The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "Salvation unto Us has Come"

The contradictory remarks you made I quoted verbatim. From your response I must conclude that you are either incapable of defending them or unwilling to do so!

Wrong again! I am in complete agreement with the WCF on this matter, which I have many times affirmed publicly. What I have a hard time grasping is your unbiblical views. Further I do not appreciate you injecting your unbiblical ideas into the WCF which says nothing about the "washing away of sins through baptism"!!

[color:"bluesize4"]The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXVIII
Of Baptism
I. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,[1] not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church;[2] but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,[3] of his ingrafting into Christ,[4] of regeneration,[5] of remission of sins,[6] and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life.[7] Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.[8]

1. Matt. 28:19
2. I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-28
3. Rom. 4:11; Col. 2:11-12
4. Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:5
5. John 3:5; Titus 3:5
6. Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38; 22:16
7. Rom. 6:3-4
8. Matt. 28:19-20

II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.[9]

9. Acts 8:36, 38; 10:47; Matt. 28:19

III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person.[10]

10. Heb. 9:10, 13, 19, 21; Mark 7:2-4; Luke 11:38

IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,[11] but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.[12]

11. Acts 2:41; 8:12-13; 16:14-15
12. Gen. 17:7-14; Gal. 3:9, 14; Col. 2:11-12; Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 4:11-12; Matt. 19:13; 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17; I Cor. 7:14

V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance,[13] yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it;[14] or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.[15]

13. Gen. 17:14; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; see Luke 7:30
14. Rom. 4:11; Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47
15. Acts 8:13, 23

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;[16] yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.[17]

16. John 3:5, 8
17. Rom. 6:3-6; Gal. 3:27; I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38, 41

VII. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person.[18]

18. Rom. 6:3-11

The "despising" of baptism isn't relevant to the subject at hand which is the "efficacy" and "necessity" of baptism for justification/salvation. The WFC, Section V states very clearly that, "yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it;". I heartily concur. Again, making baptism "essential to salvation" annexes the sacrament to faith and thus contradicts "Sola Fide".

So, now we are to deny the Scriptural teaching as to the origin of faith, i.e., regeneration of the Holy Spirit which comes through the Gospel found in the written Word (Rom 1:16; 10:14-17) and add to it that faith must come through not only the Word but baptism too? Sir, an adult comes to baptism having already believed. Adults who deny Christ are not qualified nor allowed to partake of baptism. Faith is a prerequisite for baptism. Thus, it is illogical to posit that one gains faith through baptism.

In His grace,