Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
Having some Quaker heritage, I found references to the early Quakers rather interesting, so I highlighted them. lol
But is this presentation of Acts 2:38 down through history accurate? |
The writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers speak much about invoking the name of Jesus in baptism. The problem is, they believed in baptismal regeneration. In other words, they believed that much more than the forgiveness of sins happened in baptism. They believe regeneration also took place, a teaching rejected by the UPCI.
But again, while it is certainly customary to verbally announce by whose authority you do something, that verbal announcement itself is
not the authority. The authority already exists and is already possessed by the one announcing it. If I say "by the authority vested in me by our Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in order that your sins may be forgiven", I'm not saying my verbal announcement somehow remitted the person's sins. God is forgiving their sins because of their profession of faith, baptism being a part of that.