Complete refutation of baptismal regeneration

GROUNDWORK: 

There are at least seven different baptisms in the Bible and if you look at each on of them you will notice that "baptize" does not always mean "immerse".

#1.) God pouring out the flood in judgment [a water pouring with the end result being immersion] according to 1 Peter 3:20-21. ("baptism doth ALSO NOW")

#2.) The identification of the Israelites with Moses, God's messenger. (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) There was no immersion, the baptism was completely dry. 

#3.) Water baptism as a "like figure" of the washing away of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 3, etc.)

#4.) Baptism with fire, another judgement baptism. This one being into hell fire (Matthew 3:10-12, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 20:15).

#5.) Baptism of suffering/death (Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:38, Luke 12:50). 

#6.) Baptism BY Christ WITH the Holy Ghost ONTO a person for power (Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:38, Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28, Jeremiah 32:39, Acts 8:15-17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:6, etc.)

#7.) Baptism BY the Spirit WITH a person INTO Christ, an "operation of God" (Colossians 2:10-12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28, Romans 6:3-4, Eph. 4:5).

Most proponents of the baptismal regeneration heresy do not acknowledge the apostle Paul as the distinct "apostle to the Gentiles", "the pattern to them which should hereafter believe", and the one who Christ dispensed the revelation of the mystery and gospel of the grace of God to (Romans 11:13, Galatians 1:11-12, Galatians 2:7-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 3:1-9, Romans 16:25-26, Colossians 1:25-27, Ephesians 5:22-32, 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, 1 Corinthians 4:1, etc.). 

Most baptismal regeneration proponents pretend to follow Christ and Peter, yet they do not follow their command to sell all possessions that we see so frequently in the Gospels and Acts. (Matthew 19:16-23, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:21-33, Mark 6:7-9, Matthew 6:11, Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 9:1-4, Acts 2:44-46, Acts 3:2-6, Acts 4:32-37, Acts 5:1-11)

Most baptismal regeneration proponents do not acknowledge that Peter taught that the blotting out of sins would occur at the 2nd coming of Christ, Acts 3:19-21....in accordance with Jeremiah 31:31-34, 32:37-42, Ezekiel 36:24-33, and Romans 11:25-27.  Of course this is talking about Israel, not the body of Christ. What we call "church age doctrine" was revealed to Paul first, not Peter. (Eph. 3:1-9, Gal 2:7-8, Col. 1:24-27, 1 Cor. 4:1, Rom. 16:25).

Most baptismal regeneration proponents reject "rightly dividing the word of truth" as we are commanded in 2 Timothy 2:15. 

Here are the key divisions in the New Testament:

1.) Gospel of the kingdom/gospel of the circumcision VS the gospel of the grace of God/gospel of the uncircumcision. 

2.) The rapture of the body of Christ VS the re-gathering of Israel at the 2nd coming.

3.) The dispensation of the grace of God VS the time of Jacob's trouble (the tribulation).

4.) The ministry of the 12 apostles to the Jews VS the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles.

5.) The kingdom of heaven that will be established on the earth VS the kingdom of God in heavenly places.

6.) Christ as "a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers" VS Christ "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began".

7.) The Jews have their sins blotted out at the 2nd coming VS Gentiles having their sins blotted out at Calvary.

I have not seen any baptismal regeneration proponents acknowledge ANY of those divisions.

I have also never seen a baptismal regeneration proponent that believed in eternal security, which the Bible clearly teaches in John 3:15, 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 6:27, 6:40, 6:47, 10:28, Romans 6:22, 6:23, 8:31-39, 1 Timothy 1:16, Acts 13:38-39, Ephesians 1:13, 4:32, 1 John 1:2, 2:25, 5:11, 5:13, 5:20, Colossians 2:10, 2:13, 2 Timothy 2:9-13.

There are also several passages of scripture that baptismal regeneration proponents NEVER quote because these passages totally refute their heresy. Here are a few of such passages:

Acts 10:
[43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
[44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 15:
[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
[9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
[10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
[11] But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Also, most baptismal regeneration proponents say that water baptism is the same thing as baptism into Christ. That is HERESY. Christ is NOT a tank of water, therefore baptism into water CANNOT be baptism into Christ. Baptism into Christ is done by the Holy Spirit through the faith of the operation of God....not by water baptism performed by a man.

