By Grace Through Faith

Those of you still hanging around here may or may not recall that over a year and a half ago, I picked up The Second Adam and The New Birth by Reverend M.F. Sadler, a nineteenth-century Anglican. It is an excellent book which essentially presents the Scriptural case for baptismal efficacy. This was and remains a topic of peculiar interest for me and so I keep this handy little paperback within the top few of my frequently browsed favourite books. It is a recently republished work from Athanasius Press, a ministry of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Louisiana.

Yesterday, as I read a chapter in which baptismal regeneration is defended against objections relating to predestination and justification by faith, I was struck by a very helpful turn of phrase.

Regarding our baptismal union with Christ, Sadler argues that the Scriptures are quite clear in teaching that this union is "not indissoluble - not, when once made, made forever, but strictly coincident with accountability."

Sadler puts this notion forward not only as taught in God's Word but also as a clearly held position within Reformed theology, even referencing John Calvin's teaching on the matter. The tendency Sadler appears to have been battling in his day is an issue still today. In the Protestant scurry away from any seemingly "Romish" doctrines, there was an abandonment by some of careful Biblical study and the result was that dear Christians who love Jesus very much would stiffen their necks at the mention of any doctrinal comment that could potentially "lead to Rome."

When I embraced what I would then only call "the efficacy of baptism" and "the objectivity of the covenant", I was told in no uncertain terms that I was on a slippery slope toward Rome. Thankfully, such a warning did not scare me away from embracing the truth. Of course, the warning turned out to be an accurate prediction since just a little over two years later, I was reconciled and confirmed at the local parish of the Catholic Church. But the fact is that my acquaintance at that time bristled at the thought of being on such a slippery slope and he warned me not to get on it. Why?

In the view of some Protestants, the Catholic Church does not adhere to this acceptable version of baptismal grace being strictly coincident with accountability. According to those who are content with mischaracterizations, the Catholic Church carries this doctrine further down the "slippery slope" and teaches salvation by works. Supposedly, we Catholics believe that we can earn our way into Heaven. It is absolutely beyond imagination that the early Protestant Reformers' teaching on this point could possibly have been in full agreement with the Catholic position. No, no, say it ain't so. If Catholics are refraining from wearing our "By Works" arm bracelets these days, it is only so that we might lure Protestants into our trap.

Downright silliness.

I think that the divide on this supposed "by works" issue may be mostly a fabrication from the minds of men bent on being opposed to the Catholic Church.

In reality, the "justification by faith alone" obstacle is probably not nearly as enormous as it seems. The phrase "by faith alone" as oft used, is simply not wise from a pastoral standpoint. It leads the common man to place lower value on his accountability than do the Scriptures, and this is dangerous since, as Sadler pointed out, our union with Christ is not indissoluble. We must continue in a living, working faith with frequent repentance and reception of the Church's Sacramental graces.