Baptismal Regeneration a False Gospel

by Steve C. Halbrook

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)

One of the most prevalent false gospels in Christianity is the notion that water baptism saves, packaged in such ways as baptismal regeneration or baptismal remission. This is advocated in several circles, such as Roman Catholicism,  the Federal Vision, and Campbellism (those who call themselves "the church of Christ"). 

Many proponents of this heresy appeal to history, saying this creed or that influential theologian taught it (of course, creeds and theologians can also be misunderstood); therefore, they say, this doctrine is legitimate. 

But the Apostle Paul would have nothing to do with such thinking. On the contrary, when it comes to the Gospel, everyone, at all times, is subject to Scriptural scrutiny. No exceptions. Thus he says, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” And if apostles and angels are subject to Scriptural scrutiny, how much more are non-apostles and non-angels?

In Galatians chapter 3, Paul gives a standard for distinguishing between the true Gospel and false gospels: 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:1-6)

Note that Paul pits the true Gospel against any so-called gospel that adds or takes away from “hearing with faith”: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” That is, belief (“just as Abraham ‘believed God’”) in the finished work of Christ alone (“before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified”) on one’s behalf is sufficient for salvation. More specifically, one is saved by Christ, with faith being the alone instrument of justification. 

No works. No religious rites. No nothing. Only Christ. Anything else is a different gospel.

This includes the view that says water baptism is needed for salvation. Such a view adds to “hearing with faith” with the requirement of water baptism; it denies that one receives the Spirit by hearing with faith, and instead says one receives the Spirit by water. In differing with the sufficiency of “hearing with faith,” it is a different gospel. 

Those who hold to it are under a curse. Their only hope is the sufficiency of Christ’s righteousness and sacrificial death, received through faith alone. One is not saved by water, but by blood—namely, the blood of Christ.