Dennis W. Costella in a tract, published by the "Fundamental Evangelistic Association," states: "BAPTISMAL REGENERATION teaches that ritual, water baptism secures the forgiveness of sins and marks the moment at which the one being baptized is; born again, or incorporated into the Body of Christ...",then he says that those who believe this "embrace a false gospel." Edward T. Hiscox in his "Standard Manual For ____Churches" says: "Baptism is not essential to salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of 'baptismal regeneration;' but it is essential to obedience, since Christ commanded it." I am not sure what Mr. Costello means by the word "ritual." I asked him in a letter a month ago, but to date I have not had a reply. Note that both Mr. Costella and Mr. Hiscox refer to "baptismal regeneration" as water baptism, which Mr. Hiscox correctly describes as: "The immersion, or dipping of a candidate in water...." The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word "repudiate": 1.To reject the validity or authority of. 2. To reject emphatically as unfounded, untrue, or unjust."
But what does God say? "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration..." When is one saved? When his sins are removed! How did God say he saved us? By the "washing of regeneration!!!" "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). God said that the "washing of regeneration" is the act that saves us, and one that is saved has his sins removed. Ananias told Saul to be baptized in order to have his sins washed away. So the act of "washing of regeneration" or "baptismal regeneration," the very act that Ananias said washes away sins, and God said "He saves us by;" the "Standard Manual" says: "our churches utterly repudiate..." and Mr. Costella says it is a "false gospel."
Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Does that differ from: "He saved us by the washing of regeneration"? Of course not. Peter said on the day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized [what is baptism for Peter?] for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Mr. Costella says: "Water baptism is...administered only to those who have already been saved." What did Peter say baptism was "for"? "The remission of sins."
"...Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us..."(I Pet. 3:20-21). Mr. Costella says: "Baptism, in any shape or form, cannot save anyone." He said it is used in I Pet. 3:21 as a "figure of speech." The inspired Peter said "baptism doth also now save us." Can a figure of speech save?
"Wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water." The word "wherein" is literally "into which." That is eight souls went into the ark to be saved, and they were saved by water. That was the means of their salvation from the old world. "The like figure": A figure is a likeness. "The like figure [eight souls were saved by water] whereunto even baptism doth also save us..." "That does not say that "baptism is a figure." A figure doesn't save us, but Peter said baptism saves us, and he said it saves us "now." The saving comes at the point of baptism, and not even one minute before! The question here is: If baptism doesn't save us from our past sins, from what does it save us?
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 3:21).
Don H. Noblin
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