By David J. Stewart
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." -Matthew 7:15
Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult, a false religion, who pervert the Scriptures in an attempt to justify the heresy of Baptismal Regeneration...
Watchtower 1989, January 15, p.15, How Baptism Can Save Us
How Baptism Can Save Us
"Immersion . . . saves us."-1 PETER 3:21, The Emphatic Diaglott.
JEHOVAH has specific requirements for those seeking salvation. They must acquire accurate knowledge, exercise faith, repent of their sins, be converted, make a dedication to God, and undergo baptism as believers. (John 3:16; 17:3; Acts 3:19; 18:8) Baptismal candidates must acknowledge publicly that on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice they have repented of their sins and have dedicated themselves to Jehovah. They must also understand that dedication and baptism identify them as Jehovah's Witnesses.
2 The entire baptismal arrangement, including this public expression of faith, is essential for salvation. (Romans 10:10) This was confirmed when the apostle Peter wrote: "Immersion . . . saves us." (1 Peter 3:21, ED) But exactly how should we understand these words? What does the context show?
The Lie of Baptismal Regeneration
BAPTISMAL
REGENERATION is the unbiblical teaching that a person MUST be baptized
in order to go to Heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Word of God is abundantly clear that Baptism is only an ordinance, to be
observed by each individual believer AFTER salvation, as
a public profession of
one's faith in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John tells us exactly why he wrote the Epistle of 1st John in 1st John 5:13... "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." John states that the sole purpose of his Epistle is so that we may KNOW that we are saved. Carefully notice that John NEVER mentions water baptism, not once. John doesn't mention speaking-in-tongues either, solid proof that Charismatics who require tongues as initial evidence of salvation are wrong.
Baptismal Regeneration is a lie of the Devil. Romans 4:5 plainly states... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." How much clearer could the Bible be? A person's faith in Jesus Christ is COUNTED for righteousness. Salvation is of God, and not men. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and not our own self-righteousness... but to him that worketh not. In lieu of such plain Scriptural teachings, how could anyone teach or believe that water baptism is required to be forgiven of one's sins? It is utter heresy! Many people ask me about Acts 2:38. Others ask me about 1st Peter 3:21. Please read, What is Baptism?
What people should be focusing on, instead of the ceremony of baptism, is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that takes our sins away... "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Please read, The Simple Gospel.
"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." -The Apostle Paul, 1st Corinthians 1:17
