With that thought, can a member of the Catholic Church who is laity, baptize a sinner in his backyard, and will God regenerate (born from above) that sinner since the Catholic member performed the baptism?
A couple of thoughts here.
The validity of Baptism does not rely on the person doing it. As long as it is followed according to Christ’s institution, it is valid. The situation you are describing is not licit, but it doesn’t invalidate the Baptism.
God does regenerate the person when they are baptized.
Mormons wouldn’t because their formula is not Trinitarian; they say the three names, but mean something else entirely by it. JW baptisms are not valid either, because they only baptise in the name of Jesus.
I know our views on sacraments can be difficult. Some Protestants have too low of a view of the sacraments. Some Christians have too high of a view of the sacraments. I still believe that receiving the good news (2 Cor 5:21), Christ and Him crucified as being sufficient for reconcilation and adoption is independent from the sacrament of baptism. A regenerate person will obey the command to be baptized after the rebirth, because God enables him to obey the command to be baptized.
That may be true in the case of an adult. A person who converts to the faith prior to Baptism is probably already regenerate and has faith. The same would not be true of an infant, of course.I know our views on sacraments can be difficult. Some Protestants have too low of a view of the sacraments. Some Christians have too high of a view of the sacraments. I still believe that receiving the good news (2 Cor 5:21), Christ and Him crucified as being sufficient for reconcilation and adoption is independent from the sacrament of baptism. A regenerate person will obey the command to be baptized after the rebirth, because God enables him to obey the command to be baptized.
How about Unitarian Christians who reject the Trinity?
Infants are a difficutl mystery, especially covenant children (1 Cor 7). I believe John the Baptist was converted in his mother’s womb, before he was baptized with water.
nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians7.htmInfants are a difficutl mystery, especially covenant children (1 Cor 7). I believe John the Baptist was converted in his mother’s womb, before he was baptized with water.
I assume not.
And for the same reason that Reformed celebrations of the Lord’s Supper are not valid.
So, I gather the Reformed do not believe in the Real Presence?
Conservative Reformed churches (and this is going to get technical, Perry, so bear with me lol) believe that Christ is not present in the elements of bread and wine sacramentally (or physically). They believe that for the elect who have faith, they receive the real body and blood of Christ by the instrument of their faith. Rather than Christ coming down to the elements to be received by the mouth, their faith raises them to heaven and they receive his body and blood there.
Looks like a lot of dancing just so someone can say their not Catholic.
Perhaps. I believe their logical reasoning is that because Christ has a true human body, he cannot be ubiquitous, or, present everywhere at once, nor can the finite (bread) contain the infinite (Christ’s divinity).
How does one get that theory out of scripture? I had no idea the Reformed are so outside the norm. I am going to have to read up on them a bit. I am behind a couple books. Won’t get to it for a while.
Children in a believing household is clean and holy. Children from a nonbelieving household is unclean and unholy.
LOL…good one Perry.
I think you need to go to the Reformed confessions to get a better understanding. I know the sacraments are considered a means of grace. Many Reformed churches have communion every Sunday. The Baptist will say that the Reformed churches have a Catholic hangover.