1 Corinthians 12:
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Colossians 2:
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

It is also worth noting that the Bible never mentions baptism "into water", it is always said to be WITH water.

REFERENCES TO SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH WITHOUT WORKS:

John 1:7

John 1:12-13

John 3:15-18

John 3:36

John 5:24

John 6:29

John 6:35

John 6:40

John 6:47

John 8:24

John 11:25-26

John 12:46

John 20:31

Acts 2:21

Acts 4:12

Acts 4:32-33

Acts 5:14

Acts 8:37

Acts 10:43-45

Acts 11:17

Acts 15:7-11

Acts 13:38-39

Acts 16:30-31

Acts 26:18

Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:13

Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 3:16-17

Ephesians 4:30

Ephesians 4:32

Philippians 3:3-9

Colossians 1:13-14

Colossians 2:6-23

1 Thessaloninas 4:14

1 Timothy 1:16

1 Timothy 2:3-6

2 Timothy 1:9

Galatians 2:16-21

Galatians 3:1-26

Romans 3:10-31

Romans 4:1-25

Romans 5:1-21

Romans 8:8

Romans 10:4-13

Romans 11:6

1 Corinthians 1:17-21

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Titus 3:5

1 John 1:9

1 John 3:23

1 John 5:1

1 John 5:5

1 John 5:10

1 John 5:13

 

NOW FOR THE "BAPTISMAL REGENERATION" REFUTATION:

Here are the verses that are used to say that water baptism is a requirement for salvation.

1.) "Born of water"
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Most baptismal regeneration proponents use "born of water" to mean water baptism. But that is obviously a private interpretation, just look at the context.

John 3:
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [Notice this is "born again", not "born again and again". This is ONE second birth.]
[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [Nicodemus mistakes this for the first birth, the physical birth of a child out of the mother's womb.]
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [Based on the context, "born of water" is obviously referring to the FIRST birth.]
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh [There it is again, the first birth.]; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [The second birth, "born again". If the baptismal regeneration proponents were correct, this would be a third birth.].
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

2.) "For the remission of sins"
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Here, the problem is the little three letter word "FOR". Look at this excerpt from a previous post I did on baptismal regeneration heresy.

"The COC position, baptismal regeneration, is  largely based on a misinterpretation of Acts 2:38. They believe that the phrase "for the remission of sins" means "in order to get the remission of sins". However, that is AGAINST the context. When did Christ ever say that water gave people the remission of sins? Would that not make the preacher (that is baptizing us) some sort of priest that has to do something for us so that we may get to heaven? Would that not make salvation between a sinner, a preacher, and Christ rather than just the sinner and Christ?

Here are some irrefutable facts about Acts 2:  Peter knew nothing about the dispensation of grace, The body of Christ, the pre-trib rapture of the body of Christ, complete salvation before the 2nd coming (he thought it came at the 2nd coming), Peter would not preach to Gentiles without Jews present until Israel repented (Luke 24:47), Peter did not preach that Christ died for sins in Acts 2 (he only preached a murder charge against the Jews), Peter and the apostles were still keeping the law (Acts 2:46, Acts 10:1-14, Acts 15), those in Acts 2 were keeping Christ's commandment to sell all that they had (Matthew 19:16-23, Matthew 10:9-10, Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:34-37, 5:1-11).

Those are irrefutable facts about Acts 2.
 
Also, the plan of salvation was already given before verse 38....

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Then Peter proves that Christ rose from the dead and is God and King over Israel (v. 22-36). So before we even get to verse 38 the plan of salvation has been given. Now look at verses 37-38.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Clearly these Jews had already called on the name of the Lord and believed that Christ was God and King over Israel, or else they would not have felt "pricked in their heart". These Jews did not ask "what shall we do to be saved" because Peter already declared in verse 21 that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved". What these Jews ARE ASKING is what should they do now....since they crucified their Messiah, which was Peter's charge against them (Acts 2:22-36).

