In contrast to the increasingly popular Baptismal Regeneration theory we find a New Testament incident that proves that the church-embraced theory of Original Sin has no Scriptural basis and that baptism is a symbol that one has been forgiven of past sins. The ordinance of baptism does not affect the outcome of future sins–does not guarantee salvation. Sin, the Apostle Paul told the believing, baptized church at Rome, results in death (Rom. 6:23). In this instance some women had brought their children to Jesus for Him to lay His hands on them and pray for them. The apostles tried to turn the women away, only to have Jesus say: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” Those children had not been baptized, yet Jesus said they were eligible to enter the kingdom because they had no sin–they had broken no commandments. Note that He did not address their future spiritual conditions. Among that group of children might be future killers of His saints, or perhaps some of His saints. Only those who have sinned need to be baptized to symbolize the removal of their sins. Recall also that John the future baptizer leapt in his mother’s womb upon hearing Mary’s voice. Being yet unborn, he most certainly had not been baptized. In spite of that fact there was already a spiritual connection between him and the Lord’s Messiah Who was only days old Himself. There is no Scriptural evidence that John was ever baptized. Recall that he told Jesus that he needed to be baptized by Him. Question: Who baptized the apostles? Who baptized the thief on the cross? Baptism is a holy symbol to be performed whenever possible. Simon Magus proved that it is not what many make it out to be.

The fact that baptism does not automatically save/regenerate the baptized one is found in the eighth chapter of the Book of Acts. Here we are introduced to a former pagan priest named Simon Magus who, upon hearing Philip the Apostle preach, “believed and was baptized.” Note that Simon “believed” the gospel being preached by Philip, received forgiveness for his sins, was baptized as a sign of sin removal (justification) and became part of the new church in Samaria. In the modern version of this episode today known as “the salvation experience,” Simon, having seemingly been snatched from the clutches of the devil, would be hailed throughout the denomination as a major salvation coup. He would immediately be sent to the denomination’s  seminary where he would have become a denomination-wide phenomenon. Instead, the Apostle Peter told him that he would burn in hell because he was in the “gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity” (Lawlessness) (Acts 8:23). Today, tens of thousands of Simon impersonators tell the ear-itching throngs whatever they want to hear. After assuring them that God’s sin-defining Law was nailed to the cross and that they are sinners by virtue of conception and that they are saved, born again and rapture-ready, they then lead the religious masses to reject God’s Sabbath and to embrace Satan’s Sabbath along with his Christmas and Easter celebrations and that, because they have done all of the above, they will be whisked up to heaven upon their demise where Jesus awaits with both open arms and a key to their personal mansion. God calls those who tell them such things “false prophets.” His term for those who believe and follow them is “goats.”

In summary, one cannot be “regenerated” back to a condition in which one has never been. Spiritual “regeneration,” aka “conversion” and “justification,” returns the God-seeker to the innocent spiritual condition in which he/she was born. Let us remember that regeneration can come only by forgiveness of past sins followed by a total and complete turning away from Satan and to the Lord in full acceptance of and obedience to His Holy Word. Water baptism by emersion (not sprinkling) is the sign or symbol of one’s having done so. However, as pointed out earlier, being baptized does not automatically mean that one has made or will make the commanded changes in his life. We are not known by our stated intentions; we are known by the fruits (works) that we have produced. The fruits God commands is our belief in and obedience to His Word. Only those who know and believe His Word are capable of doing this. For this reason it is necessary to approach that Word often and with an open heart. In other words, to “Study to show yourself approved of God … equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:15). L.J.