Vol. XXXVIII June 1, 2006 No 6
FAITH AND EXPERIENCE
Be Who and What You Are! (1)
by Tom McLemore
Last month, we explored the concept of becoming and being a child of God. As I reflected further upon the scriptural teaching on this matter, I saw the need to clarify an important principle that will help us understand, not only the doctrine of regeneration, but possibly some other biblical doctrines. That principle involves recognizing that the Bible reveals these doctrines from two perspectives, viz., what is to be accepted by faith, and what is experienced. (I am tempted to use the categories theoretical and practical, but I think theoretical may suggest to some the idea of “not true” or “not real.” What is accepted by faith is indeed true and real. In fact, in one sense, it is more true and real than the practical! See Hebrews 9:24)! I am convinced that a failure to make this distinction has led to fundamental misunderstandings regarding many important doctrines and practices.
Since we have studied briefly the doctrine of the new birth last month, let us begin there. The concept of being born again, being born from above, being born of God, regeneration, or however it is described in Scripture should be considered from two perspectives, viz., what is to be accepted by faith, and what is experienced. Another way to describe the two perspectives is to consider one’s status before God (and in relation to others) on the one hand, and what God has accomplished in one’s behavior on the other hand.
Of course there is no virtue in the water as water, but when the immersion of a believer in water is seen through the eyes of faith, it has the most profound meaning and is the only way to receive the status specified! In baptism, through faith, one is being born of God/the Spirit. In baptism, through faith, one is being buried with Christ. In baptism, through faith, one is being raised with Christ. In baptism, through faith, one is being cleansed and washed.
The event of being immersed under the influence of the teaching of the Spirit is regeneration. It is regeneration because God has pronounced it “the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5) or being “born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). It is purification (John 3:25, 26; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22) because God has pronounced it to be such. It marks the moment at which God considers one his child, purified, and regenerated. It marks the status of the one baptized, and that status is accepted by faith.
Yet, the Bible also teaches an aspect of regeneration and purification that is experienced, i.e., that is accomplished by God in one’s behavior. This involves the actual change in the way the one who has been baptized lives, and it is a process in which the Holy Spirit further influences us and leads us actually to live as God’s children. This is the subject of John’s extensive discussion in 1 John 3. Please read this chapter and note how what John describes corresponds to what Jesus declared in John 3. In baptism, one is given the status of having been born of God; in experience, the one baptized (born of God) grows to manifest the nature of God in behavior.
I am convinced that a failure to make the distinction under discussion has led people to misunderstand how baptism is involved in one’s becoming a Christian. A failure to understand these matters has led to belittling baptism with the cry, uttered in the most hateful tones, “Baptismal regeneration!” The Bible does not teach that the water of baptism changes a person’s behavior. However, it does teach that one’s status before God changes when one submits to baptism in faith! And, it does teach that being a baptized believer can (and should) affect one’s behavior dramatically! Please read the entire sixth chapter of Romans! This status of becoming a child of God as the result of being born of water and Spirit is realized by faith. It is at this point that God’s Spirit’s teaching has begun to transform the baptized one into a person who behaves as a child of God. It is at this point that one may be urged, “Become and be what you are!”
As we noted last month, there are many who manifest the behavior of a child of God who have never been immersed. They consider themselves children of God, and nowadays, many among us would consider them to be children of God. This situation highlights a most serious problem that has considerably hindered the cause of Christ, viz., the fact that many of the true children of God (by birth) do not manifest the behavior of the children of God! It would be as serious an error to suggest that these (if they continue in their present course) will receive the inheritance of the children of God as it would be to suggest that those who have never become children of God will receive that inheritance.
It is tragic that so many of our people who have been taught to be born of God somehow have been led to believe that being born is all there is to being children of God! In such cases, those who have been influenced by the Holy Spirit’s teaching to be immersed into Christ cease at that point being influenced thereby. How could such a state of affairs exist among us? Could it be the result of our emphases? Have we not put more emphasis upon correct practice than upon developing character, upon proper procedures than upon love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, and all that is good and right and true (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9)?
In terms of Jesus’ analysis in Matthew 23:23, we have neglected the weightier matters. His prescription, in my opinion, is the corrective we need: “these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.” From our study thus far, we can see that it is only right to emphasize immersion of the believer into Christ as the birth by which one becomes a child of God. However, it is equally essential to stress that those who have been influenced by the Holy Spirit’s teaching to be immersed into Christ continue being influenced thereby to develop the character and behavior of the child of God. Let us continue to teach the truth about baptism, but let us devote ourselves to teaching those who were thus born from above/born anew to live according to who they are!
Next month, the Lord willing, we will consider other fundamental doctrines which, in order to understand the teaching of the scriptures concerning them, must be seen with this distinction between what is accepted by faith and what is realized by experience in mind (creation, righteousness, sanctification, etc).
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