Is baptism part of the new birth?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by seekerman

The conclusion then, one cannot know when one is saved? Repentance is insufficient, confession is insufficient, water baptism is insufficient, faith is insufficient, the blood of the Lamb is insufficient, infilling of the Spirit is insufficient, mercy is insufficient and grace is insufficient....to list a few of the things which alone are insufficient for salvation.

Since everything is insufficient in and of itself, what alone is sufficient, if anything? How can anyone be assured of salvation?

If baptism is part of the new birth, does that suddenly throw everything into doubt?

I fail to see how it could. In fact, I see just the opposite. 'Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith'. how can one do a self examination to see if they are in the faith, except by matching their experiences and beliefs to what was delivered by the apostles? And that which was delivered by the apostles is recorded in the New Testament scriptures. Therefore, if your religion doesn't match theirs, then you are not 'in the faith'.

They taught baptism saves us, not one Christian is the bible remained unbaptised, they proclaimed baptism for the remission of sins, they taught 'born again' means 'born of water and spirit', etc etc.

Furthermore, in looking at church history, there was NEVER a debate about whether or not baptism was part of the new birth UNTIL the rise of Protestantism, in particular those pietists who eschewed baptism, communion, and other such things. With the onslaught of the 'evangelical' movement, and certain Arminian baptist theologies, the whole 'baptism is just a ritual that is done to declare you are already saved, and were already born again' line of thinking came unto vogue.

The denial that baptism is not part of the new birth is actually a Johnny-come-lately heresy.