Baptismal regeneration is the belief that baptism is necessary for salvation, or, more precisely, that regeneration does not occur until a person is water baptized. Baptismal regeneration is a tenet of numerous Christian denominations, but is most strenuously promoted by churches in the Restoration Movement, specifically the Church of Christ and the International Church of Christ.
Advocates of baptismal regeneration point to Scripture verses such as Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Galatians 3:27, and 1 Peter 3:21 for biblical support. And, granted, those verses seem to indicate that baptism is necessary for salvation. However, there are biblically and contextually sound interpretations of those verses that do not support baptismal regeneration.
Advocates of baptismal regeneration typically have a four-part formula for how salvation is received. They believe that a person must believe, repent, confess, and be baptized in order to be saved. They believe this way because there are biblical passages that seem to indicate that each of these actions is necessary for salvation. For example, Romans 10:9–10 links salvation with confession. Acts 2:38 links salvation with repentance and baptism.
Repentance, understood biblically, is required for salvation. Repentance is a change of mind. Repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to acceptance of Christ. It is not a separate step from saving faith. Rather, it is an essential aspect of saving faith. One cannot receive Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, without a change of mind about who He is and what He did.
Confession, understood biblically, is a demonstration of faith. If a person has truly received Jesus Christ as Savior, proclaiming that faith to others will be a result. If a person is ashamed of Christ and/or ashamed of the message of the gospel, it is highly unlikely that the person has understood the gospel or experienced the salvation that Christ provides.
Baptism, understood biblically, is an identification with Christ. Christian baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4). As with confession, if a person is unwilling to be baptized—unwilling to identify his/her life as being redeemed by Jesus Christ—that person has very likely not been made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) through faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who contend for baptismal regeneration and/or this four-part formula for receiving salvation do not view these actions as meritorious works that earn salvation. Repenting, confessing, etc., do not make a person worthy of salvation. Rather, the official view is that faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are “works of obedience,” things a person must do before God grants salvation. While the standard Protestant understanding is that faith is the one thing God requires before salvation is granted, those of the baptismal regeneration persuasion believe that baptism—and, for some, repentance and confession—are additional things God requires before He grants salvation.
The problem with this viewpoint is that there are biblical passages that clearly and explicitly declare faith to be the only requirement for salvation. John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer asks the apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” If there was ever an opportunity for Paul to present a four-part formula, this was it. Paul’s response was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). No baptism, no confession, just faith.
There are literally dozens of verses in the New Testament that attribute salvation to faith/belief with no other requirement mentioned in the context. If baptism, or anything else, is necessary for salvation, all of these verses are wrong, and the Bible contains errors and is therefore no longer worthy of our trust.
An exhaustive study of the New Testament on various requirements for salvation is not necessary. Receiving salvation is not a process or a multi-step formula. Salvation is a finished product, not a recipe. What must we do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will be saved.
I haven’t decided as yet but I’m thinking about posting additional articles that better explain the proper application and meaning of verses often used out of context and inappropriately by baptismal regenerationalists.
absolutely bro David when Jesus said in John 19:30 it is finished you see the Greek word TETELASTAI paid in full taxes included !! besides the ritual of water baptism would require another mediator and we know the Bible says there is only one mediator between God and man and that is the Lord Jesus Christ
We are saved by grace through faith alone by Christ hallelujah
PS bro david I got your pm but I'm having trouble sending you a reply I will ASAP hope you are well
Tinyfaithdavid post this in another thread - 'Thanks to Valiant. Valiant I appreciate your logical appeals to theology and reason—a rarity on way too many internet forums'
Like tinydavid other doctrines in reason and his faulty so called 'theology' which is really article parroted doctrine, because its impossible for tinydavid to do a study on any subject, for he just makes distractions and insults otherwise! So NOW tinyboydavid now changes his mind on Valiant!!! LOL!
Valiant, surely you must be meaning (although not clearly stating) that baptism SHOULD follow initial salvation - when we come all FILTHY in sin and are forgiven while YET a sinner! Baptism by water cultistrsvp and tinyfaithdavid just do not understand the DEPTH of the symbol of water Baptism (nor also YHWH's own Spirit Baptism afterward) when you are held under the water (stop breathing, dead so to speak of) and dying also to sin, that is turning away from all sin by POWER on high (by the baptism of the Father's set apart Holy Spirit) after initial salvation! Correct?
