This should embarrass you:
Next consider the second century bishop of Lyon, St. Irenaeus (b. 115-130, d. around 200 AD). In his work titled Against Heresies, he writes,
And when we come to refute them [i.e. those heretics], we shall show in its fitting-place, that this class of men have been instigated by Satan to a denial of that baptism which is regeneration to God, and thus to a renunciation of the whole [Christian] faith. (A.H., I.21)
I understand. I was once in the PCA and kept in darkness myself by the teachings of men like R.C. Sproul, James Boyce, and others who never quoted that which would have DESTROYED Calvin's teachings. And it does take a lot of work, sweat, and prayer to overcome the fear of becoming part of the Apostolic faith. I understand.
As I said, the church fathers spoke in the biblical language of the washing of regeneration. No surprise there. But Irenaeus was not writing against those who rejected baptismal regeneration in favor of some other view of baptism. That would be anachronistic to suppose because baptismal regeneration was not yet a developed doctrine. Irenaeus was writing against gnostics who rejected baptism altogether.
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