Correct, because the parents are not believers, it is not likely that the children will hear the gospel nor witness any godly influence nor be exposed to any other of the ordained means by which God calls His elect to Christ. However, I must insist that if those means are not existent in the family, then it must come via an outside source. What we know is that the ordinary means are those which God uses to call sinners to Christ. We must not presume that without them one can be saved. Thus the "drawing of the Father" comes by hearing the Word of God. This has been the Church's burden for sending forth missionaries into the world. (Mk 16:15) What God chooses to do in secret is not our concern. We are to know, depend upon and do all that has been revealed. (Deut 29:29)

In His Grace,

Speratus:

Having answered all your questions regarding Baptists and their supposed wickedness. I must say you still haven't provided any reasonable argument why Baptists should be regarded this way. With that again I must say you have yet to provide a good exegesis from scripture , and by that I don't mean a sermon from Luther or somthing from the Trigota, to defend your view. Until you bring scripture to this and convince me by exegesis I must conclude your claims are spurious.

Bonanerges,

Luther's sermons and the confessions are exegesis upon scripture. We are commanded to baptize children according to scripture. However, if a Baptist (or anyone else) believes Baptism is simply an ordinance to be obeyed, they should not baptize their children. The promise of baptism (Acts 2:38, 39) is to those who believe it.



Luther's Small Catechism

Acts 2:38, 39 states that the benefits of baptism are the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38. 39 states that these benefits of baptism apply to those present, their children, and those who aren't present that God will call through baptism. Peter here specifically says that children of those present should be immediately baptized and that they receive the benefits of baptism.

An open question to the Reformed and Reformed Baptist on this board:

Do you believe in Baptismal Regeneration? For the purposes of this question, Baptismal Regeneration is defined as regeneration that occurs in baptism when it pleases God.

Before baptism is repentance (Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..." Acts 2:38), and true repentance requires a heart of flesh, not stone. God's replacing of one's heart of stone with a heart of flesh is what regeneration is, is it not?

So it comes first, then repentance, then baptism.

Just like it says in Acts. ;->

TheClingingVine,

So I take it you believe in Repentance Regeneration and reject Baptismal Regeneration? Do you believe that when Peter said to those pricked in their heart, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you", he was telling them they needed to do nothing, one thing, or two things for the remission of sins?

The work of the Holy Spirit to breathe life where none existed before cannot be harnessed, as Christ plainly said in John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Could you provide exegesis that shows that passage is an order of events?



Kai is accumulative. Could you offer exegesis showing Peter was setting forth a prescriptive formula?


God bless,

william

Been there, done that. (Right, John C.?) It is now my heartfelt belief that the only thing more certain to be unproductive than a debate on the proper mode of baptism is trying to get my 17 year old son to clean his room.

Speratus asked a question, and I answered it.

Right now I'm hoping to read some other people's responses to his question.

I would disagree, in that discussion helped to shape my beliefs immensely. I do understand ones unwillingness to discuss matters; I rarely discuss eschatology.


God bless,

william

averagefellar
Speaking as a Baptist, obviously I am a credo Baptist. However, I think many people (credo & paedo) make too big a deal about this matter. If it was a salvation issue (as those who believe in baptismal regeneration believe it is) then I could understand it, but I don't believe it is.
That is not to say that I think the matter isn't important, but it isn't important enough that it should cause dis-unity in the body of Christ.

This matter has been discussed to great length in the past on the Highway, so like Anne said: “I prefer to not get into debates on baptism.”

If you are interesting in understanding why Baptists such as myself believe in credo-baptism, I would suggest either looking in the archived discussions or reading a book such as Fred Malone’s ‘The Baptism of Disciples Alone’.

By the way, I would agree that discussions can shape beliefs. In fact they have shaped many of my own beliefs. But as I said: "This matter has been discussed to great length in the past on the Highway".
Someone else however, may want to deal with your specific question.

Tom

I'm browned off on that topic, too.

Actually, it's getting difficult to find any topic at all that can be discussed, debated, and generally batted around without everyone coming to either tears or blows.

Impossible. Contrary to popular ecumenical sayings, the disunity is already there. The Baptists caused it. I think it needs to be healed and the Baptists need to quit causing disunity.



I have skimmed parts of it, but believe Fred to simply be in error. I used to be a baptist. I think I have sufficient knowledge of the subject.


God bless,

william

I would agree that Baptists need to take responsibility for their side of the problem. But you are naive if you believe that both sides haven't contributed to the problem.

As for why I mentioned Fred Malone's book, it wasn't because I expected you to agree with him.

Tom

Does the Holy Spirit work without outward communicative means? Are preaching or baptism necessary for regeneration? If not, does the Holy Spirit come to men through their own preparations, prayers, and works?