The answer to that was the following:
1.) Repent of it
2.) Get water baptized to answer God with a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21) which you cannot do if you are not already saved (Titus 1:15).

"FOR the remission of sins" does not mean "to obtain the remission of sins". It means 'BECAUSE OF' the remission of sins......look at the references yourself.

Bring forth therefore fruits meet FOR repentance . . . --Matt. 3:4

Offer the gift that Moses commanded, FOR a testimony unto them . . . -- Matt. 8:3, 4

They cried FOR fear . . . --Matt. 14:26

Offer FOR thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded . . . -- Mark 1:11

They could not come nigh unto him FOR the press . . . --Mark 2:4

He looked . . . being grieved FOR the hardness of their hearts . . . -- Mark 3:3

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins . . . --Acts 2:38

The word "for" means different things. It CAN mean "in order to obtain", but that is not what it means in Acts 2:38. As seen above, in the context of Acts 2:38 it means "because of". The Jews had already called upon God from their heart and were already saved.

Here is a perfect illustration of this.

Luke 5:12-14: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

The man with leprosy represents a sinner. He then saw Jesus and called upon the name of the Lord, then Christ healed him. Then the man was to go and offer FOR his cleansing, that is BECAUSE OF.

What the COC's have done is they have built an entire system of theology based on a verse that they pulled out of context and didn't compare scripture with scripture on."

3.) ​He that believeth and is baptized

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

This statement is often presented by the "Church of Christ" as the plan of salvation when it is NOT. Mark 16 and Matthew 28 are apostolic commissions, not the revealings of a plan of salvation (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15). The reason Christ told the 12 apostles "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" is because He was SENDING THEM TO BAPTIZE (Matthew 28:19--Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:). However, Christ makes it clear that BELIEVING is the only issue as far as salvation is concerned...."he that BELIEVETH NOT shall be damned", Christ did not say "he that believeth and is baptized not shall be damned". The issue is believing.

 

Second, the statement "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" is a TRUE statement. He that believeth and stands on his head will be saved! He that believeth and jumps on a pogo stick will be saved!....because they BELIEVED. 

 

Believing is the only requirement for salvation..... 

John 1:7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

John 3:

[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

 

There is no mixture of works with believing because when you believe the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4) you are sealed with the Spirit until the rapture.

 

Acts 13:38-39

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (NO WATER THERE)

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (NO WATER THERE)

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (NO "REPENT AND BE BUPTIZED" THERE)

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (NO WATER THERE)

1 Corinthians 1:17a, 21b

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.....it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (DEFINITELY NO WATER BUPTISM THERE)

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (NO WATER THERE)

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (NO WATER THERE)

Ephesians 2:

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. (NO WATER THERE)

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (NO WATER THERE)

Romans 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (NO WATER THERE)

Titus 3:4-7

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (NO WATER THERE)

4.) Washing of water by the word.
Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Some baptismal regeneration proponents use Ephesians 5:25-27 to say that water baptism is what cleanses the body of Christ (the church). However, the word "baptism" is not used anywhere in the chapter. The sanctification and cleansing comes from "THE WORD", Paul just used "the washing of water" figuratively.
"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word"

5.) Baptism doth also now save us
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Honestly I do not see how 1 Peter 3:21 helps the baptismal regeneration position. I think it CONDEMNS their position. 1 Peter 3:21 plainly states that water baptism only saves you in a "like figure", if it saves you in a life figure than that is not your REAL salvation, it is FIGURATIVE. Then it plainly states that it does not put away the filth of our flesh, our sins, but is the answer of a good conscience toward God. (which you cannot have if you are lost--Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. )  

6.) Be baptized and wash away thy sins
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

As said in #5, water baptism is a "like figure" of the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but it is not REAL. ("not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God"). It is figurative ("the like figure").

Our REAL salvation that REALLY washes away our sins is the blood of Christ! 

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Unless the water in the baptistery is the blood of Christ, it will not wash away our sins. 

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell