“Baptism is not essential for salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of ‘baptismal regeneration’; but it is essential to obedience, since Christ commanded it.” (The Hiscox Standard Manuel For ____ Churches)
Jesus said in John 3:5, “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The word “except” means there is no other way into the kingdom. In Titus 3:5 we read that one is not saved, “by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” The washing of regeneration is the “new birth” by the washing away of sins. Note what Ananias commanded Saul to do in Acts. 22:16. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins [washing of regeneration], calling on the name of the Lord.” Some would say that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus. If that were the case he was saved in his sins. Why would Ananias command Saul to “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,” if he had no sins to wash away?” Did Ananias believe that Saul had already been saved and therefore he had no sins? Did Ananias believe that “baptism is not essential to salvation”?
Jesus said in John 3:3: “Except a man (not a baby) be born again (the new birth) he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He also said, “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The water in John 3:5 is not the water in the birth of a baby as some teach. Jesus was talking about a grown man being born again. He is talking about a NEW BIRTH. Baptism is the washing of regeneration, the new birth into Christ. Paul said, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3) When a baby is born, a life begins. That is the natural birth. Paul said that new life begins when one is baptized into Christ’s death. As “Christ was raised up from the dead...we also should walk in newness of life.” Christ shed his blood in death. When one is baptized “into his death,” Christ’s blood cleanses him from his past sins. He then is raised to walk “in newness of life.”
The Bible says we are saved “by the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5) The Bible also says that baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16). A person with all sins washed away is a saved person. If not why not? The Bible also teaches that “baptism doth also now save us” (I Pet. 3:21). Peter said that baptism saves us and it saves us now. In baptism one’s sins are washed away and that washing process saves us from all past sins.
Note the conclusion. The Bible teaches one is saved by the washing of regeneration. It also teaches that baptism saves. Therefore, the Bible teaches that one is saved by the baptism of regeneration.
The Hiscox Standard Manuel for ____Churches says “...our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of ‘baptismal regeneration.’”
Note also that the Bible states that “baptism doth also now save us.”
The Hiscox Standard Manuel for ____Churches says “Baptism is not essential for salvation.” Which should we believe? “We ought to obey God rather than men“ (Acts 5:29). “Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
“If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God” (I Pet. 4:11)
Don H. Noblin
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