Baptism does regenerate, for the Bible calls it a washing of regeneration. Baptism is a means through which the Holy Spirit causes us to be born again.
Tit. 3:5: According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Joh. 3:5: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Note: Those who in mission areas have already been born again through the Word, also need Baptism. They too are regenerated through Baptism according to God’s Word. The power and effect of Baptism does not change, even though before Baptism, the Gospel is proclaimed and heard. Baptism and the Word of the Gospel do not nullify, but strengthen the effect of each other. During the time of the Apostles, the Gospel was proclaimed first, and then Baptism was administered. To those who were baptized under such circumstances, the Apostle Paul proclaims that Baptism regenerates (Tit. 3:5). – Those, on the other hand, who after having been baptized, are spiritually dead because of their unbelief, may like the Prodigal Son repent and return to their Father in the shelter of their Baptism, and become alive again. Luther: “Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and approach to Baptism, that we repeat and practice what we began before, but abandoned.”
