Believer’s baptism and baptismal regeneration represent two distinct views on the role of water baptism in salvation. Believer’s baptism holds that baptism is an outward, symbolic act of obedience performed “after” a person has consciously trusted in Jesus Christ and His blood for salvation. Conversely, baptismal regeneration teaches that baptism is a sacramental law where God creates spiritual rebirth, forgives sins, and initiates being spiritually born again.
While I tend to avoid writing about church doctrines due to disagreements, my ministry requires me to share my personal interpretations. I’m often asked about what washes away our sins, the water or the blood? The power to save is in his blood — not the water.
I share the gospel often, including in our local detention center on a regular basis. A place to teach and baptize is provided, and our team also serves communion to the new converts. This gives us an open opportunity to explain what it means to confess receiving Jesus as lord and savior. Sadly, not all Christians are united with church doctrines such as immersion versus sprinkling, infant baptism and baptizing in the name of Jesus versus in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but even more importantly, there are different opinions about what exactly happens when the person goes under the water.
Some churches — including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Churches of Christ, and some Anglican and Episcopal churches, including the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses — believe in what is called baptismal regeneration, which means a person is not cleansed from sin or spiritually transformed into a new creation in Christ until after they are baptized. Within these churches, baptism is referred to as a requirement that defines water as the only way to literally receive God’s grace, which saves. Groups such as Baptist, Church of God, Assembly of God, Reformed Presbyterian, non-denominational, evangelical, Anabaptists, Mennonites, Quakers, Puritans and The Salvation Army, use the term “ordinance” meaning that baptism although an important act of obedience, is only a public testimony symbolizing God’s power that has already forgiven and transformed the spirit’s of those who called upon the name of the lord to save them, according to John 3:16.
As we are immersed in water, this displays the spiritual reality of how we died to ourselves, were buried with Christ, and, upon coming up out of the water, we are raised from the dead by the glorious power of God, now to walk holy and obey him in everything as his child. An outward sign of an inward work. Since we have been united with him in his death, we are also raised to life as he was. Yes, we are forgiven and washed clean by the blood of Jesus, as the power of sin is broken, and our carnality was crucified with Christ. As no longer slaves to sin, the new Christian is declared righteous through Jesus, but still has the free will responsibility to demonstrate his holy nature and character. We should consider ourselves to be dead to the control of sin and to have faith in God for everything. Take a moment to read Romans Chapter 6. In fact, as we develop a solemn, reverential fear and awareness of his presence, sin should literally make us nauseated as we realize how much our disobedience hurts him. If our intentional sins do not cause brokenness, weeping and deep sorrow, we have become spiritually numb, calloused and deceived. However, with God’s grace and mercy, our spiritual determination to deny our flesh and walk in sanctification can be rekindled by returning to our first love.