BAPTISMAL REGENERATION

Updated May 31, 2004 (first published via the FBIS October 10, 1996) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

The following is from a new book I am completing called THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD: A Commentary on the Hard Sayings and Seeming Contradictions in the Bible by David W. Cloud, copyright 1996 --

MARK 16:15-16 -- "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Many attempt to use this passage to prove baptismal regeneration or the necessity of baptism for salvation, but it proves no such thing. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that it is faith that saves, and baptism is the symbol and evidence of one's faith. A careful reading of Mark 16:16 confirms this. It does not say that those who are not baptized shall be damned; it says those who do not believe will be damned. When the Philippian jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul did not reply that he needed to believe and be baptized. He replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31). After the jailer believed on Christ, he was baptized that same night, but it was only the product of his salvation. Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit BEFORE they were baptized (Acts 10:43-48), and the Holy Spirit is the mark and seal of sonship and salvation (Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:11-12). If baptism were a part of salvation, the Apostle Paul would not have said, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). Baptism is not part of the Gospel that Paul preached. See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In this passage Paul declared the Gospel “in a nutshell,” and there is no mention of baptism. Paul's Gospel message was also summarized in Acts 20:21—”repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, there is no word about baptism. Baptism is important, but it follows salvation and is not a part of the Gospel. It is a first step of obedience after salvation. When Paul explained how to be saved in Romans chapter 10, he again said nothing about baptism:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9-13).

We believe the passage in Mark 16:15-16 is a powerful testimony to the importance of baptism and to the fact that it is one of the key evidences of salvation. A person who says he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ but who does not submit to baptism is probably deceiving himself. The Ethiopian eunuch was eager to be baptized (Acts 8:35-38).
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JOHN 3:5 — “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

The following is from the Plains Baptist Challenger, October 1982 —

All sorts of controversy have been waged over the meaning of this passage. The first thing to do is to carefully read John 3:1-12. Note some of the wrong interpretations and theories:

I. THE WRONG THEORY THAT WATER BAPTISM IS MEANT

One entire denomination interprets this passage to mean that one must be immersed to be saved. “Born of water” to them means being immersed. This passage is pressed into teach-ing baptismal regeneration.

Why This Isn’t True:

1. Because baptism isn’t under con-sideration at all in the conversation that is taking place. Nothing else in the chapter indicates that baptism was being discussed.
2. Because if baptism were meant, then in less than a minute Jesus contradicted himself by putting salvation upon the basis of faith. (See verses 16,18, 36.) This is of course ridiculous to assume.
3. Because to assume that baptism is referred to is to wreck the teaching that salvation is “by grace through faith ... not of works” (Eph 2:8)
4. Because to assume that baptism is referred to, is to make the New Testament teach two ways of salvation, for certainly the thief saved on the cross was not im-mersed. Certainly Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. These cases prove that sal-vation precedes baptism. The person who teaches baptismal salvation is bound to teach that Christ and his work must be plussed with water and works. But salvation is not by “water works.”

II. THE THEORY THAT “WATER” HERE MEANS “THE WORD”

The idea is that water is a symbol of the Word of God. This would make the passage to mean, “except one be born of the Spirit and the Word ...” Many good and reverent students of the Bible hold this view. While we have no quarrel with those who hold such a view, we do not believe that this theory is the correct one. Why?

1. Because we believe that if Jesus had meant “word” he would have said so plainly.
2. Because they were not talking about the Word.
3. Because such an interpretation re-quires that one go outside this Scripture for the key to the meaning whereas we believe that the key to the passage is right in the passage itself.

WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE CORRECT MEANING

We believe that this passage means this: that a person must be born of the flesh [or naturally] and likewise of the Spirit [super-naturally] in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Why we believe this:

