Is Baptismal Regeneration Salvation by Works?

This is an answer to the common question as to whether a belief in Baptismal Regeneration contradicts justification by faith alone.

[flashhog]

Telling Baptists or American evangelicals that baptism is not a work is like convincing someone the sky is not blue. I continually pray that my friends cling to scripture rather than their traditions and come to cherish the gift of baptism. Great video pastor.

[Habackuk]

Good video.

However, I wonder why Lutherans so seldom talk about what baptism is in the way Luther does. "Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word." As a former Baptist, I have found this to be what Baptists usually don't understand. If they understand what baptism is, they will understand that in baptism God is speaking to us and that God also works in us through baptism.

[JohnPeters-qzzb]

Here's how Lutherans and non-Lutherans misunderstand each other.

Lutheran: Baptism is something God does.
Non-Lutheran: Oh great - so we agree!
Lutheran: What..?
Non-Lutheran: A person believes and then Christ baptizes that person with Spirit. That person is now saved (regardless of any water being involved).
Lutheran: No, no, baptism definitely involves that we do something quite specific with water and say specific things. And it's very important that you take your children to church and do these things.
Non-Lutheran: But I thought baptism is something God does...
Lutheran: Yes, he does it when we do something on our end, but we're really just holding out our hands like a beggar - like when you believe. Pouring water and saying things is not really "doing" something and definitely not a "work" of any kind. It's what God does that's important.
Non-Lutheran: But... when I believed I LITERALLY didn't do anything at all. I just... believed. And then God gave me new life. I remember it quite clearly. I didn't even have to do or say anything at all - not even just a very small and simple ritual like washing with water. I simply trusted Him and then something amazing happened.
Lutheran: You are forgetting that baptism is something God does. When we pour water and say things, that's not what's doing anything. You are misunderstanding me, because in baptism we don't really do anything.
Non-Lutheran: But aren't you saying that we still have to do "this thing that we are not doing" for regeneration, right? Aren't you saying baptism is how people are regenerated?
Lutheran: Well, yes and no. As you can read in the Lutheran "Christian Dogmatics" by prof. Mueller on p. 329 "it is clear that a believer is in full possession of divine pardon, life, and salvation from the very moment in which he puts his trust in Christ"
Non-Lutheran: So we agree after all! Splendid! God grants new life to anyone who believes! From the very moment! The believer receives the spiritual baptism of Christ which requires no water, no rituals, no nothing. It only requires faith. It's all God! We just need to trust Him! And then we can baptize the new believer in water as a clear symbol of the believer being buried and raised to new life in Christ!

Lutheran: But you are forgetting that people receive faith when they are baptized
Non-Lutheran: Mmm... Where in the Bible exactly can I read that we receive faith in baptism?
Lutheran: You don't understand. Faith and baptism can't be separated. You can't talk about one without talking about the other
Non-Lutheran: What..?
Lutheran: That's right. And because John the Baptist received the Spirit while being inside the womb, that means that infants can believe.
Non-Lutheran: Wha... that doesn't even..? Seriousl... Okay, okay.... So, if infants believe, then why aren't they already in full possession of life and salvation before infant baptism?
Lutheran: They believe when we baptize them. Meaning when God baptizes them. Remember: You can't seperate faith and baptism. And baptism is something God does. Also faith. It's a gift.
Non-Lutheran: Why not baptize infants in the womb then?
Lutheran: Now you are just being silly. If you want, you can baptize your infant at home, but ideally you should just take your infant to church, and then we'll baptize it.
Non-Lutheran: So, God gives an infant faith if and only if the parents decide to take that infant to church or somewhere else for infant baptism?
Lutheran: Well, yes and no. The faith of the whole congregation and the parents also play a role in the infant's receiving of faith. And infants who die before baptism definitely can be saved. Unless it's children of unbelievers, then I'm not sure. You need to understand that it's not the absence of baptism which condemns - it's the rejection of baptism. It's a bit complicated, but actually quite simple if you just remember that you can't talk about faith without also talking about baptism.
Non-Lutheran: And by "baptism" you mean your Lutheran understanding of baptism?
Lutheran: Exactly.
Non-Lutheran: Got it.

