The Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration
This is probably the biggest doctrine the ICC defends and you will find that it is always a "hot button" issue with them. I personally have had an ICC member become so passionate during a discussion about this subject that he began yelling at me, but certainly he doesn't represent the denomination as a whole by his actions.
I have found however, that the ones who are the teachers and preachers of their doctrine are the most passionate about it. The members who are the laity of the church are usually not as outspoken on their doctrines, but this may be because they are still in the process of becoming indoctrinated.
The Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration doctrine that is practiced by the International Church of Christ. According to gotquestions.org - a well known site for research on a wide variety of topics:
I personally encountered once when visiting one of their Churches. There was a part of me that wondered if it was such a bad thing to place emphasis on. I mean we SHOULD be water baptized as it is something we are commanded to do as Christians, so would it really be a big deal for a Church to place a more mandatory stance on it - even making it synonymous with salvation? I soon found out why it was such a wrong doctrine after my own experience.
This is probably the biggest doctrine the ICC defends and you will find that it is always a "hot button" issue with them. I personally have had an ICC member become so passionate during a discussion about this subject that he began yelling at me, but certainly he doesn't represent the denomination as a whole by his actions.
I have found however, that the ones who are the teachers and preachers of their doctrine are the most passionate about it. The members who are the laity of the church are usually not as outspoken on their doctrines, but this may be because they are still in the process of becoming indoctrinated.
The Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration doctrine that is practiced by the International Church of Christ. According to gotquestions.org - a well known site for research on a wide variety of topics:
Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. It is our contention that baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but we adamantly reject baptism as being required for salvation. We strongly believe that each and every Christian should be water baptized by immersion.
Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 declares, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” The action of being immersed in the water illustrates dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.
Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus' death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say we must be baptized in order to be saved is to say we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ's death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus' death alone paid for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus' payment for our sins is appropriated to our “account” by faith alone (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, baptism is an important step of obedience after salvation but cannot be a requirement for salvation.
Yes, there are some verses that seem to indicate baptism as a necessary requirement for salvation. However, since the Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture.
In Bible times, a person who converted from one religion to another was often baptized to identify conversion. Baptism was the means of making a decision public. Those who refused to be baptized were saying they did not truly believe. So, in the minds of the apostles and early disciples, the idea of an un-baptized believer was unheard of. When a person claimed to believe in Christ, yet was ashamed to proclaim his faith in public, it indicated that he did not have true faith.
If baptism is necessary for salvation, why would Paul have said, “I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Corinthians 1:14)? Why would he have said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17)?
Granted, in this passage Paul is arguing against the divisions that plagued the Corinthian church. However, how could Paul possibly say, “I am thankful that I did not baptize…” or “For Christ did not send me to baptize…” if baptism were necessary for salvation?
If baptism is necessary for salvation, Paul would literally be saying, “I am thankful that you were not saved…” and “For Christ did not send me to save…” That would be an unbelievably ridiculous statement for Paul to make. Further, when Paul gives a detailed outline of what he considers the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8), why does he neglect to mention baptism? If baptism is a requirement for salvation, how could any presentation of the gospel lack a mention of baptism?
I personally encountered once when visiting one of their Churches. There was a part of me that wondered if it was such a bad thing to place emphasis on. I mean we SHOULD be water baptized as it is something we are commanded to do as Christians, so would it really be a big deal for a Church to place a more mandatory stance on it - even making it synonymous with salvation? I soon found out why it was such a wrong doctrine after my own experience.
Years ago, I worked at a group home for mentally handicapped adults and we would take them to the Church of their choice on Sundays. This gave me an awesome opportunity to visit a variety of Churches. Once there was a local Church of Christ that was hosting a Vacation bible school and the residents of the group home were invited to go.
About 4 other workers and myself rode in a bus to the Church. We were all escorted into a room where their special class would be. Keep in mind that these were mentally handicapped adults and they were saved anyways. So what lesson would they be taught? Most teachers would think along the lines of Noah's Ark or something for primary children. For 5 nights, an hour each night, these mentally handicapped adults were taught about the importance of water baptism, and why it is a necessary requirement for salvation.
