Do you folks believe in baptismal regeneration and are you Campbellites? Thanks ~ Cheryl Dee, Australia
Mr. Rushmore, I was searching the internet and ran across your page. I saw that you taught “Baptismal Regeneration”. I was wandering how the “Church of Christ”, “Mormons”, and “Catholics” view the converts in Acts 10 that were saved by faith, ‘before’ water baptism. The bible says only those who obey God may recieve the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:32). examples:
Before dealing with the questions regarding “baptismal regeneration,” let me briefly respond to the notion that others and I religiously are “Campbellites.” The appellation “Campbellites” is a derisive slur that historically has been assigned to the Disciples of Christ, the Christian Church and the churches of Christ by their antagonists. I hope that is not the spirit in which this question is posed and that your choice of words is an honest, uninformed oversight.
Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander Campbell, were Presbyterians and later identified with Baptists before opting to go behind denominationalism and attempt to practice New Testament Christianity by relying solely on the New Testament for religious instruction. However, preceding them by several years in independent efforts were James O’Kelly (formerly a Methodist), Abner Jones (formerly Baptist), Elias Smith (formerly Baptist), Barton Stone (formerly Presbyterian) and others, too. Between the latter years of the 1700s through the 1800s, in the United States and Europe, religious people left various denominations by the tens of thousands to practice predenominational, simple New Testament Christianity. Their goal was to be simply Christians and members of the church Jesus died to establish and about which one reads in the New Testament. None of these people ever referred to themselves as “Campbellites,” but the term was maliciously coined owing to the notoriety of the Campbells.
The churches of Christ honestly endeavor to be the one church over which Jesus is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4) that he promised to build (Matthew 16:18), for which he died and which he purchased with his blood (Acts 20:28). Hence, they rely upon the Bible alone for their doctrine, practice and sole means of cohesion as independent congregations (1 Peter 4:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Whereas their religious neighbors subscribe to the biblical notion of this one church that Jesus died to establish, the churches of Christ seek to become the physical manifestation of that church (even as that church about which one can read in the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament epistles was not merely a notion but was represented by real congregations in various first century cities). Anywhere one plants the seed of the kingdom, which is the Word of God (Luke 8:11), into honest hearts, the result is pure New Testament Christianity — the church for which Jesus died, over which he is the head and for which he will return someday.
Regarding baptismal regeneration, nowhere in the pages of Gospel Gazette Online nor anywhere in my writings and not even amongst writings by others with whom I am acquainted have we applied this terminology to any of our beliefs or practices. Historically, the phrase baptismal regeneration has been applied to a number of different religious groups that acknowledge that baptism has some relation to salvation. “Baptismal regeneration. The view that water baptism is necessary for, and brings, the new birth.” (Paul S. Karleen, The Handbook to Bible Study, (New York: Oxford University Press) 1987.) However, the definition of baptismal regeneration varies depending upon which religious group one has under consideration. For instance, some religious groups (e.g., Catholics, Lutherans) view water baptism as a ceremonial rite which by itself exclusive of anything else proffers salvation. However, the New Testament does not teach that respecting water baptism. Further, they practice sprinkling for baptism, which the New Testament does not teach, instead of immersion, which the New Testament does teach regarding water baptism (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:38; John 3:23).
The affirmation that “the converts in Acts 10 that were saved by faith, ‘before’ water baptism” is an assumption that is not supported by biblical evidence. The erroneous assumption regarding the salvation of “the converts” in Acts 10 stems from a misunderstanding of (1) the mission and work of the Holy Spirit, and (2) what the New Testament teaches about salvation.
First, nowhere does the Bible ascribe to the Holy Spirit the responsibility of saving anyone from anything. The Holy Spirit brought about new revelation from God (2 Peter 1:21; John 14:26; 16:13) and confirmed that revelation with miracles (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). God chose human instrumentality through which to communicate the saving message to sinners (Acts 2, Peter; 8:26-39, Philip; 10 & 11, Peter). The added purpose for which the Holy Spirit appears in Acts 10 & 11 was to prove to Peter and the Jews that the Gentiles also were intended by God to be the recipients of the Gospel blessings (Acts 10:34-35).
Second, the New Testament attributes saving power to a number of different elements. Many people simply choose the ones that they prefer (usually “faith”) to the exclusion of the rest as though the others are not even there. That is not handling aright the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). In truth, all of the elements to which Scripture attributes saving power work together for the redemption of souls. Just how, though, do these various elements to which the New Testament ascribes saving power work together, and where and how does baptism figure among these?
Here is a summary of some of the elements to which the Bible ascribes saving power, and indication of whose involvement in each is required: God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit or mankind. God the Father’s part: love (John 3:16), grace (Ephesians 2:8), mercy (Titus 3:5), the Gospel (Romans 1:16). Christ’s part: the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5), our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Holy Spirit’s part: providing revelation (1 Corinthians 2:6-16), placing baptized persons in the “one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Man’s part: Bible faith (John 8:24), repentance (Acts 17:30), baptism (1 Peter 3:21), obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9), purity (Revelation 22:14), faithfulness (Revelation 2:10), love (1 John 2:10), hope (Romans 8:24), works (James 2:24), endurance (Matthew 10:22), confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10), being born again (John 3:3-5), laying aside evil (James 1:21), preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21), calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:14), knowledge of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15).
Since the religious world assaults God’s redemptive plan chiefly respecting baptism, perhaps more verses in the New Testament deal with that aspect of the plan of salvation than any other part. Notice some of the verses that attribute salvation to baptism:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …” (Mark 16:16).
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins …” (Acts 2:38).
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
“…baptism doth also now save us …” (1 Peter 3:21).
Add to the forgoing the following verses that indicate the essentiality of baptism. Baptism puts one into Christ (Romans 6:3-5); by baptism one puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27); baptism is commanded, therefore, not optional but obligatory (Acts 10:48). Baptism puts one into the death of Christ (symbolically) (Romans 6:3-5) where Christ’s saving blood (Ephesians 1:7) was shed.
However, immersion in water by itself, without purposing to receive the remission of sins, without faith, without repentance, without mercy, without grace, etc. would be merely a bath (1 Peter 3:21) and would be wholly void of any saving affect. In short, baptism alone would be baptismal regeneration (which the Bible does not teach), but baptism in conjunction with the other elements to which the Bible ascribes saving power saves a soul from his past sins. Baptism is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan and the point at which one’s sins are remitted.
For further information regarding God’s redemptive plan, go to the archives of Gospel Gazette Online and use the site search feature to learn more about each facet of God’s plan of salvation (e.g., faith, repentance, confessing Christ, baptism, grace, mercy, etc.). May God bless your quest for truth.
