I agree 100% with the opening post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
Water and Spirit are seen in several places, with water alluding to water baptism in each case.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
in Ephesians, Christ died so he could wash us and present us to Himself as perfect. That is baptism. It is by the word because it is only through faith in what we are doing according to His word that baptism moves God to destroy our old man and remove everything that was repulsive to Him about us. Sins are gone and we are presented to him without spot or wrinkle.
The Titus passage mentions washing of regeneration. Again, the Spirit is never delineated as the washing agent. It sounds lyrically nice to sing a hymn about it, but it is strictly not that biblical. The Holy Ghost renews. It's clearly references to Acts 2:38. Even non-Spirit-filled scholars attest to this issue of water baptism in John 3, such as Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes and John Gill. |
It always bothers me when people bring up the Titus passage and relate it to water baptism. Water baptism is NOT associated with regeneration. So if you're to bring up the "washing" part of that sentence, you must also deal with the "regeneration" part of that sentence. Regeneration is a function of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5 is talking about how the Spirit regenerates and renews. Certainly you are not a baptismal regenerist are you?
Also, regarding the Ephesians passage, are you suggesting that water baptism sanctifies us?
Threaded Mode