1. Because it is certainly true that one must be born twice to enter the Kingdom.
2. Because in the very next breath, Jesus makes plain that He is speaking of two births—flesh and spirit. He says, “That which is born of the flesh of the flesh, and that which born of the Spirit is Spirit.” It seems to us that he clearly gives his own explanation of his meaning.
3. Because the point of confusion in the mind of Nicodemus was the matter of the con-trasting births. His words in verse 4 make clear his point of misunderstanding. Jesus had to say to him in substance, “I am not talking about the physical birth ... one must be born in that way, and yet also in another way to get into the kingdom of God.”
4. Because according to Bible scholars, the writings of the Jewish rabbis often refer to the natural birth as a “water birth” for reasons which any physician can make clear.
5. Because we believe that the obvious and simple meaning is in this case, as generally, the true meaning.
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ACTS 2:38 -- "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Many attempt to use this passage to prove baptismal regeneration or the necessity of baptism for salvation, but it proves no such thing. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that it is faith in Christ that saves, and baptism is the symbol and evidence of one’s faith. Acts 2:38, standing alone, could mean either that baptism RESULTS IN the remission of sins, or it could just as easily mean that baptism is BECAUSE OF the remission of sins already obtained through faith. Comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that the true meaning is the latter. Those who repent and trust the Lord Jesus Christ receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life and the Holy Spirit, and baptism signifies this spiritual reality.

The Apostle Peter made his doctrine of baptism plain in his first epistle. He stated that baptism is a simply a “figure” of salvation (1 Pet. 3:21). This leaves no question whatsoever about the meaning of his statement in Acts 2:38.

Ephesians 1:13 plainly states that the Holy Spirit is received by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

The Lord Jesus Christ also taught that the Holy Spirit is given to those who believe in Him. “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:38,39).

When the Philippian jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul did not reply that he needed to believe and be baptized. He replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Ac. 16:30-31). After the jailer believed on Christ, he was baptized that same night, but it was only the product of his salvation. Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit BEFORE they were baptized (Ac. 10:43-48), and the Holy Spirit is the mark and seal of sonship and salvation (Ga. 4:6; Ep. 1:11-12). If baptism were a part of salvation, the Apostle Paul would not have said, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Co. 1:17). Baptism is not part of the Gospel that Paul preached. Further, consider 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In this passage, Paul declared the Gospel “in a nutshell,” and there is no mention of baptism. Paul's Gospel message was also summarized in Acts 20:21—”repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, there is no word about baptism. Baptism is important, but it follows salvation and is not a part of the Gospel. When Paul explained how to be saved in Romans chapter 10, he again said nothing about baptism:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9-13).

We believe the passage in Acts 2:38 is a powerful testimony to the importance of baptism and to the fact that it is one of the key evidences of salvation. A person who says he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ but who does not want to submit to baptism is probably deceiving himself.
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ACTS 22:16 -- "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Many attempt to use this passage to prove baptismal regeneration or the necessity of baptism for salvation, but it proves no such thing. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that it is faith that saves, and baptism is the symbol and evidence of one’s faith. Acts 22:16, standing alone, could mean either that baptism washes away sins, or it could mean that calling on the name of the Lord washes away sins. Comparing Scripture with Scripture, we know that the true meaning is the latter. In Acts 9:17 we see that Paul was a “brother” in Christ before he was baptized. One must be saved and adopted into God’s family to be a brother in Christ. Romans 10:13 says whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There is absolutely no mention of baptism in Romans 10. Those who repent and trust the Lord Jesus Christ receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life, and baptism signifies this spiritual reality.

When the Philippian jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul did not reply that he needed to believe and be baptized. He replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31). After the jailer believed on Christ, he was baptized that same night, but it was only the product of his salvation. Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit BEFORE they were baptized (Acts 10:43-48), and the Holy Spirit is the mark and seal of sonship and salvation (Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:11-12). If baptism were a part of salvation, the Apostle Paul would not have said, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). Baptism is not part of the Gospel that Paul preached. Further, consider 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In this passage Paul declared the Gospel “in a nutshell,” and there is no mention of baptism. Paul's Gospel message was also summarized in Acts 20:21—”repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, there is no word about baptism. Baptism is important, but it follows salvation and is not a part of the Gospel. When Paul explained how to be saved in Romans chapter 10, he again said nothing about baptism:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9-13).

We believe the passage in Acts 22:16 is a powerful testimony to the importance of baptism and to the fact that it is one of the key evidences of salvation. Baptism is not an option; it is a command of the Lord. A person who says he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ but who does not want to submit to baptism is probably deceiving himself.
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1 PETER 3:21 -- "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

This verse teaches plainly that baptism is a figure, a symbol, a picture. Baptism is not a part of salvation; it is symbolic of salvation. We are saved, not by water going over our bodies, but by faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.