In some of the key texts relating to baptismal regeneration, J.R. Dummelow, in his A Commentary on the Holy Bible (London: Macmillan and Co., 1909) affirmed that water baptism is the instrumental means of regeneration (not the mere act of baptism, but the Holy Spirit working through the instrumental meanings of water baptism—I say this as many have a caricature-like understanding of this doctrine). Note the following:
John 3:3-5
5. Of water
and of the Spirit] Our Lord again insists that a
new birth is necessary, and explains that it must be an inward and spiritual
one. It must not be only of ‘water,’ i.e. the reception of the outward rite o
baptism without proper appreciation for what membership of Christ’s Kingdom
involves, but also of ‘the Spirit,’ i.e. Nicodemus must approach Christ’s
baptism with such sincerity of repentance and faith, and such earnest
resolution to live up to the ideals of the new Kingdom, that in his case the
outward rite will be accompanied by an effusion of the Spirit, that will make
his baptism a real ‘new birth of water and of the Spirit.’
Baptism is again spoken of as a ‘new birth’
by St. Paul—‘according to his mercy he saved us by (RV ‘through’) the washing
(RM ‘laver,’ i.e. bath) of regeneration (or ‘new birth’) and renewing of the
Holy Ghost’ (Tit 35). (p. 779)
Elsewhere,
Dummelow affirms that, in John 3:3-5, Jesus associates “new birth” with
baptism:
The phrase ‘new birth’ or ‘regeneration’ here
applied by our Lord to Christian baptism was not a new one. (Ibid., 779)
Acts 2:38
The remission of sins] one of the principal benefits of Holy Baptism, when the ordinance is rightly received (2216; cp. 1046, 47 1338 Heb 1022; also 1 Cor 611 Eph 525, 26). (pp. 821-22)
Gal 3:27
27. Baptized
into Christ]
entered by baptism into the relation of fellowship with Christ. The argument
is: Baptism means union with Christ, and union with Christ means the liberty of
sonship to God. (p. 952)
Eph 5:26
26. Washing
of water] Christian
baptism, with perhaps a reference to the bride’s bath before marriage. By the word] RV ‘with the word,’ to be
taken with ‘the washing of water’ and meaning the baptismal formula. (p. 965)
Titus 3:5
5. By the
washing of regeneration] For ‘washing,’ ‘laver’ (i.e. place where the washing took place)
is better. Baptism is referred to here. Renewing
of the Holy Ghost’ The baptism to be efficient must be both by water and by
the Spirit. It is not a mere outward act. (p. 1008)
Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries
