Does the WCF teach baptismal regeneration?

[Javilo]

Does the WCF teach baptismal regeneration?
It would seem so by reading chapter 28, article 1.
There it describes baptism providing remission of sins.
Although doesn't appear to go as far a Lutheranism
which describes baptism a necessary for salvation.
But the way the WCF describes it, isn't it the same thing
and the actual words aren't necessary?

 

[Josh G]

Does the WCF teach baptismal regeneration?
It would seem so by reading chapter 28, article 1.
There it describes baptism providing remission of sins.
Although doesn't appear to go as far a Lutheranism
which describes baptism a necessary for salvation.
But the way the WCF describes it, isn't it the same thing
and the actual words aren't necessary?

Chapter XXVIII
Of Baptism​

I. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,[1] not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church;[2] but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,[3] of his ingrafting into Christ,[4] of regeneration,[5] of remission of sins,[6] and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life.[7] Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.[8]

I think what it is saying is that Baptism is a sign of remission of sins.

Just my

 

[JohnGill]

Shades of Deconstructionism

Does the WCF teach baptismal regeneration?
It would seem so by reading chapter 28, article 1.
There it describes baptism providing remission of sins.
Although doesn't appear to go as far a Lutheranism
which describes baptism a necessary for salvation.
But the way the WCF describes it, isn't it the same thing
and the actual words aren't necessary?

No it does not. If you look at the scripture references to the confession you will see they are quoting Mark 1:4.

Same section from the London Baptist Confession of Faith:

Paragraph 1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him;3 of remission of sins;4 and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.5
3 Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27
4 Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16
5 Rom. 6:4


Both of them believed that baptism stood as a sign for the remission of sins. Who would want to be baptized except a Christian? Especially during Roman persecution.

From Fisher's Catechism on the WSC:

Q. 28. What are the ends and uses of baptism?

A. They are to signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace.

Q. 29. What is it to signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ?

A. It is to signify and seal our union with him, and consequently the imputation of his righteousness to us, Gal. 3:27 -- "As many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ."

Q. 30. What are the benefits of the covenant of grace, the partaking of which is signified and sealed in baptism?

A. They are "remission of sins by the blood of Christ; regeneration by his Spirit, adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life."[136]

Hope this helps.

BTW the actual words are always necessary otherwise there is no meaning to words save that which your own preconceptions give it. Which means every reading of a sentence is a wrong reading and you have no understanding of what I'm writing right now. Unless you have the right preconceptions for understanding me, which you may not have.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

The late David F. Wright, certainly no slouch, says yes. Patrick Ramsey says not so fast in this article that will appear in the 2008 Confessional Presbyterian journal (see this thread)
Baptismal Regeneration and the Westminster Confession of Faith. By D. Patrick Ramsey

 

[JohnGill]

The late David F. Wright, certainly no slouch, says yes. Patrick Ramsey says not so fast in this article that will appear in the 2008 Confessional Presbyterian journal (see this thread)
Baptismal Regeneration and the Westminster Confession of Faith. By D. Patrick Ramsey

Read this article joelgarver.com - baptismal regeneration and WCF 28.6


From the article:

We can open up this question further by noting the opinion of a well-respected scholar of Reformation theology, David F. Wright (University of Edinburgh; a ruling elder in the Church of Scotland). He writes,

What then about the efficacy of baptism according to the Westminster Confession? Its central affirmation seems clear: "the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost" (28.6). It is true that a variety of qualifications to this assertion are entered...But these qualifications serve in fact only to highlight the clarity of the core declaration, which is set forth as follows in the preceding chapter on sacraments in general:

niether doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it, but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution; which contains...a promise of benefit to worthy receivers (27.3).

The Westminster divines viewed baptism as the instrument and occasion of regeneration by the Spirit, of the remission of sins, of ingrafting into Christ (cf. 28.1). The Confession teaches baptismal regeneration. (from "Baptism at the Westminster Assembly" in The Westminster Confession into the 21st Century, volume 1, ed. by J. Ligon Duncan III, Mentor 2003:168-9)

Apparently it depends on how you take the term 'baptismal regeneration.'