Anglicans = baptismal regeneration?

[Daughter]

Hello All,

I grew up in the Church of England and was confirmed but have little recollection of their teachings! I remember some bits of the Nicene creed, and it says "We believe in one baptism for the forgivness of sins". Is this baptismal regeneration?

 

[Jim1999]

No, we do not teach baptismal regeneration. It has reference to original sin and not salvation as taught in scripture.

Not all Anglicans accept even this concept. Baptism of infants is simply initiation into the visible church, with the godparents taking personal responsibility for raising the child up in the Christian doctrines.

Confirmation should be the teaching that brings us to the realization of Christ as our personal Saviour.

If you go to a church like All Souls in Langham Place, you will hear the true gospel.

Cheers, and God bless,

Jim

 

[Daughter]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply, I see in your profile you're an Anglican

I had supposed like any denomination you get widely differing individual churches, especially on doctrinal issues. I haven't been to CofE for many years, are many of them still liturgical?

I've heard of All Souls, thanks for the tip!

 

[Matt Black]

What Jim said. A good source document for Anglican theology is of course the 39 Articles; in respect of baptism, they have the following to say:-

XXVII. Of Baptism.
Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed, Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God.

The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.

Note the use of the words "as a sign of regeneration"; that sign has to be "confirmed" later by faith but CofE teaching says that the sign 'covers' the infant until he or she reaches as age when s/he can decide for him/herself. Many Anglicans who believe in infant baptism also see it in the context of household, covenanental baptism, whereby the baptism seals the fact that the infant has been born to a Christian household and is saved for the moment by the faith of his or her parents.

The Plymouth Brethren, incidentally, have a similar view whereby (household) baptism gets the infant "into the outer courts of the Temple" but that subsequent faith is necessary for that to be maintained.

Compare the Catholic Church's view on baptism here

Re Anglicanism, Daughter, you may be interested in this older thread on the topic HERE

 

[Daughter]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the links, I'll check em out! The info on infant baptism was very useful. Can you believe I grew up in that denomination and don't remember that traching?!

 

[Daughter]

oops, "traching" should read "teaching"

 

[Jim1999]

Daughter, it is a long story, but in short, I grew up in East London (Plaistow) in the C0fE including public school, but entered ministry in the British Baptist Union before coming to Canada in 1948. I retired from Baptist ministry then returned to the Anglican Church because, (a) wife remained Anglican throught, and (b) there is no Baptist Church within reach where we live.

The C0fE if all over the table to-day theologically, including some which believe in baptismal regeneration. They are the more liberal folks.

In Canada, we have a good mixture of high church and low church. In the diocese where I live most of the vicars are born again evangelical. We do have a couple of liberal vicars as well.

You will find in here that most do not know anything about the Anglican Church, except that we do err and are in great need of salvation.

Good post by Matt and excellent links.

All Souls is the most evangelical Anglican Church in London and parishioners drive for miles to attend there. I haven't been home for some years now, but wife was over last June. We only have one family member left in Stratford, West Ham (now Newham). When her job finishes, she will be moving out as well.

Cheers, and welcome to the Board,

Jim

 

[nate]

Originally posted by Jim1999:
No, we do not teach baptismal regeneration. It has reference to original sin and not salvation as taught in scripture.

Not all Anglicans accept even this concept. Baptism of infants is simply initiation into the visible church, with the godparents taking personal responsibility for raising the child up in the Christian doctrines.

Confirmation should be the teaching that brings us to the realization of Christ as our personal Saviour.

If you go to a church like All Souls in Langham Place, you will hear the true gospel.

Cheers, and God bless,

Jim

Amen!

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by Jim1999:
All Souls is the most evangelical Anglican Church in London and parishioners drive for miles to attend there. I haven't been home for some years now, but wife was over last June.

Is that the church where John Stott is the pastor?

 

[Jim1999]

gb..

He was pastor at that church since his ordination in 1945...starting off as assistant...he is currently Rector Emeritus-at-large.

He is also chaplain to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Wonderful man of the Lord, and of the Book and is still busy writing books.

Cheers,

Jim