baptismal regeneration
The belief that it is ordinarily necessary for one to be baptized in order to be saved.
- Argument against baptismal regeneration from scripture:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)
- From the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, chapter 29:
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. - From Baptismal Regeneration by Charles Spurgeon:
I find that the great error which we have to contend with throughout England (and it is growing more and more), is one in direct opposition to my text, well known to you as the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. We will confront this dogma with the assertion, that BAPTISM WITHOUT FAITH SAVES NO ONE. The text says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;” but whether a man be baptized or no, it asserts that “he that believeth not shall be damned:” so that baptism does not save the unbeliever, nay, it does not in any degree exempt him from the common doom of all the ungodly. He may have baptism, or he may not have baptism, but if he believeth not, he shall be in any case most surely damned. Let him be baptized by immersion or sprinkling, in his infancy, or in his adult age, if he be not led to put his trust in Jesus Christ—if he remaineth an unbeliever, then this terrible doom is pronounced upon him—“He that believeth not shall be damned.”
Learn more:
- GodQuestions.org: Is baptism necessary for salvation? What is baptismal regeneration?
- Paul Adams: Against Baptismal Regeneration: An Exposition of John 3:5 & Titus 3:5
- James White: A Brief Rebuttal of Baptismal Regeneration
- Got Questions.org: Does Mark 16:16 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation?
- Got Questions.org: Does 1 Peter 3:21 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation?
- Got Questions.org: Does John 3:5 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation?
- Got Questions.org: Does Acts 22:16 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation?
Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it.
I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.
Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.