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Cor. 12:13). Furthermore, this faith needs to be fed and nurtured by God’s Word (Matt. 28:18-20), or it will die.

   Please remember that Baptism is not a “spiritual booster shot” that automatically grants everyone a permanent place in heaven. (Those who have been baptized, but who no longer believe, will not be saved.)

   Please also understand that the Bible clearly teaches that Baptism (through the power of the Word of God, Jesus Christ) is one of the ways that God *does* Regenerate us and create in us a New Man, but it is not the *only* means of grace at God’s disposal. (This is why those who truly have faith in Jesus Christ and yet have not had the opportunity to be baptized [like, for example, the thief on the cross] will still be saved.)

Baptism Does Not Regenerate eBook:

• Item Price: $4.95
• Listed On: February 02, 2012