A FAITH ALONE advocate penned the above words in a e-mail message I received this past week. The first clause, I can wholly agree with. Indeed, the Bible teaches us that Jesus saves. In fact, His name means "Jehovah is Salvation". The angel who appeared to Joseph, said of this Child who would be born, "...He will save His people from their sins." (Mt 1:21). And John the Baptizer declared of Him, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (Jn 1:29). Amen! Jesus saves.
Since I do not believe the latter clause (namely that baptism has no part in our salvation), I have been labelled by our correspondent as a BAPTISMAL REGENERATIONALIST. What is baptismal regeneration? It seems that my accuser has concluded that anyone who believes baptism to be necessary for salvation believes in the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. However, baptismal regeneration is not merely a belief in the necessity of baptism, but more precisely, a belief that baptism, apart from faith is able to save. In that regard, I applaud the words of the nineteenth century Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, "We confront this dogma with the assertion, that BAPTISM WITHOUT FAITH SAVES NO ONE." (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 573, June 5th, 1864).
Baptismal regeneration is most commonly attributed to the Catholic Church, but it is not merely a Catholic doctrine. The doctrine can also be found among protestant groups, including the Lutherans and Anglicans, the latter of whom roused Spurgeon’s comment.
The existence of such a doctrine is the combination of a little truth and a little error. Those who hold to baptismal regeneration acknowledge the Bible teaching that baptism has a role in the salvation of man (1 Pe 3:21). However, they mingle this truth with the false doctrine of depravity (Mt 19:14). Thus, countless children, pure and holy before God, have been subjected to public washings which no more removed sin than their regular baths at home. The fact is, these children had no sin to be purged (Eze 18:20), and even if they had, such could not be accomplished unless they first believed (Mk 16:16).
Baptismal regeneration is the backbone to infant baptism, and depravity is the backbone to baptismal regeneration; but all three are false, humanly devised doctrines.
Rather than take mere portions of the Bible, we must take all of what the Bible says. Yes, the BAPTISMAL REGENERATIONALISTS are in error for exalting baptism above all else and making it the whole matter with regard to salvation, but equally, the FAITH ALONE advocates are in error for exalting faith as the sole agency in man’s salvation. No text can be found to support the thought that baptism alone affects the condition of man’s soul; neither can a text be found which stipulates that faith alone is sufficient. In fact, the phrase "faith only" appears but once, in the writing of James, where he emphatically declares, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (Jms 2:24)
"Ah,"
the FAITH ALONE cohort will contend, "James is talking about justification, not salvation." Is that so? Does James make the distinction which our friends have made? Consider:"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead also." (James 2:14-26)
James does not make the distinction between salvation and justification that the FAITH ALONE advocate makes. Notice the question James pursues. Is the question not, can faith that does not have works save (v 14)? What conclusion does the inspired writer come to? "...Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (v 17) "...Faith without works is dead." (v 20, 26) "...A man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." (v 24)
Does James contradict Paul, who wrote, "...by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Eph 2:8-9). If Paul’s point is that we are saved by faith alone, he did not articulate it well. To convey this, simply including the word "only" or "alone" would have settled two millennium of debate and discussion. These words are not included, for his argument is not that we are saved by faith alone. This is the same Paul who wrote, "...God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered." (Ro 6:17). And if Paul is the writer of Hebrews, he also penned that Jesus has become, "...the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Heb 5:9). These could hardly be the words of a man who taught salvation by faith only. So, what is the message? Salvation is not meritorious, and therefore, no room is available for boasting (Lk 17:10). We are but unprofitable servants when we have submitted ourselves in obedience to the Lord. We have done that which is our duty, or, as the apostle writes, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10).
Does the Bible teach the necessity of faith? Absolutely (Heb 11:6; Jn 8:24; Ro 10:14, 17). Any doctrine which teaches otherwise (ie. baptismal regeneration) needs to be rejected. However, the Bible speaks of more than just faith. It also teaches the need for us to submit to the Lord’s command to be baptized, that we might be saved (Mk 16:16; Col 2:11-13; Gal 3:26-27). Any doctrine which teaches otherwise (ie. faith alone) must be rejected by those who determine to serve the Lord faithfully.
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23 THINGS THAT SAVE MAN! WHICH ONE WILL YOU LEAVE OUT? | |
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God has provided 14 things: 1. Father (Isa 12:2; Tit 3:4-5; Ro 6:23; 8:33...) |
Man must respond 9 ways: 1. Hear (Ro 10:14-17; Pr 28:9; Isa 55:3...) (borrowed from bible.ca) |
That 42 cannot be correct is evidenced by the fact that Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father became king at age 32 and reigned 8 years, before dying (2 Chronicles 21:5, 20). If Jehoram was 40 at the time of his death, he certainly did not have a 42 year old son who then took his place.
As has been admitted in the past, we again grant that copyist errors can and have occurred, and it appears such is the case with the age of Ahaziah. However, such a minor mistake from the copying pen of a man should not cause one to lay doubt on the entirety of Scripture. To do so would be to employ the discrepancy well beyond the weight of it’s importance.
When in Kingston, Ontario, worship with the Limestone Church of Christ
assembling at 332 Montreal Street
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William J. Stewart
Limestone Church of Christ
Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
www.lookinguntojesus.net
613-542-3354
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