You might want to clarify that Valiant for the rest of us readers on water Baptism, ignoring cultistrsvp insults and personal attacks he is known for on this forum. I'm sure by now you realize cultistrsvp is not a Christian yet!? Keep in mind also that tinyfaithdavid and cultistrsvp teach 'continual sinning perfectionism' this side of heaven, because they claim the more you sin the more perfect you are! So according to these two 'theology' clowns, you would then WANT to be re-baptised every day and hour, because you will keep running stop signs like tinyfaithdavid does and cultistrsvp claims he keeps committing sins in his sleep if I remember right on his statements!
Valiant, imagine come judgment day when cultistrsvp stands before YHWH and claims YHWH says you should of known better than to dream up sins in your sleep, DEPART FROM ME INTO THE ONE DAY MADE LAKE OF FIRE! Or perhaps before judgment day, cultistrsvp wakes up from his sleep patterns and repents (turns away from his wicked sinful dreams) and then the very next night he does it all over again! Have you ever heard of such wonderful 'biblical' teaching and 'theology' by faith!!!??? Not to forget to mention tinyfaithdavid keeps running stop signs, repents, runs another stop sign, repents, all like a pink energizer bunny that keeps going and going!!! LMBO!
Note dear readers how tinyfaithdavid and cultistrsvp send secret doctrinal things to each other (PM's) when this is suppose to be a Bible discussion forum!
Is this not like a conspiracy against others on this forum to be secretive and certainly not a theory like grabbity (gravity) is???
" Keep in mind also that tinyfaithdavid and cultistrsvp teach 'continual sinning perfectionism' this side of heaven, because they claim the more you sin the more perfect you are! " fix a flat teddy
🙂💯👍👉👉 No, a Christian cannot achieve sinless perfection; that is, on this side of heaven. Though there are Christians who say they do not sin anymore, they are in error. In order to achieve a sinless state of perfection, the Christian’s motivations would have to be pure and perfect at all times because God looks at the condition of the heart as well as our actions. Consider the following verses.
Matthew 5:28, “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.“
Matthew 22:37, “And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’”
Matthew 22:39, “‘The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”
We see that Jesus taught that the intention of the heart is important to God. This is because God’s heart is perfect. He is holy which is why He says in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy, for I am holy.” God is the standard of holiness, and Jesus reveals the necessity of the perfect standard.
Can any Christian say that his heart is perfect and that he never falters? That he never looks upon a woman with impure thoughts? That he loves the Lord God with all of his heart, and that he loves his neighbor as himself, all with a perfect state of mind? The standard is absolute purity. None of us can claim that.
But there are those who say the Bible says we do not sin.
1 John 3:6, “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.”
1 John 3:9, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
1 John 5:18, “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
The Bible is not saying that we don’t sin. Those verses in 1 John are talking about abiding in sin. That is not what Christians do. In fact, 1 John earlier in the same epistle states the following.
1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Notice that John the apostle includes himself in the issue of sinning. Are the sinless perfectionist people more holy than John the apostle? I think not.
So, a Christian is to struggle against his sin and to see this before God. But we cannot say that every intention of our hearts is always perfect and pure. If it were, we would not need an intercessor before God once we are saved. The idea of sinless perfectionism is an error that is refuted by Scripture
🤔🤔⚠️⚠️ since fix a flat teddy still can't get this right this begs the logical questions -- how can we trust him with basic essential Christian doctrines like water baptism salvation bike grace by faith alone the Trinity etc etc❓❓
False teacher TeddyHug, affectionately referred to as FlatEarthTeddyBug, believes in all kinds of false teachings, some of which include the following: most recently—defending a baptismal regeneration proponent along with defending his regular routine of flat earth and anti-gravity nonsense.
FlatEarthTeddyBug also believes in the anti-Trinity heresy and the sinless perfectionism heresy.
He also believes he lose can lose his “salvation. TeddyHug believes in a false form of works although he claims works are only an evidence of salvation.
The TeddyBug falsely believes he can walk away from God any time he chooses and forfeit his “salvation”. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that no true believer will ever walk away from salvation in God. TeddyBug also believes in a false type of law and sabbath keeping that are roundly condemned in scripture.
