Early Lutheranism affirming Baptismal Regeneration
It is a fact that early Lutherans, as well as the majority of modern Lutherans, hold to baptismal regeneration. Indeed, one of the best recent defences of this doctrine can be found in a work by a Lutheran scholar, Jordan Cooper, in his book, The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology (Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf & Stock, 2015).
Here are some comments affirming this doctrine from early Lutheran works; I am sure this will irk some Evangelical Protestants when they learn that Luther et al affirmed such a teaching, and that such a doctrine is still part-and-parcel of most Lutheran churches:
Luther’s Small Catechism (1529)
Part IV.
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
I.
What is Baptism? Answer:
Baptism is not simply common water, but it is the water comprehended in God’s command, and connected with God’s Word.
What is what Word of God? Answer:
It is what which our Lord Christ speaks in the last chapter of Matthew [xxviii. 19]:
‘Go ye [into all the world], and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’
II.
What does Baptism give, or of what use if it? Answer:
It worketh forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare.
What are such words and promises of God? Answer:
Those which our Lord Christ speaks in the last chapter of Mark:
‘He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.’
III.
How can water do such great things? Answer:
It is not water, indeed, that does it, but the Word of God which is with and in the water, and faith, which trusts in the Word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is nothing but water, and no baptism; but with the Word of God it is a baptism—that is, a gracious water of life and washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, third chapter [iii. 5-7]:
‘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.’ This is certainly true. [Or, ‘This is a faithful saying,’ ver. 8.]
IV.
What does such baptising with water signify? Answer:
It signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and perish with all sins and evil lusts; and that the new man should daily come forth again and rise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is it so written? Answer:
St. Paul, in the 6th chapter of Romans, says:
‘We are buried with Christ by baptism into death; that like as he was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.’ (Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom, vol. III: The Evangelical Protestant Creeds [revised by David S. Schaff; New York: Harper and Row, 1931; repr., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2007], 85-87)
The Augsburg Confession (1530)
Article IX.—Of Baptism
Of Baptism they teach that it is necessary to salvation, and that by Baptism the grace of God is offered, and that children are to be baptized, who by Baptism, being offered to God, are received into God’s favour. (Ibid., 13)
The Formula of Concord (1576)
Errors of the Schwenkfeldians
IV. That the water of baptism is not a means whereby the Lord seals adoption in the children of God and effects regeneration. (Ibid., 178)
The Saxon Visitation Articles (1592)
The False and Erroneous Doctrine of the Calvinists
On Holy Baptism
I. That Baptism is an external washing of water, by which a certain internal ablution from sin is merely signified.
II. That Baptism does not work nor confer regeneration, faith, the grace of God, and salvation, but only signifies and seals them.
III. That not all who are baptized in water, but the elect only, obtain by it the grace of Christ and the gifts of faith.
IV. That regeneration doth not take place in and with Baptism, but afterwards, at a more advanced age—yes, with many not before old age.
V. That salvation doth depend on Baptism, and therefore in cases of necessity should not be required in the Church; but when the ordinary minister of the Church is wanting, the infant should be permitted to die without Baptism.
VI. The infants of Christians are already holy before Baptism in the womb of the mother, and even in the womb of the mother are received into the covenant of eternal life; otherwise the Sacrament of Baptism could not be conferred on them. (Ibid., 188-89)