Of course the real agenda was that the other 4 workers and myself would become indoctrinated. The bible teacher knew that I was a pastor of a local Church too, but this did not matter because in his eyes I was lost and so were the other 4 workers (although they were also professing Christians).
After class each night we would join the rest of the classes in the sanctuary for the big service. Can you guess what the sermon was about? You guessed it - Water Baptism and why it is a necessary requirement for salvation. Of course Jesus was mentioned and how He died for us, but the preacher always would make a B-line straight back to water baptism as a requirement for the remission of sins.
Finally on the last night they did change it up some. It was the awards night, so each child was being honored for bringing the most friends, memorizing bible verses, and other VBS related activities. After a brief sermon an invitation was given and two young girls stepped forward wanting to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
After hearing both of them publicly profess faith in Jesus, they immediately escorted these two girls to the back room for water baptism. The older girl I recall was 16 years old. She stepped into the baptismal, the preacher asked her has she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and was now ready to receive baptism for the remission of her sins? She replied, "Yes" and she was assisted by the preacher and was baptized.
The next girl I recal them saying she was 12 years old. She also stepped into the baptismal, the preacher asked her has she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and was now ready to receive baptism for the remission of her sins? She replied, "I'm afraid to go under the water" and she began to cry. After the preacher and the elders tried to talk her into it for about 10 minutes, they let her step out and go into the back room so she could change.
Both girls came out and sat back down in the pews. At the end of the service the preacher invited the 16 year old girl to come to the front, but not the 12 year old girl. The people all went to the front and took turns hugging the 16 year old girl, but nobody paid any attention to the 12 year old girl, who sat in the pew alone with her head hung down.
In closing now I'll ask you. Did just one girl get saved or two that day?
About 4 other workers and myself rode in a bus to the Church. We were all escorted into a room where their special class would be. Keep in mind that these were mentally handicapped adults and they were saved anyways. So what lesson would they be taught? Most teachers would think along the lines of Noah's Ark or something for primary children. For 5 nights, an hour each night, these mentally handicapped adults were taught about the importance of water baptism, and why it is a necessary requirement for salvation.
Of course the real agenda was that the other 4 workers and myself would become indoctrinated. The bible teacher knew that I was a pastor of a local Church too, but this did not matter because in his eyes I was lost and so were the other 4 workers (although they were also professing Christians).
After class each night we would join the rest of the classes in the sanctuary for the big service. Can you guess what the sermon was about? You guessed it - Water Baptism and why it is a necessary requirement for salvation. Of course Jesus was mentioned and how He died for us, but the preacher always would make a B-line straight back to water baptism as a requirement for the remission of sins.
Finally on the last night they did change it up some. It was the awards night, so each child was being honored for bringing the most friends, memorizing bible verses, and other VBS related activities. After a brief sermon an invitation was given and two young girls stepped forward wanting to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
After hearing both of them publicly profess faith in Jesus, they immediately escorted these two girls to the back room for water baptism. The older girl I recall was 16 years old. She stepped into the baptismal, the preacher asked her has she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and was now ready to receive baptism for the remission of her sins? She replied, "Yes" and she was assisted by the preacher and was baptized.
The next girl I recal them saying she was 12 years old. She also stepped into the baptismal, the preacher asked her has she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and was now ready to receive baptism for the remission of her sins? She replied, "I'm afraid to go under the water" and she began to cry. After the preacher and the elders tried to talk her into it for about 10 minutes, they let her step out and go into the back room so she could change.
Both girls came out and sat back down in the pews. At the end of the service the preacher invited the 16 year old girl to come to the front, but not the 12 year old girl. The people all went to the front and took turns hugging the 16 year old girl, but nobody paid any attention to the 12 year old girl, who sat in the pew alone with her head hung down.
In closing now I'll ask you. Did just one girl get saved or two that day?
Go to Part 4
