The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum William Webster on unanimous consent of baptism

Actually, I am a PB, although not the typical type you might converse with. What makes me differ is mainly the issue of "presumptive regeneration", i.e., I do not hold that all covenant children are to be presumed regenerate, or saved, or infant Christians, etc., etc., for we are ALL born under the wrath of God, have Adam's guilt imputed to us and have inherited a corruption of nature. Thus ALL are estranged from God and need to repent and believe upon the Lord Christ.

Now, as to the above quote, the insurmountable obstacle I was referring to, although most commonly held by CBs, but not exclusively to them, is the erroneous way baptism is defined; "An outward sign of an inward reality. IF baptism is a "sign", which it surely is, then that which it points to, that which it signifies, MUST of necessity exist. To give a couple examples: If while driving down an unfamiliar road you saw a sign that said Culver City 15 miles and then found out that Culver City was 100 miles in the opposite direction, you would have to conclude that the sign was false. Or, the hood ornament on a Mercedes Benz is a type of "sign", i.e., it signifies that the automobile on which it is mounted is a Mercedes. It is exclusive to that type of car. However, if you take that hood ornament and bolt on the front of a Kia, it would not indicate that the car was a Mercedes. Thus one must define baptism according to what it IS in reality and not upon anything that may or may not be. Since baptism is a true "sign", the definition of what baptism means MUST point to that which is in reality. I thus suggested that baptism is a sign of God's saving grace in the washing away of sins in Christ's blood through faith. It doesn't make any difference whatsoever if the recipient of baptism is a believer or non-believer, for the sign is perpetually and immovably true.

However, this doesn't mean that the application of baptism has no subjective element to it, for it surely does. IF the one submitting to baptism is in fact regenerate and has believed savingly upon the Lord Christ, then that which baptism signifies is true to him/her.

I hope that clears things up for you in regard to my position and my simple statement concerning one small aspect of baptism.

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