The Baptismal Regeneration / Believer's Baptism Debate
By
Dr. J. O. Hosler

Christian students and pastors alike will welcome Dr. Hosler's fresh approach to this most crucial debate regarding the place of ritual and laws of works in the impartation of the saving grace of Christ. Finally, here is a work that takes a large and complex set of subjects and breaks them down into small understandable bites. Chapter one begins with an overview of the apostolic contention that circumcision did not impart salvation and that adherence to the Law of Moses was not a part of the gospel of Christ. That did not mean that Law was not important. Chapter two is a survey of God's purposes in establishing natural law and in giving the Mosaic system.

Though he is not hold to covenant theology, covenant theologians will be interested in his argument in chapter three that there has been only one plan of redemption for all dispensations and ages.

Chapter four will affirm that the baptism of John the Baptist was neither Jewish proselyte baptism nor Essene baptism. This will be demonstrated from the viewpoints of the Jewish Targums, Talmuds, Works of Josephus and Philo, Apocryphal writings, the OT Psuedepigrapha and the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Dr. Hosler will demonstrate that the gospel of personal salvation preached by John the Baptist was the same as that of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

The reader will be challenged by the indepth chapter regarding the controversy over the belief that infant baptism replaced circumcision and therefore regenerates a baby, placing the child into the mystical Body of Christ. One will read the actual arguments of Luther and Calvin as they make this very argument. However, Dr. Hosler will demonstrate from Scripture that OT circumcision never imparted the redeeming grace of God and was not replaced by baptism. Chapter six documents the very words of Luther and Calvin as they dogmatically argue that infant baptism regenerates infants. Argument #13 quotes Luther as saying that rebaptism could actually bring condemnation to someone's soul.

Chapter seven is mostly a compilation of the actual words of the Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers as they affirm the baptismal regenerationist for Christendom. Those who believe that ritual baptism is essential to salvation will take heart as they read the actual words of the greatest names in church history arguing for this very point. Augustine will argue that the thief on the cross was baptized when water and blood from the side of Christ splashed on him. Augustine and many others will affirm that the souls of all unbaptized infants are burning in Hell at this very moment. One will read the actual words of Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards, Campbel, Packer, Sproul and many others as they contend for the regenerating power of the sacrament of baptism.

Chapter eight will be a unique scriptural response to almost all of the subjective and mystical arguments used in defense of baptismal regeneration and other theological affirmations which are not clear from scripture. Dr. Hosler believes in the sole authority of Scripture for faith and doctrine and argues that there are absolutely no verbal, propositional revelations from God today beyond that which is contained within the closed canon of Scripture. Turning to the objective approach, chapter nine responds to each particular proof text used by baptismal regenerationists to affirm sacramentalism from Scripture alone.

Chapater ten will respond to thirty-one of the primary arguments used by evangelicals to affirm that assurance of salvation is impossible apart from absolute personal holiness being added to the back end of the gospel. Dr. Hosler will disagree with all thirty-one arguments while stressing the importance of personal holiness for fellowship with the Lord, to avoid chastisement and judgment, and to receive inheritance and reward when the saint does enter the kingdom of heaven. Finally, chapter ten will respond to the argument that the believer's baptism position is causing a scandalous division in the Body of Christ on earth today.

Dr. Hosler approaches this crucial subject from a rich background in education and pastoral ministry, with historical and biblical research skills. He has earned two undergraduate degrees in Bible and Pastoral Studies, a B.S. in History, an M.A. in History/Political Science from Butler University, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of History. He also holds an M. Div. and Th. D. from Trinity Theological Seminary. He has served as a Sr. pastor and adjunct college instructor for three decades. He also serves as a Chaplain, Lt Colonel in the U.S.A.F. Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. His primary passion in life is to promote the clarity of the Bible's teaching regarding the good news of eternal redemption and the sole authority of Scripture for faith and doctrine.

Sell your cloak, if necessary, to add this volume to your reference works.



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