FlatEarthTeddyBug periodically shows up on the forums and falsely accuses other forum participants. He often falsely accuses participants of lying. One way he does this is by exaggerating what others post then falsely accuses them of lying based on his own fabricated exaggerations.
Simply put, the TeddyBug doesn’t like his many cherished but false teachings being exposed. His sinful reactions are predictable
tinyfaithdavid states about me - 'The Ted falsely believes he can walk away from God (from a pagan named diety??? ) any time he chooses and forfeit his “salvation”. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that no true believer will ever walk away from salvation in God. ' end quote
Do you see a problem in tinyfaithdavid's above statement readers??? Did Adam and Eve 'walk away from salvation' (to be able or NOT to eat of the tree of life - eternal life) when they ate of the forbidden tree and 'forfeited' at that moment and somehow they were then NOT a 'true believer' then according to tinyfaithdavid??? Obviously they LOST the FAITH, right?
Is it also then obvious that ANY FREE WILL creature can choose to go back to sin in this life, and if not, then when is the change that they cannot by Scripture written??? If 'salvation' is a license to sin as tinyfaithdavid preaches this side of heaven, then athiest would want that kind of YHWH >>>because<<< they can go back to their >>>practicing<<< regular and part time sins after saying the sinners prayer as tinyfaithdavid is fond of posting, and sin the same sins, repent (turn away from them), sin the same sins AGAIN, repent (turn away from them AGAIN), and ON and ON, AGAIN and AGAIN according to tinyfaithdavid, right?
An example of tinyfaithdavid, he claims to be a believer (of his powerless 'god' as he calls him) and runs stop signs and David said he cannot help himself! Wouold that be 'practicing' that sin??? I agree, he cannot get victory over his practicing sin of running stop signs by his own 'power' and testimony on this forum, so according to tinyfaithdavid he will keep on doing so until Father YHWH comes back to judge everyone and yet make a ROBOT out of tinyfaithdavid so he cannot sin!?
tinyfaithdavid does NOT believe in the POWER of YHWH that can keep you from sinning and therefore the verse below does not exist in tinyfaithdavid's Bible, not including his white spaces that only he can see!
1 John 4:4 'Ye are of God, little children, and >>>have overcome<<< (sin) them: because >>>greater is He (YHWH) that is in you<<<, than he (satan) that is in the world.'
tinyfaithdavid ALSO states - 'TeddyBug also believes in a false type of law and sabbath keeping that are roundly condemned in scripture.' end quote.
Since where is an entire day of CREATION ever 'condemned in Scripture' like the 7th Day Sabbath according to tinyfaithdavid readers??? IT SIMPLY NOT! But then maybe tinyfaithdavid somehow thinks it written in the white spaces of the Bible because he has special vision to read those white spaces!!!??? Correct readers?
False teacher and flat earth worshiper FlatEarthTeddyBug tries in vain to trace his false teaching about his loss of salivation to Adam and Eve.
As usual and as always, the TeddyBug can’t defend his belief in myths and false teaching so he relies on his dishonesty and haphazard exaggerations about other people so he can avoid defending his indefensible false beliefs.
FlatEarthTeddyBug claims “God keeps him from sin” yet he continues to lie about other people on the forum thus proving he is not being kept from sin but freely sins often and willingly.
False teacher and flat earth worshiper, FlatEarthTeddyBug, regularly refers to those exposing his flat earth mythologies and his false teaching as being “cultish”.
He can’t refute the enormous evidence against his many false beliefs and he obviously doesn’t know what a cult is but with his limited vocabulary that’s the only name he can think of to call people who bravely refute his many false beliefs.
So NOW tinyboydavid now changes his mind on Valiant!!! LOL! 
So according to these two 'theology' clowns, you would then WANT to be re-baptised every day and hour, because you will keep running stop signs like tinyfaithdavid does and cultistrsvp claims he keeps committing sins in his sleep if I remember right on his statements! 
Have you ever heard of such wonderful 'biblical' teaching and 'theology' by faith!!!??? 
end quote
Did Adam and Eve 'walk away from salvation' (to be able or NOT to eat of the tree of life - eternal life) when they ate of the forbidden tree and 'forfeited' at that moment and somehow they were then NOT a 'true believer' then according to tinyfaithdavid??? 
But then maybe tinyfaithdavid somehow thinks it written in the white spaces of the Bible because he has special vision to read those white spaces!!!???