REGENERATION IS A NECESSITY--Part Three

REGENERATION IS A NECESSITY--Part Three

Last time we stated that those who teach Baptismal Regeneration willfully and continually pervert John 3;5.

Now, in refuting the heresy, we must distinguish between birth and burial--Romans 6;4--
''Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.''
Now this proves The New Birth is the subject of John 3;1-13.

It is commonly asked by those, who believe in Baptismal Regeneration, ''If Jesus didn't mean water, why did He say water/''
My reply is, ''If Jesus meant baptism, why didn't He say baptism/''

Christ didn't say, ''Except ye be baptized of [ek] water,'' in john 3;5.

A repentant sinner is said to be baptized in [en] water--
Matthew 3;11.

Baptism is never expressed by water only, without additional words added to show the ordinance of baptism is intended.
John 4;2--''Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples''.
Acts 2;38-41--[Turn]
Acts 8;36-37--''And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized/ And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.''
Acts 9;18--And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given; he offered them money.''
Acts 10;44-48--[Turn].

Water in the baptistry is as impotent to regenerate a man, as the water in Jacob's Well--
John 4;13-14--''Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.''

Life-Giving water is the gift of God.
Now, there are 4 things, we must observe about this gift--
Number 1--THE GIVER--''I shall give him''.

Number 2--THE HABITATION--''The water that i shall give him shall be in him.''
Hence, it is internal, not external.

Number 3--THE FUNCTION--''A well of water springing up''
Conversion experiences arise from the indwelling Principle of Life.

Number 4--THE PURPOSE--''Into everlasting life''.

The difference between grace and glory is this;
Grace is glory in the bud;
Glory is grace in the flower.
The Christian has something of Heaven now.

God purifies the stream, by regenerating the fountain.
Water baptism does not put away the filth of the flesh--I Peter 3;19-21--[Turn].

The New Birth is an inward cleansing, by The Holy Spirit. It is the washing of Regeneration--
Titus 3;5--[Turn].

Regeneration is an inward work of grace; baptism is an outward work of man.

Regeneration is the inward and immediate work of The Spirit;
Baptism is the mediate symbol of inward cleansing applied externally. The Religion of most people is only external.


Those who hold to Baptismal Regeneration are of the same order, as the Pharisees.
Matthew 23;23-27=The outward righteousness of man is of no value, until the heart is first made pure.

Good works follow salvation by grace--HEBREWS 9;14; EPHESIANS 2;8-10.

Thus, ''born of water and spirit'' no more means Baptismal Regeneration, than eating Christ's flesh means transubstantiation; then the Lord's Supper.

we shall continu next time, on Regeneration is a necessity.