Baptism: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered by Ray R. Sutton

Author:Ray R. Sutton [Sutton, Ray R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2015-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

[114] The Whole Works of the Rt Revd Jeremy Taylor, ed. Reginald Heber (London: Rivingtons, 1828), vol. III, Discourse VI.II. 1-11.

[115] Boyd, Baptism and Baptismal Regeneration, pp. 62-63.

Justification and Baptism

There is also the issue of the relationship between justification and Baptism. The Scriptures and the Articles of Religion categorically speak of the great Reformation emphasis of justification by faith alone. Indeed, the “just shall live by faith” according to the Apostle Paul. Also, the Apostle Peter speaks of being baptized “for the remission of sins,” clearly justification language (cf. Romans 3:21-26). Justification results in true and final forgiveness. Which is it? Does the Sacrament or the personal faith justify? We should remember that in the New Testament faith was not to be severed from the Sacrament. Yet, we also know that sometimes in the Church people do not personally truly believe at Baptism, even in the case of some adults (Acts 8:13ff.). For this reason, Anglican scholars have spoken of Baptism as the formal place of justification. It can be said that a person is officially and covenantally declared justified at baptism. In this sense Baptism is for the remission of sins. Faith, however, is still required in infant and adult Baptism. Time tells in each case as to whether true faith was present at Baptism.

The Reformation emphasis of justification by faith is still rightfully protected by the recognition of the need for informal justification if personal faith were not present at Baptism. For this reason, some scholars have also recognized the distinction of justification informally occurring in the life of a person who truly comes to faith after Baptism. In this case, what is signified and sealed in Baptism is realized at the time of personal faith. In this sense, a person could say that he informally came to an awareness of justification when he actually believed. Again, the great doctrine of justification by faith alone is upheld. Baptism symbolizes and seals the forgiveness of justification at the point of true faith. Certainly as a legal declaration of God, justification could be said to occur formally at Baptism, even though it might actually take place informally at a later moment. A person is truly, eternally justified before God’s tribunal of perfect justice when he receives the payment of sin, Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross. This reception takes place through personal, individual saving faith. Then what was formally presented at Holy Baptism becomes informally realized.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.