The Efficacy of Baptism
In light of the Federal Vision report coming next week for my PCA readers, the Baylys have helpfully posted some of Samuel Miller’s work on baptismal efficacy (what the outward administration of water conveys to those who receive it).
In short, Samuel Miller states “when it is administered to the persons, or the offspring of those, who are entirely destitute of faith, there is no pledge or certainty that it will be accompanied with any blessing.”
Why? Because without faith it is impossible to please God.
Though the author of Hebrews makes it clear that there are some who “taste of the heavenly gift” yet fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6), and Jesus teaches in the parable of the sower that there are those who receive the Word and fall away (Matthew 13:20-21), even so both are temporary, incomplete, and destitute of blessing. Without true faith no man is a participant in the blessing of God that comes through union with Christ for only faith can unite us to Jesus. Anything else is merely external. As is the case with the Lord’s Supper, so baptism apart from faith results only in condemnation, not in blessing.
In short, Samuel Miller states “when it is administered to the persons, or the offspring of those, who are entirely destitute of faith, there is no pledge or certainty that it will be accompanied with any blessing.”
Why? Because without faith it is impossible to please God.
Though the author of Hebrews makes it clear that there are some who “taste of the heavenly gift” yet fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6), and Jesus teaches in the parable of the sower that there are those who receive the Word and fall away (Matthew 13:20-21), even so both are temporary, incomplete, and destitute of blessing. Without true faith no man is a participant in the blessing of God that comes through union with Christ for only faith can unite us to Jesus. Anything else is merely external. As is the case with the Lord’s Supper, so baptism apart from faith results only in condemnation, not in blessing.
posted on 6/07/2007 | permalink | more bloggy goodness
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2 Comments:
Miller:
when it is administered to the persons, or the offspring of those, who are entirely destitute of faith, there is no pledge or certainty that it will be accompanied with any blessing.
God:
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Certainly not!
Nolan:
Though the author of Hebrews makes it clear that there are some who “taste of the heavenly gift” yet fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6), and Jesus teaches in the parable of the sower that there are those who receive the Word and fall away (Matthew 13:20-21), even so both are temporary, incomplete, and destitute of blessing.
God: (Ironically enough in Hebrews 6)
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Tony Monaghan: Notice the structure. Verse 7 is parallel to verses 4&5, verse 8 parallel to verse 6.
Westminster:
What is baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, of remission of sins by his blood, and regeneration by his Spirit; of adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life; and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's.
Tony Monaghan:
Is the visible church actually no blessing at all? Or does the very blessing of it increase the condemnation for those who deny Christ?
Right on the money, Tony! Miller isn't saying that nothing is conferred, but that blessing is not *necessarily* conferred. In lieu of blessing, condemnation resides as with those who partake of the Supper unworthily.
I am intrigued by the idea of the presence of the blessing *actually being* the curse (if that is what you are suggesting). I've read some on this of late. Seems to be the idea of the nagging wife: all the time she is aiming at your sanctification and holiness the words are pain and suffering to your ears.
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