Here is a good review of his latest book (of several) on baptism.
The positive side is that Leithart emphasizes what Scripture emphasizes, instead of using systematic and confessional language. This is refreshing.
The negative side is that Leithart clearly asserts that baptism regenerates the soul from death to life. “The Bible speaks of baptism as an effective rite: baptism… regenerates (Titus 3:5); and saves (1 Peter 3:21).”
Baptism IS effective in naming us, and ushering us formally into covenant union with Christ and His people, the Church. But Leithart wrongly conflates this with effectually saving us and giving us new life in Christ. Baptism proclaims and announces this, but does not do it, in itself.
I can go as far as to say that baptism ushers us into the regeneration: the kingdom of light, the people of God. But in that kingdom here on earth there remain weeds among the wheat. Baptism does not regenerate in the “born again” John 3 sense, that we are truly saved, converted, and given eternal life. If it did, then many have gone from born again (not just feeling or believing they were, but actually God had regenerated them), to rejecting and losing the faith. (They were baptized, but died rejecting any faith in Christ.) That cannot be, since no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand once they have eternal life (John 10:28-29).
In John 6 Jesus jarringly asserts that if we don’t eat His flesh and drink His blood, we don’t have life (John 6:53). But He qualifies it a bit later, saying that the Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63). Scripture makes the same qualification after saying typologically that baptism saves us, in 1 Peter 3:21.
Baptism is a great gift from God, and we should not diminish
it, or just focus on the things it doesn’t do.
But neither should we over-react to that, and claim it does more
than Scripture says.
Theopolis folks, whom I otherwise respect, take note. This assertion that baptism effectually saves
and regenerates, is a Scriptural PROBLEM.
Good post and questions. Might the scriptural problem might be solved by incorporating the concepts and language of Jude into the mix?
ReplyDelete“Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. “ ...
... 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of itheir own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.“