[joabthejavelin]

In my experience, the people who make the objection of baptism being a form of works righteousness the most vehemently are also arrogant and self-righteous. I'm not sure why, but it seems to be the case. I think it has some to do that because I was baptized as an infant and they chose baptism it means their conversation and statement of faith is more valid or something like that.

[TheDavidelima]

Can you do a video about the difference between John's baptism and the christian baptism? It is quite unclear to me what is the relation between the two, specially in light of Acts 18 and 19, where it seems like some baptized by John did not need to be rebaptized(Apollos) and some did(John's diciples)

[soundimpact]

It's not salvation by works. Infant baptism is not salvation at all. We are saved by faith, but we cannot have saving faith for another. This is so clear and so simple. We are to be baptized for the remission of our sins when we understand our need for a savior, and it is the evidence (through) obedience of our belief. If water with the word of God places faith in an infant why not baptize every person that comes through the door of the church? And I'm not being blasphemous but why not add holy water to the water system of a town? This makes no sense. Infant baptism turns baptismal water into magic water through an incantation.

Matthew 28:16-20 clearly Jesus is telling his disciples to teach and make disciples and THEN baptize, and then he encourages them to continue teaching.
"Go ye therefore and teach All Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you and lo I am with you even till the end of the age."

Jesus God In the flesh was anointed as an infant and was baptized as an adult. Nowhere does scripture encourage us to baptize infants. This is "teaching for doctrine the commandments of men."

[Guy-xrlj]

I don't see how someone could think of baptism as salvivic and not also see the Lord's supper as also salvivic like Roman Catholics. To me its the same works based view.

[mtl-ng]

My question concerning infant baptism is with assurance of ones faith. When a Lutheran minister says look to your baptism for your assurance isn’t this equivalent to a baptist minister saying remember the time and date you prayed the “sinner’s prayer”. Shouldn’t a continual life of repentance and faith be a sure sign of assurance? Rather than looking to something that occurred in the past?

[sbwende]

A question. I absolutely agree with the statement that infants can have faith. My question is how do we know they have faith, because if we don't know we could end up in the situation where we are baptising babies against their will. To me that feels like forced conversion, which can't be God's will.

[rebstew]

I enjoyed your video since most videos on here say baptism is a work. One question: How do babies receive baptism in faith?

[transformationofthebride]

If salvation is by faith (the kind of faith where only knowledge is involved as you preach) then why is Jesus rebuking the churches in Revelation (5 churches rebuked out of 7) for their WORKS?

[account]

No one in the bible received baptism without faith first.

[jonmark]

If baptism is a gift to be received by faith, how does a baby/infant receive it?

[victormashatt]

Wouldn’t it be right too say that whether we’re talking about baptism or the Eucharist both are by faith. We receive the gifts of God by faith.

[victormashatt]

That’s it. Faith receives the benefits.

[sulongenjop]

Baptism in water is a ritual of sin cleansing and to stamp our promise to hold our faith in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit no matter what temptation and test we face.

[VndNvwYvvSvv]

But you still need to go through the work of a baptism ceremony to receive the work of God's granting it. And the Bible does NOT say that baptism is how that grace for faith is bestowed, does it?

[cherilynhamilton]

Baptism is your testimony of your faith.

[candyclews]

A baby does nothing when he/she is baptised so it's certainly not a Work. It is about what Christ does for that child. Baptism brings each child into the family of the Church and is given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Who would not want that for their babe?

[dannyhorsley]

when the Apostle Paul said that salvation was by faith and not by works, he was referring to our works not being necessary, he was not talking of Christ. That is a pretty superficial understanding of "works" as presented in Scripture. Of course there was "work" put into salvation. The Romans crucifying him was no doubt alot of work. Nevertheless, faith always comes before salvation in Scripture. Paul says that we should not trust anyone who preaches "another gospel". Then, in I Cor. 15, he summarizes the gospel that he preached, and baptism is not included. just my thoughts, Biblical I hope, but my thoughts. Ultimately, the Bible is summarized by loving God and loving people and I realize that most of these videos/discussions are an attempt to do just that. God bless all