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[This book provides a solid
refutation of the false doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. The book is
copyrighted; however, it is out of print and the copyright is over 50 years old.
"Some say, why stir up trouble about a question of such minor importance as Baptismal
Regeneration. Is a so-called door to heaven a small issue? Spurgeon says, 'For
of all lies which have dragged millions down to hell, I look upon this (Baptismal
Regeneration) as being the most atrocious.' ..What
must I do to be saved?... the answer shall be Not Through a Legalistic System of
Water and Works, but through a genuine new birth, wrought in the sinner's heart
by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. V.L Petersen, 1947]
Baptismal Regeneration
and the Use of Vow
in Luteranism, Catholicism, Judaism
(An exposure of - the Hagar System of Works,
a heresy that has damned millions of souls)
V.L. Petersen
© 1947
PRINTED BY
WILSON PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
CONTENTS
| Forward |
Page 3 |
Introduction |
Page 5 |
CHAPTER I
-Testimony from the
Old Testament-Testimony from the
Old Testament
No baptism from Adam to Christ. Men were
saved by faith for 4,000 years without baptism. Circumcision did not save. Old Testament
types and salvation. Rome and followers commit sin of Jereboam. |
Page 7 |
CHAPTER II - Testimony from the
Intermediate Period - Testimony from the
Intermediate Period
John's baptism and the baptism of Jesus
give us, SOURCE, DESIGN and even MODE of baptism-Practical application of John's baptism
and the baptism of Jesus. |
Page 11 |
CHAPTER III - Testimony from the New
Testament
Every basic passage dealt with; John
3:1-16, "Born of water and the Spirit," is seen in the light of Old Testament
Scripture-Acts 2:38, Repent and be baptized unto the remission of sins– Gal.
3:27-"even baptism doth also now save us." Can a few drops of water create
Deity? Rome and her followers concoct a magical mixture in baptism and the Lord's
supper-What is meant by I Cor. 15:29, "baptized for the dead." |
Page 15 |
CHAPTER IV - Pagan Babylon and Not the
Bible Is the True Source of Baptismal Regeneration
Ancient ritual from the days of Babylon showing how
infants were baptized, given in full-B. R. is the real power of Rome's Hagar system of
works.-A Hagar-born membership indispensable to the existence of Rome.-Lutheran church
builds on virtually same foundation as that of Rome.-B. R. is a bewhiskered old doctrine
of demons. |
Page 33 |
CHAPTER V - Baptismal Regeneration, the
Great Pagan Idol
What Bible says about idols.-Why author left the
Lutheran church.-The same subtle hand that wrought the golden calf, Apis, wrought also the
idol of B. R.-Rome becomes the successor to Babylon.-Advent of "mother of
Harlots" brings spawn of hell into the Church.-Power of Deity attributed to B.
R.-True source of B. R. is Babylon. |
Page 41 |
CHAPTER VI - Questions Frequently Asked
About Matters of Baptism
On what Scriptural grounds dare we affirm that
infants are safe under the blood without B. R? - Does Ezekiel 36:25, "I will sprinkle
clean water upon you;" justify sprinkling of children?-Is not pouring a Biblical mode
of baptism since the baptism of the Spirit was by pouring? - If you have been baptized
unto B. R. is not that sufficient baptism for young or old?-If I do not believe in B. R.
what shall I do about belonging to an organization that stands for it? - If B. R. is
wrong, how did Luther happen to overlook it? |
Page 47 |
CHAPTER VII -
Matters
Pertaining To Church Fellowship and Baptism
Matters
Pertaining To Church Fellowship and Baptism
All Christians should belong to a local church.
–When one who is baptized unto regeneration, is received into church on the strength
of such baptism that church still stands for B. R., and still stands with Rome.
