Presumptive regeneration
Encyclopedia
Presumptive regeneration (also presupposed regeneration) is the idea often associated with Abraham Kuyper
that parents should baptize their children based on a presumption of the child's being regenerate.
The 1905 synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
, meeting in Utrecht (Conclusion of Utrecht
), declared:
These 1905 "Conclusions of Utrecht" were adopted by the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America
in 1908. They were challenged from time to time, given an "official interpretation" by the Synod of 1962, and finally set aside in 1968.http://www.redeemer.on.ca/~tplant/m/MAU.HTM
Theologians of the Liberated, Free Reformed
, Netherlands Reformed
, and Reformed Baptist
traditions oppose the doctrine. They charge this doctrine with providing parents and especially young adults with a false ground for the assurance of their salvation. Parents begin to regard their children as saved because they were baptized. Young adults begin to regard themselves as regenerate because they were baptized. Pastors begin to assume that everyone in their church is regenerate. Thus very little of the preaching is directed to unconverted persons and often neglects the necessity of repentance.
These theologians would point to a document like the Westminster Larger Catechism
as teaching the true ground for one's assurance of their own salvation.
Some Netherlands Reformed Church theologians might additionally point to a mystical revelation of God to the soul as providing the true ground for one's assurance. Such is their interpretation, for example, of Romans 8:16.
The term "regeneration" is also affected by subtle shifts in meaning. John Calvin
considered regeneration to represent the activity of New Birth - not its completion. While the current usage of the term looks back on New Birth, early on it meant the process of New Birth itself, that is that God is working in the life of His children. His commentary on John 3 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom34.ix.i.html and many of his defenses of Infant Baptism in the Institutes
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iv.iv.xvii.html show this interest not to consider regeneration only as a single event in the believer's life.
Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuijper generally known as Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian...
that parents should baptize their children based on a presumption of the child's being regenerate.
The 1905 synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands was the second largest Protestant church in the Netherlands until it merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004.-History:...
, meeting in Utrecht (Conclusion of Utrecht
Conclusion of Utrecht
The Conclusion of Utrecht was a 1905 synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. It made authoritative pronouncements on the disputed points of Infralapsarian/Supralapsarian, justification from eternity, immediate/mediate regeneration, and presumptive regeneration....
), declared:
"According to the confession of our churches, the seed of the covenant, by virtue of the promise of God, is to be considered regenerated and sanctified in Christ, until the contrary should become evident from their doctrine and conduct as they grow up" (Acts, Article 158).
These 1905 "Conclusions of Utrecht" were adopted by the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in...
in 1908. They were challenged from time to time, given an "official interpretation" by the Synod of 1962, and finally set aside in 1968.http://www.redeemer.on.ca/~tplant/m/MAU.HTM
Theologians of the Liberated, Free Reformed
Free Reformed Churches of North America
The Free Reformed Churches of North America is a theologically conservative federation of churches in the Dutch Calvinist tradition with congregations in the United States and Canada. It officially adopted its current name in 1974...
, Netherlands Reformed
Netherlands Reformed Congregations
The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, is a highly conservative denomination with congregations mostly in Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands.-Baptism:...
, and Reformed Baptist
Reformed Baptist
Reformed Baptists are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology. They can trace their history through the early modern Particular Baptists of England. The first Reformed Baptist church was formed in the 1630s...
traditions oppose the doctrine. They charge this doctrine with providing parents and especially young adults with a false ground for the assurance of their salvation. Parents begin to regard their children as saved because they were baptized. Young adults begin to regard themselves as regenerate because they were baptized. Pastors begin to assume that everyone in their church is regenerate. Thus very little of the preaching is directed to unconverted persons and often neglects the necessity of repentance.
These theologians would point to a document like the Westminster Larger Catechism
Westminster Larger Catechism
The Westminster Larger Catechism, along with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, is a central catechism of Calvinists in the English tradition throughout the world.- History :...
as teaching the true ground for one's assurance of their own salvation.
Question 80: Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
Answer: Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.
Question 81: Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
Answer: Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.
Some Netherlands Reformed Church theologians might additionally point to a mystical revelation of God to the soul as providing the true ground for one's assurance. Such is their interpretation, for example, of Romans 8:16.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
The term "regeneration" is also affected by subtle shifts in meaning. John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
considered regeneration to represent the activity of New Birth - not its completion. While the current usage of the term looks back on New Birth, early on it meant the process of New Birth itself, that is that God is working in the life of His children. His commentary on John 3 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom34.ix.i.html and many of his defenses of Infant Baptism in the Institutes
Institutes of the Christian Religion
The Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology...
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iv.iv.xvii.html show this interest not to consider regeneration only as a single event in the believer's life.