LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Brock University

HOGG: SCHLEIERMACHER’S DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM 19
important when we examine his view of infant Baptism. The community as
influence is vital for Schleiermacher. The community of faith can make up
for the absence of faith in the candidate by leading him along in the faith
until his own conversion and personal faith.
In the sphere of Baptism as God’s activity, its effect is “salvation
conditioned on the divine activity in regeneration”. 22 Baptism does not work
ex opere operato; for a Baptism to be complete it implies the presence of
faith in the one baptised. 23 And faith, in Schleiermacher’s understanding of
it, implies self-consciousness and free choice on the part of the one having
it.
Since each can only enter (the Christian Church) through a free resolve
of his own, this (entrance) must be preceded by the certainty that the
influence of Christ puts an end to the state of being in need of
redemption, and produces that other state and this certainty is just faith in
Christ. 24
Thus the effect of Baptism on the one being baptised is conditioned on their
self-awareness as being conscious of their God-forgetfulness and of God’s
provision for forgiveness through the influence of the Redeemer.
Along with this affirmation of the necessity of faith for Baptism comes
Schleiermacher’s denial of Baptism as a means of working faith in the
baptismal candidate. Here he cites and opposes John Gerhard, who held that
Baptism kindles faith in the heart of the person baptised. 25 Schleiermacher’s
denial of Baptism as a means of working faith places him solidly in the
tradition of the Reformed, who have always tended to view the sacraments
primarily as signs which accompany the Spirit’s immediate working, rather
than means whereby the Spirit works. He charges with “magic” those who
see Baptism as a means whereby the Spirit creates faith:
And as our paragraph only asserts the efficacy. of baptism in connection
with divine grace in regeneration, and thus links up the act of the Church
with what is going on in the individual soul, magical conceptions are
very definitely barred out … . 26
22 Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith 626.
23 Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith 631: “As regards complete baptism, which
implies the existing faith of the person baptised, what we say is that it effects salvation … .”
24 Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith 68.
25 Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith 630 n. 3: “See Gerhard, Loc. Theol. Ix 152,
where the statement is made that baptism kindles faith in the heart of the person baptized, but
not the slightest proof is given between the two things.”
26 Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith 632.