–Loose practices relating to baptism in many churches, show the crying need for a
restudy of subject, in the spirit of Christian love. –What a true Biblical baptism
requires. Conviction must bear fruit in action. |
Page 53 |
CHAPTER VIII - The Use of the Vow in
Lutheranism, Catholicism and Judaism
Work-righteousness, Satan's most potent
instrument against grace begins in Eden-The way of Cain-Judaism perverted in Babylon-Vow
comes from Talmudic system-Use of the Vow in baptism and confirmation-B. R. covenant
subverts true meaning of covenant -Covenant seen in the light of Gal. 3:lff -God's
dealings with Israel reveal basic difference between law and grace. |
Page 57 |
CHAPTER IX - Judaism, Catholicism and
Lutheranism, All Build on the Same Foundation in the Use of the Vow. A Word to Our Jewish
Friends. Closing Remarks.
Spurgeon and McGlothlin feel as author does
about B. R.-The terrible sin of those who do not believe in B. R., but still practice it
to make a living. Lutheran Church must cleanse herself from the idol of B. R. and kindred
evils or stand convicted of being a daughter of Rome.-Reaching peace of mind as to
baptism.-That
God blesses the irregularities of men, does not say He sanctions them-ye must be born
again. |
Page 77 |
Forward
Great sorrow of heart accompanied many a
message given by the men of God in times past. Kinship was sacrificed upon the altar of
truth: "It pleased Jehovah to bruise Him." "Woman, what have I to do with
thee"?
For years my spirit was heavy with a burden
pertaining to Baptismal Regeneration, but loyalty to traditional standards disparaged even
an unbiased study, until the burden became so heavy that its very weight brought travail
of soul, which resulted in the birth of the following message.
A long, careful and prayerful study brought
conviction. This came on a Friday evening, and the following Sunday morning I resigned
from my congregations in order to properly respect the constitutions of my congregations
which I had affirmed to honor. I believe in fair play, so I asked for an immediate
release. No personal issues entered in, either with the Lutheran church at large or with
my three congregations, my first and only charge, where I had served for nineteen years,
as fine and loyal a people as I ever expect to meet.
Personal rancor and vindictiveness do not enter
into this article. My only purpose is to give testimony to "the faith which was once
for all delivered unto the saints." For this we are commanded to contend. I have no
word of censure for the great body of Lutheran doctrine founded on God's Word. I love the
Lutheran people, and there are many wonderful Christians among them, and if the
constitutions of the congregations allowed, I would gladly labor among them as heretofore.
We seek but to unloosen a bond which we believe
binds millions of precious souls. Tragic it is, when more power is attributed to the magic
touch of a moistened hand than it took to create the universe. Tragic, tragic it is, to
say the least, that millions of precious souls shall be held in bondage by the power of a
magical mixture, the formula for which comes not from the Bible but from Pagan Babylon.
Some say, why stir up trouble about a question
of such minor importance as Baptismal Regeneration. Is a so-called door to heaven a small
issue? Spurgeon says: "For of all lies which have dragged millions down to hell, I
look upon this (Baptismal Regeneration), as being one of the most atrocious."
McGlothlin (able scholar and writer) says: Baptismal Regeneration is "the deadliest
heresy that ever crept out of the pagan religions into the faith of the Christian
Church."
The use of the vow is no better whether in
Gentile Baptism and Confirmation or the Jewish Bar Mitzvah. It is a law order which places
men under the curse of God and not under a blessing. It is the basic cause for God
becoming one's enemy as we read in Isaiah and Romans: Isaiah 6:9, "Hear ye indeed,
but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not." Romans 11:8, "God gave
them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not
hear."
The use of the vow or two-party contract in
salvation is opposed to God's way in grace where He acts alone, i.e., by His Son through
the Holy Spirit, and They are one. See Galatians 3:19-20. This brings the curse of God
upon men. It is one of the most subtle yet dangerous errors in all Scripture. It looks so
innocent and right, but is as subtle and dangerous as a serpent.
