Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Wed, 7 Oct 1992 09:54:34 CDT
From:         Tom Brewer <NOTTMB@LSUVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Baptismal Regeneration?

John A. Hardon, S. J. writes in The Catholic Catechism concerning
baptism and Vatican II, "...there has been no alteration but only a
deeper realization of the supernatural effects of baptism...."

For most of us, "supernatural" means something God must do. The
best example is the new birth. Being born again, or regenerated, is
a "supernatural" act performed by God. The above note on baptism
suggests that baptism itself has some supernatural abilities. This
is like saying a witch casting a spell has supernatural powers. It
borders not on the supernatural but on the superstitious.

Hardon goes on to say, "Commonly listed first among the effects of
baptism is its efficacy to remit original sin and actual guilt, no
matter how grave the offenses against God may have been."

This is back to something else besides the blood of Christ. Something
else is removing the guilt of sin. Now I understand that the
Catholic interpretation will imply that Christ is doing the removal
of sin through baptism, but is that what the Bible teaches?

If one is cleansed by baptism, then one obvioulsy can assume he is
also forgiven by baptism. Hardon says, "Not only does baptism remove
the guilt of sin and reinstate the sinner in God's friendship, but
with it all the punishment due to sin is also mercifully forgiven."

So now we read that something besides Christ also forgives sin. Of
course we have read earlier that only the Pope, bishops and priests
can forgive sin. But this is all irrelevant because Catholic
interpretation will suggest Christ is forgiving through these
efforts of men.

Now remember all the strange ideas about Purgatory? Well according
to Hardon, "...once a person is baptized he is completely 'with
Christ.'" So does this mean baptized persons in Purgatory are there
with Christ? Why is Christ in Purgatory?

Last point of contention: Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Hardon says not only is baptism a necessity for salvation, but also
"Besides a rebirth, baptism is also a regeneration...."

The Bible says, "For by grace are you saved through faith."
At this point I guess Catholic interpretation would say baptism is
"not of yourselves" and "not of works" but rather somehow baptism is
the faith that saves. Or maybe it is the evidence of the faith that
saves. But whose faithfulness is it ultimately that saves? It's the
faith of Christ that saves. He is the one who saves His people from
their sin.

Tom Brewer NOTTMB@LSUVM

"The greatest and most ancient Church known to God's people, founded and
 organized by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at Jerusalem and spread to the
 hearts of believers everywhere, that Church which has the Word of God and
 faith which comes down to the elect after having been announced to men by
 the Prophets and Apostles. For with this Church, because of her divine
 origin, all men must agree ... and it is in her that the elect everywhere
 have maintained the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
    ---St. Thomas, Against Catholicism, c. 1992 A.D.
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