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| Q: | I am a Lutheran. I recently received an article titled "The Waters Of Baptism A Real Killer". The article was an attack against the Lutheran understanding of Baptism (baptismal regeneration). One of the points made was that Lutherans are "Judaizers" because of our doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. Below is a portion of the article: | ||||||
| A: | The Galatian churches were troubled by 'judaizers'. While they taught that Christ truly was the messiah and salvation was through faith in Him, they ADDED something- that circumcision was also necessary to be saved. They taught a "faith plus" salvation.Paul called this another Gospel, it was a desertion from the true faith; and those who held to it were accursed of God and headed for hell. So in the same way, to add that water baptism is necessary or efficacious for the forgiveness of sins is an exact parallel to the Galatian error incurring the same curse. How is this article wrong in it's attack against the biblical doctrine of baptism and calling Lutherans "Judaizers". I will come into contact with the people who wrote this article soon and I want to stand ready with an answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Lutherans could only be considered "Judaizers" if somehow baptism offered something different than the benefits of the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God. Baptism is not a "requirement" that adds something to the faith alone ("sola fide") by which Scripture proclaims we are saved. Baptism is not something in addition to the gospel. It is one of the God ordained "means" ("the means of grace") through which the Holy Spirit communicates to us the gospel. To use a modern analogy, the helicopter that delivers the needed organ for a life saving transplant did not in itself save the patient who received the organ. But that helicopter--or plane, or speeding ambulance--was the necessary means to deliver that which did save the patient's life. The gospel--the good news that in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior we have full and free forgiveness and a perfect record of righteousness--is what saves. But God's appointed "delivery" system is to bring that gospel to us in Word and Sacraments. The "Sacraments" are not something needed "in addition" to faith in Christ. They are the vehicles that deliver the gospel through which the Spirit either works or strengthens such saving faith. Consider, for example, how closely Paul connects our baptism with our blessings in Christ in Galatians 3:27, "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." | ||||||
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