Article XXVII. Of Baptism

 

"Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also assign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God."

 

So, how does a baby or small infant profess anything spiritual or repentant as so stated in this article?  The fact is, they cannot and do not.  This is a false teaching that has been passed from the Roman Catholic Church of which the Episcopal Church was supposed to have separated from.

 

Furthermore, regeneration is an act of the Holy Spirit not one of man or physical water.  Titus 3:5-7 reads, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  If there were but one scripture that refuted the Episcopalian or Roman Catholic teaching on the baptismal regeneration it would be this one in Titus. 

 

“Not by works of righteousness” for we know from scripture that our righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).  And, neither can we work ourselves to our own salvation.  Ephesians 2:8 says it is a gift of God and not of ourselves but it is of God as He has chosen us before the foundation of the world for His good pleasure (Ephesians 1). And, this “washing of regeneration” is not an outward baptism of water but, instead, is an inward effectual cleansing by the blood of Jesus for the elect.  Our human righteousness is still filthy but the spiritual cleansing is what makes us acceptable to a Sovereign God.

 

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  First, it must not be confused that it was man’s choice or free-will to receive Jesus first.  Acts 13:48 confirms the order of salvation when it says that “as many as God ordained to eternal life believed.”  So, in John 1 it also confirms that salvation is not by the will of man—the parents of infants or the local parish priest—but of God.

 

Article XXVII does say further that one saved is grafted into the church with forgiveness of sins, etc. but water baptism had nothing to do with it.  It is only by genuine faith as a result of regeneration that one truly is forgiven of their sins.  Jesus told Nicodemas in John 3 that one must be born again.  He also says in Luke 13 to repent or perish.  An infant has no concept of repenting.  Surrogate parents cannot repent for an infant.

 

The early deception by the Episcopal Church that one is saved through or as a result of water baptism could be an eternal consequence.

 

James 3:1 reads, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as much will be a stricter judgment.”  First, it should be noted to whom James is writing.  And, that is to the brethren.  So, it could be argued that the leaders in the Episcopal Church are not saved so they are not brethren.  Nevertheless, it should be noted that teachers of errant doctrine will have a stricter judgment.   Episcopalian priests or laymen who teach and practice the false doctrine of infant baptism must be aware of the consequences of misleading people with this practice of false assurance.