In this second episode of the Theopologetics Podcast I discuss the topic of “baptismal regeneration,” the belief that water baptism is a requirement of salvation, the means by which our sins are remitted.
Music
- Al Green, Take Me To the River, from the Definitive Greatest Hits album, 2007
- Britney Spears, Oops!… I Did it Again, from the Oops!… I Did It Again album, 2000
- Alison Krauss, Down To the River To Pray, from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, 2000
Promoted Resources
- Theology Today Apologetic Ministries Podcast, with Phil Naessens.
- Also check out the Theology Today blog.
Terminology
- Soteriology: the study of religious doctrines of salvation
- Baptismal Regeneration: A view shared by the Roman Catholic Church and a few other Christian sects which holds that the physical act of water baptism is a requirement for salvation, that in fact salvation happens at baptism when one’s sins are remitted or “washed away.”
- Churches of Christ: A group of autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices, including a view of baptism similar to baptismal regeneration.
- “Straw Man” Logical Fallacy: An informal logical fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent’s position. A poor imitiation of an opponent’s argument may be easy to “knock down,” but doesn’t actually address the argument.
- Protestant: Generally, any Christian who rejects the authority of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. More specifically, related to the view of those reformers who separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the Protestant Reformation.
- Apostolic Origin: Written by one of Jesus’ original Apostles.
- Denying the Antecedent Fallacy: A fallacy in which one first says, “If A is true, then B is true,” and then says that “Because A is not true, then B is not true.” This does not logically follow.
- Type: Something physical which symbolically prefigures a spiritual reality.
- Grace: Unmerited (not earned) favor from God.
Historical References
Creeds
Church Fathers
- Faith PLUS baptism
- Faith, not baptism
- Polycarp: Letter to the Philippians
- Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Philadelphians, Letter to the Trallians, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Letter to Polycarp, Letter to the Ephesians
- Clement of Rome: Letter to the Corinthians
- Spiritual baptism in faith
- Barnabas (various candidates): Epistle of Barnabas
- Justin Martyr: Dialogue With Trypho (chapters 10-30, chapters 48-54); On the Resurrection; The First Apology
- Augustine: On Grace and Free Will
Biblical References
- In support of baptismal regeneration
- The “elementary” nature of the teaching of baptism
- Jesus’ statements concerning baptism
- The acts of the Apostles
- The writings of the Apostles
- Opposed to baptismal regeneration
- Saved by faith alone, apart from works
- Righteousness given as the result of works is not grace
- If you believe you are saved (no mention of baptism)
- On symbolic nature of “washings”
- Some were saved, receiving the Holy Spirit, prior to baptism