This is written in obedience to what the writer
understands to be God's will for him, and in compliance with the request of many laymen
and prominent pastors. These have asked that he elaborate on his views on Baptismal
Regeneration and give them the widest possible circulation, to the end that it may help to
awaken and revitalize the church with the spirit of revival of old-fashioned Bible
salvation, in which sinners shall cry out with the Philippian jailer, saying, "What
must I do to be saved?" and the answer shall be Not Through a Legalistic System of
Water and Works, but through a genuine new birth, wrought in the sinner's heart by the
Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
Introduction
Who Is Our Brother, Sister and Mother?
"For whosoever shall do the will of my
Father who is in heaven, he b my brother, and sister, and mother." We are well aware
that we must tread none too lightly on tender feelings in many a heart, and if personal
feeling had been considered, this treatise would never have been written. We are also
aware of what it cost Jesus to open for us heaven's door, yes, to become heaven’s
door for us: The gaping wounds, the quivering flesh of His broken body, the downrush of
God's wrath upon sin which disjointed every bone in His body and melted Him like wax, so
He was poured out like water. If this, and much more is what it cost Him to become our
door, then it is a serious matter to attribute saving power to baptism, so that it becomes
a false door to millions. Now the issues are clear as far as the Lutheran church is
concerned; Book of Concord, page 468: "The power, work, profit and fruit and end of
baptism is to save."
The Author's Lutheran Background
Having been a pastor for nineteen years in the
Lutheran church, I would address a word especially to Lutherans. It must be evident that
your spiritual cradle was mine; your spiritual experiences and problems have been mine. No
spirit of malice prompts the words of this book. They are born of a deep conviction of
heart that Baptismal Regeneration is a carry-over from Papal Rome, which has become a
false door to millions of precious souls, without which door this perverted system of Rome
could never have been and never could be. Should Rome seek to build her congregations only
of such as have had a true born-again experience, how large would her congregations be? Is
it not a fact well known to all that there are many, even Lutheran congregations, where it
is hard to find a professing Christian? When conducting meetings in a certain
congregation, I said to the godly and elderly pastor, "you have many confessing
Christians in your congregation, I suppose?"
"To tell you the truth," he said,
"though this congregation is more than forty years old, I can count on the fingers of
my one hand the number, that so far as I can judge, are truly born again."
This is not an unusual case. Instead of being
admonished to seek the new birth through a real experience they have been told that they
were born again in baptism. This has produced a fatal spiritual sleep in the hearts of
millions. It is bad enough to be spiritually asleep and know it, but it is still worse
to be spiritually asleep and not know it. The climax in deception is reached, when men are
spiritually asleep, and not knowing it, are constantly told they are awake and are good
Christians because they have been BAPTIZED and confirmed and fulfill certain
outward obligations. These are they who have a name to live, but are dead. Someone had
told them they were alive, although they knew it not. Knowing from long experience that
this is true of multitudes, I would be a traitor to these souls if I did not sound the
strongest warning I could give. "Ye must be born again." To give this testimony
we had to give up a good salary, position, and endure the closing of every door to us in
the Lutheran Church where we had labored for nineteen years. This should assure everyone
that it is love that prompts these words.
My First Case of Baptism
Stopping at a pastor's home while yet a student
at college, I was asked to baptize a baby. As I performed the ceremony, I couldn't help
but greatly marvel at the power of baptism. Although no prejudice of any kind entered in,
yet when I was through, a cloud of doubt came over me, and I spoke almost involuntarily,
saying to myself, "there is something wrong here."
If such was the case so early in life, you say,
how could you later on as pastor continue to baptize children unto regeneration? Like many
others I considered it but a temptation, and diligently sought to strengthen my faith
through the study of Scriptures, all the while contending, that here especially, I must
let reason be a willing captive of faith; and that in as much as others baptized so, it
must be right whether I could see it or not. I thus forced my faith to hold on, refusing
even so much as to study evidence to the contrary, until circumstances drove me to do so.
After as long and careful a study as I was capable of, I reached my conclusion to the
opposite. Then it was my duty to state my convictions openly and not hide them. The
evidence that compelled me to believe that baptism does not regenerate, is set before you
in the following pages.
CHAPTER I
-Testimony
from the Old Testament
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