As an
example of the confusion and debate within Protestantism on salvation issues (not “unimportant” or “secondary”
issues), one Protestant apologist, in a tract, wrote:
Often, when one disagrees with a Bible
statement, they will state, ‘That’s your interpretation.’ God’s Word no where
states one thing and is to be understood to be saying something in opposition
to the statement . . .
[For example] Peter stood up . . . and
preached the gospel, (Acts 2:22-24). Three thousand repented and were immersed
for the forgiveness of their sins, (verses 38-41) . . . When one responded in
faith and repentance, he was immersed into Christ upon his confession of faith
(Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3, 4) . . . [but] look at all the different
teachings on the subject of baptism . . .
1. Baptism is the sprinkling of water on
infants for forgiveness of ‘original’ sin
2. Baptism is the sprinkling of water on infants but is not for the remission of sins.
3. Baptism is immersion in water and is not for remission of sins . . .
2. Baptism is the sprinkling of water on infants but is not for the remission of sins.
3. Baptism is immersion in water and is not for remission of sins . . .
Today, there are many ways that man is taught
he may respond to follow God. The Bible, on the other hand, continues to say, ‘There
is one . . . baptism . . .’ (Ephesians 4:4-6). (Bob Dankelefson, “How would you
like to be a Christian Only—Nothing More, Nothing Less?” as quoted in Sharon I.
Banister, For Any Latter-day Saint: One
Investigator’s Unanswered Questions [Fort Worth, Tex.: Star Bible
Publications, 1988], 18-19 [note: Banister herself rejects the doctrine of baptismal regeneration!])
Now, I
happen to agree with the author, as it appears he holds to baptismal
regeneration and affirms credo- as opposed to paedobaptism. Notwithstanding,
due to the sub-biblical ecclesiologies one finds within Protestantism (as well
as subordinating all authorities to
the Bible, notwithstanding the
anti-biblical nature of Sola Scriptura itself), Protestantism will be
hopelessly divided on this and other issues.
Perhaps the
best book-length treatment of baptism I am aware of is that of:
Everett
Ferguson, Baptism
in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries
For articles
addressing baptismal regeneration on this blog (a topic I have written about in
great length), see, for e.g.:
