baptismal regeneration means born again
new life in Christ by His grace ez 36:25-27
Jn 3:5
Matt 28:19
act 2:38-39
titus 3:5
brought to life, the life of God in us (grace)
Jn 1:16-17
Jn 10:10
Jn 14:6
eph 2:1 & 5
thks
In John 3:5, Jesus said born of water and the Spirit. He
did not say born of baptism and the Spirit and He also did not say unless one is water baptized, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. In the very next chapter, Jesus mentions "living water" in
John 4:10,
14 and He
connects living water with eternal life in
John 4:14. Also, in
John 7:38-39, we read - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water. But this He spoke
concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the
source of living water and spiritual cleansing.
If "water" is arbitrarily defined as baptism, then we could just as justifiably say, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living baptism" in
John 7:38. If this sounds ridiculous, it is no more so than the idea that water baptism is the source or the means of becoming born again.
So, to automatically read "baptism" into John 3:5 simply because it mentions "water" is unwarranted.
Also "water" is used in the Bible as an
emblem of the word of God, and in such uses it is
associated with cleansing or washing. (
John 15:3;
Ephesians 5:26) When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begets new life, so that we are said to become "partakers of the divine nature." (
2 Peter 1:4) The new birth is brought to pass through "incorruptible seed, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever" (
I Peter 1:23) and the Holy Spirit accomplishes the miracle of regeneration. (
Titus 3:5)
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus says to go and make disciples and baptize them. Nothing there about baptismal regeneration.
In Acts 2:38, for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in
Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what
Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.
*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in
Acts 10:45 received
the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with
Acts 2:38 -
the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism. (
Acts 10:47)
In
Acts 10:43 we read
..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received
the gift of the Holy Spirit -
Acts 10:45 -
when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ -
Acts 11:17 - (compare with
Acts 16:31 -
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism -
Acts 10:47. This is referred to as
repentance unto life -
Acts 11:18.
*So, the only logical conclusion
when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (
Luke 24:47;
Acts 2:38;
3:19;
5:31;
10:43-47;
11:17,
18; 13:38-39;
15:7-9;
16:31;
26:18).
*Perfect Harmony*
In regard to Titus 3:5, the washing of regeneration is not accomplished by water baptism. The word "washing" in the Strong's Greek Concordance with Vine's Number 3067 - (Loutron) "a bath, a laver" is used
*metaphorically of the Word of God, as the instrument of spiritual cleansing,* (
Ephesians 5:26; and
Titus 3:5), of the "washing of regeneration."
Washing refers to spiritual washing or purification of the soul, accomplished by the word of God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Water baptism is the
picture but is not the reality. The washing of regeneration is
signified but not procured in water baptism. False religion turns symbols and shadows of our salvation into the substance and the source.
