TCR 685 - baptism

TCR 685

. . . the three purposes of baptism combine into one,
just as do the first cause,
the intermediate or efficient cause,
and the last cause or the effect,
which is the real end in view
for the sake of which the others exist.
The first purpose is 
for a person to be named a Christian;
the second is what follows from this,
so that he may get to know and acknowledge the Lord,
the Redeemer, Regenerator and Savior;
the third is 
so that he may be regenerated by the Lord,
and when this happens,
he is redeemed and saved.
Since these three purposes
follow one succeeding the other
and combine in the last,
so that angels think of them together as one,
then when baptism is performed,
read about in the Word or mentioned,
the angels present understand not baptism,
but regeneration. 
So these words of the Lord:

He who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16:16)

are understood by the angels in heaven as meaning
that the person who acknowledges the Lord
and is regenerated
is saved.

[2] This too is the reason why baptism is called
by the Christian churches on earth
the washing of regeneration.
The Christian ought therefore to know
that one who does not believe in the Lord
cannot be regenerated,
despite being baptized.
Baptism without faith in the Lord is of no avail . . ..