If “Ye must be born again”, and we understand what this rebirth is. And if we concur the the CC has the rebirth via baptism as being erroneous, how then were people saved from about 400 AD - 1400 AD (as an example) if people did not have copies of the bible and the only preaching they heard was from the pulpit of a Catholic Church - telling them that they were reborn at their infant baptism…
How did people experience (in our opinion) the real “rebirth”? or better yet, know they had too?
Thanks and I look forward to your replies.
The “rebirth” experienced at infant baptism is the securing oneself into the body of the Church, providing total elimination of original sin, new birth through the Holy Spirit–allowing us to become “adopted children of God” (see Gal 4:5-7)–as well as instuting within us the capacity to obtain perfect faith, hope, and love. (Of course, this does not mean that once baptized BAM! - we totally trust God and are fulfilled with the exact measurements of love, wisdom, compassion, ect.; but we now have the ability to achieve that, through faith in God.)
*“i will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean…A new heart i will give you, and a new spirit i will put within you, and i will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And i will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” * ~a prophecy of baptism, ezekiel 36:25-27
It is a visual statement that those who baptized you (aka, your parents) are confirming the baby will grow in, or (at the very least) be exposed to, faith. Literally, it prepares the way for the power of God to work through their life and provide them with stregnth, just as Jesus was baptized directly before he entered the desert and was tempted by Satan.
God understands the human way of life and how it progresses (i mean, He created us.

). So, it seems very irrational for a loving God to damn babies to hell, when they themselves are not yet even
capable of making an indepent decision to follow Him.
In addition to inaugurating the baby in the church, baptism serves as a public announcement to the church community that the parents (and godparents) will be strong examples and influences the baby’s walk of faith that begins at baptism.
i understand that protestants and catholics agree in multiple areas about what baptism (i.e., forgiveness of sin).
but…What exactly do you define as the “real rebirth”?
And if it obviously wasn’t known/needed in 400-1400 AD, why should it be valid today?
peace broha,
-bree!