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NASB | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: Titus 3:5 and washing of regeneration |
Bible Note: Greetings Dalcent! You wrote: "For anyone able to read the Bible in its plain sense, rather than through their preconceptions, it is obvious that Titus 3:5's 'bath of regeneration' is referring to the baptismal tank of regeneration." My problem with this approach is that 'baptism' is not even mentioned in this verse. Are we to assume that any reference to 'washing' must refer to baptism? It is more likely, in my view, that 'washing' here refers to the cleansing of the flesh that takes place through regeneration. In fact, 1 Pet. 3:21 explicitly states that this is something water baptism does not do. Secondly, every reference to 'baptism' does not necessarily refer to 'water' baptism. There are other baptisms mentioned in Scripture. Of the three verses you cite (Gal. 3:27, 1 Cor. 12:13, and Col. 2:12), a strong case can be made that the first two do not refer to water baptism at all. Finally, there is one example of the sinner's prayer in the Bible. Luke 18:13 says, "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’" :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |