Possibly one of the most important distinctions between paedobaptists (one who practices infant baptism) and credobaptist (one who practices believers baptism) is how they answer the question, “Is baptism something that we do, or is baptism something that God does? Or stated another way, is baptism our (human) action or God’s action? Who is the [...]
Critics of the Lutheran theology allege that our understanding of the means of grace compromises the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone. Martin Luther responded to that charge himself with these words from his Large Catechism (paragraphs 28-31):
“Our know-it-alls, the new spirits, assert that faith alone saves and that works and external things [...]
Here Martin Luther defends his understanding of how God offers, gives, seals and conveys the forgiveness of sins to His people through means, that is, through His Word which comes to us accompanied with visible elements in the sacraments.
This quote is from Against the Heavenly Prophets:
So that our readers may the better perceive our [...]
There has been a very interesting and important theological discussion going on among some significant Reformed writers about credobaptism (the doctrine that Christian baptism should be reserved for believers), paedobaptism (the baptism of infants), the Lord’s Supper and Church membership.
These men are wrestling with how to properly and practically balance doctrinal purity and truth [...]
One reason why many evangelicals don’t accept infant baptism is because they see baptism as something we do, and therefore view it as being contrary to the Reformation emphasis of justification by grace apart from works. At an old blog, Jeffery Meyers considers the assumption that baptism must be a work:
“Why must baptism be considered [...]
Peter J. Leithart explains why the value and significance of the sacraments actually increased with a recovery of the gospel in Reformation theology:
It may seem that emphasizing the promissory nature of baptism and the Supper is a reversion from the Reformation.
On the contrary: In popular medieval piety, no common believer could have assurance simply by [...]
Peter J. Leithart on what baptism confers:
Baptism has a promissory aspect. The Lord promises forgiveness and life in the Word, and calls hearers to faith. Baptism is a ritual form of the same promise, offering this gift to me by name, and baptism calls the baptized to trust the God who has baptized him.
Baptism not [...]
Peter J. Leithart blogs about the ground of our assurance of the promises of the Gospel:
If some of the baptized end up in hell, how can baptism be an instrument of assurance?
Might as well ask the same question about the word: If some who hear the Word end up in hell, how can the Word [...]
Peter J. Leithart points out some wonderful benefits of baptism and how they do not conflict with the doctrine of justification by faith. It reminds of what Luther says in his Small Catechism in answer to the question how water [in baptism] can do such great things? Luther says, “ Certainly not just water, but [...]
