Forums / Theology Forum / Re: Could Jesus have sinned? on: July 13, 2010, 10:00:11 A

Having been on both sides of this issue it seems i can see how men become entrenched in their particular orthodoxy. On the one side there is a tendency to view this as focus on appearance. On the other side the tendency is to place the ritual of baptism above the clear teaching of the entrance into salvation by regeneration.  Both of these extremes comes from a lack of attention to the details of the order of salvation. And that brings on a kind of exterior appearance of performing these acts of righteousness in this social acceptance.
This is why it is good for us to study the two views of baptism as accepted among the confessional community so that we can get a perspective of these tendencies. Because most of the clear teachings of the doctrines of grace historically have come from both views. There may be an epistemological and dispositional comfort zone in the attraction to one view over the other. I can see were infant baptism supports the dispositional qualities of regeneration over the believers baptism. Because we believe that it is not a matter of our confession that brings about salvation but it is the secret work of the Holy Spirit by the will of God alone given out of free grace to one who is like a child. And yet we both teach that baptism must be accompanied by regeneration. So that God is not limited to the act of baptism in order to work salvation in a person.