Baptismal remission or
regeneration teaches that a person is regenerated born again,– saved by the act of water baptism.
Alexander Campbell, founder of the
"Immersion, is that act by which our state is
changed... Christian immersion, frequently called conversion is an act,
inseparably connected with the remission of sins."(Millennial Harbinger,
V-1 "Extra")
"If so, then, who will not concur with me in saying that Christian immersion
is the Gospel in water." (Alexander Campbell, Campbell – Rice debate,
p.443)
"The New Testament teaches baptism as an act which is essential to
salvation..."(Introducing The Church Of Christ, p.107)
Alexander Campbell states: "The preposition [FOR] "eis" here means in order to - in order to the
remission of sins." (Campbell, Walker debate, 1823 p.124)
Acts
What
In Dana and Manty's,
A Manual Grammar Of The Greek New Testament"eis"
classified in five of eight categories as:
Direction: into, unto, to.
Position: in, among, upon.
Relation: as, for, against, in respect to.
Cause: because of.
Purpose: for the purpose of.
Some examples of the english usage of the preposition
FOR(eis) are:
I asked the lawyer FOR(in order to get)some advise.
I talked to the lawyer FOR(in behalf of) my son.
I consulted the lawyer FOR(because of) the trouble I
was in.
I phoned the lawyer FOR(with respect to) the bill he
sent.
Other examples:
John was beheaded FOR his faithfulness.
The criminal was hung FOR his crime.
The people laughed FOR joy.
Christ died FOR our sins, etc.
I took an aspirin FOR a headache.
Examples of the "eis" in the Scriptures
Matthew 12:41
"The men of Nineveh will
stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented
AT (eis) the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater
than Jonah is here."
"...for they repented "eis" the
preaching of Jonah..."
"in order to" ? or "because
of" the preaching of Jonah?
Matthew
The "unto" in the KJV is a translation of
"eis".
If translated "in order to" the verse does not make sense.
"I baptize you with water (in order to) repentance..."
?
"I baptize you with water (because of - concerning) repentance..."
Acts
"For David speaketh (in order to) him..." ?
Luke 5: 12-14
"While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along
who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the
ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me
clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am
willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left
him. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to
the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded FOR (because of) thy
cleansing, as a testimony to them."
"...show yourself to the
priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded FOR [here the greek word “eis” means BECAUSE OF)thy cleansing, as a testimony to them." It should be
noted that the leper was healed before he offered a sacrifice. The offering was
"for thy cleansing" or because of - not to obtain it, but a formal
declaration in ceremony that it has already happened and testimony to what God
has done.
Matthew
or…
"I baptize you with water UNTO (with reference to) repentance."
"I baptize you with reference to that exercising of it, is what John
means. Or, as Tyndale, in his version says, `I
baptize you in token of your repentance.' That makes fine sense." (B.H. Carroll, An Interpretation of the English Bible. Vol.
12 p.91)
More uses of eis in the Scriptures:
Matthew 28:19
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them eis in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:9 "At that time Jesus came from
Acts
ACTS 2:38
"eis" if translated "in order to"
in this verse would in fact teach baptismal regeneration. The verse should
be rendered:
Acts
"The word "eis" is
simply a preposition of reference. Baptism has a reference to remission of
sins. It is a ceremonial ordinance, or act, which refers to the remission
of sins through Christ's redemption (Matt. 26:28) Remission
is procured by Christ; remission is received by faith. (Acts
The Scriptures teach that it is by Grace through faith that
one is saved. NOT a result of works - including baptism.
Eph 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one
can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Luke
John
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him
who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over
from death to life."
John
John
John
Acts
Romans
Romans 4:5 "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who
justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness."
Gal
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
Luke
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at
him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other
criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you
are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what
our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered
him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
The
"The thief lived and died during the period that the law of Moses was
still in force." (SS/April 1976, p.35)
The
THE THIEF DIED AFTER JESUS AND WAS UNDER GRACE!
“The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the
first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming
to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs;”
!!!!!!!!
Therefore:
Acts
Romans 4:3 "What does the Scripture say? "Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
The thief also believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Cornelius and his household
Acts 10:44-48 "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy
Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had
come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them
speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,"Can
anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So he ordered that they be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few
days.
Once again in diametric opposition to the clear teachings of scripture,the
How does one receive the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues
and praise God without being saved??? The testimony of Scripture is clear.
Baptism does NOT SAVE YOU.
"Since only people baptized to remit sins are baptized properly, then
Mormons, Catholics and Campbellites are the only ones
who ever please God. John Wesley and other great saints were ungodly wretches,
according to their doctrine. The
They teach that man and water are the saviour instead of Christ. A mancan
repent, believe, confess, and live a perfect life, but is still lost unless he
is baptized. Then baptism is what saves him, according to their doctrine. Two
things are essential to baptism - water and somebody to do it. Then these two
things are what saves a man's soul. God does not do
it. Christ does not. Grace does not. The cross does not. It is the waters of
baptism. Imagine a man shipwrecked alone on an island who
finds a New Testament and believes and trusts the Lord to save him, but he
cannot go to Heaven because he does not have a Campbellite
preacher there to save him. How sad." (R.A. Long, The Truth About The Church Of Christ, p.36)
The believer BEFORE baptism:
…a son of God - John 1:12,13.
…has eternal life - John 3:14-16;
…shall never die - John 11:26.
…has forgiveness of sins - Acts 13:38.
…is made righteous - Romans 4:5-8.
…is born of God - 1 John 4:7; 5:1
…is justified - Acts
…has peace - Romans 5:1.
…and overcomes the world! - 1 John 5:5.
...all this without a single drop of water.