speratus, my dear Lutheran . . .

I don't have any allegiance to your "Confessions". Nor will I bow before the writings/opinions of any man, be he Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Edwards, etc... What I give full recognition and obedience to, as the Spirit of God enables, is the inspired, infallibly, inerrant written Word of God. Now, if you would care to EXEGETE that Word of God so as to show that the efficacy of baptism depends not upon the legitimacy of the one administering it and/or the recipient but in and of itself, then I would love to read it. Never doubt that I am "confessional", i.e., I gladly embrace any and all confessional statements which are wholly in accord with the teaching of Scripture. However, where they do not, then I must reject those statements as spurious. So, save yourself some time and energy by not quoting from your Augsburg Confession or some other document or even from Luther himself. They have no authority over me nor can they demand that I embrace anything in them.

Previously, I chided and encouraged you to READ [Linked Image] what Calvinists actually believe so that you would at least be privy to what someone like myself holds to be true. This too would go a long way in saving you wasted time and energy in disagreeing with things which don't exist. You can find a number of articles re: baptism here: Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church.

And, FYI.. here is what the Westminster Confession of Faith (Presbyterians) teaches:


[color:"blue"]The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXVIII[/color]
Of Baptism


V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance,[13] yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it;[14] or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.[15]

13. Gen. 17:14; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; see Luke 7:30
14. Rom. 4:11; Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47
15. Acts 8:13, 23

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;[16] yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.[17]

16. John 3:5, 8
17. Rom. 6:3-6; Gal. 3:27; I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38, 41



In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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