Question: I believe that I have received the grace of regeneration at my baptism. The Scriptures teach that purification is firmly linked to the rite of baptism.

Answer: According to Roman Catholic teaching, baptism is the instrumental cause of purification, and faith, though necessary, is not sufficient to effect purification. "By baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins...baptism...purifies from all sins" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1263 and 1265).

According to Rome, when a person believes in Jesus Christ, he is not born again and forgiven until he is is baptized with water. On the other hand, it claims that an infant is regenerated and purified from original sin when he is baptized even though he does not believe in Christ.

The Catholic teaching on baptismal regeneration contradicts the teaching of the Bible. This can be illustrated from the example of Cornelius. His story is given much emphasis in the book of Acts because he was the first Gentile convert to be admitted into the church (Acts chapter 10; 11:1-18 and 15:7-11).

Cornelius had a vision. An angel told him to send for Simon Peter, "who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:14). At the same time, the apostle Peter also had a vision, and when the messengers from Cornelius come to his house, he went along with them. Cornelius and his house were eager to hear Peter's message of salvation.

Peter preaches the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, promising that "through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). As Peter spoke, something absolutely amazing occurred. "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word" (Acts 10:44).

At this point we must stop and ask an important question. Did they receive the Spirit by baptism? The answer is no! They were baptized with the Holy Spirit before they were ever baptized in water. This goes to shows that Spirit and water baptism are distinct from each other, and that water baptism is not the cause of the Spirit baptism.

But we must go further and ask about the significance of the Spirit's baptism in the experience of Cornelius and his family. Could it be that the Spirit was given in order to show that they believed the Gospel? Could it be that the Spirit was given to show that their hearts were cleansed from sin through faith? The answer is a definite yes! Let me show you.

The apostle Peter explained to the Jewish Christians why he entered the house of a Gentile and received them into the church:

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:15-17).

According to the apostle Peter, the Holy Spirit was the proof that Cornelius and his gentile family also believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, just as Peter and the early disciples had done before. On a later occasion, Peter further explains Cornelius' experience in Acts 15:7-9:

Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

The Holy Spirit confirmed that the Gentiles had believed in Christ, and that God had purified their hearts by faith. This agrees perfectly with the Gospel message Peter preached, namely that "whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

So what should Peter do in this situation? He preached the Gospel to a group of Gentiles. God gave evidence by the Holy Spirit that they had believed in Christ and that their hearts were purified by faith. Here's Peter reasoned response: " Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:47,48).

They were baptized after they heard the Gospel. They were baptized after they believed in Christ. They were baptized after they received the Spirit. They were baptized after their hearts were purified by faith.

Though I take no pleasure to contradict your beliefs, I must gently and yet firmly point out to you that baptism was not the means by which we receive remission and purification. The Roman Catholic doctrine on baptismal regeneration is erroneous.