OrthodoxCatholic said: For instance, there are Reformed Baptists here, as well as Lutherans, and some other types of believers. The Baptists believe that baptism is a sign of belief by which the world receives the testimony of our faith in Christ. The Lutherans, if I understand correctly, believe that baptism regenerates.
Lutherans and Romanists have differing views concerning the meaning of Baptismal Regeneration. Lutherans do not depart from the analogy of faith. Baptism never regenerates apart from faith. Nor is the salvic grace of baptism tied to one moment in time. We look forward to our baptism and return to our baptism by faith alone throughout our entire life. So those who come believing (regenerate) to baptism, those who don't believe (unregenerate) until after baptism, and those who are regenerated in baptism all receive the washing of regeneration in Holy Baptism by faith alone not by the outward act.
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Here we condemn the whole crowd of scholastic doctors, who teach that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato, without a good disposition on the part of the one using them, provided he do not place a hindrance in the way. This is absolutely a Jewish opinion, to hold that we are justified by a ceremony, without a good disposition of the heart, i.e., without faith. And yet this impious and pernicious opinion is taught with great authority throughout the entire realm of the Pope. Paul contradicts this, and denies, Rom. 4, 9, that Abraham was justified by circumcision, but asserts that circumcision was a sign presented for exercising faith. Thus we teach that in the use of the Sacraments faith ought to be added, which should believe these promises, and receive the promised things, there offered in the Sacrament. And the reason is plain and thoroughly grounded. The promise is useless unless it is received by faith.
