Does Doug Wilson Teach Baptismal Regeneration?

Analysis of whether Wilson’s teaching implies baptismal regeneration or an elevated sacramental efficacy.

Doug Wilson Says ‘Raise Your Hand If You Knew That the Westminster Confession Taught Baptismal Regeneration’

December 4, 2024 (Updated on November 4, 2025 ) | Opinion by Nathan Wells

Doug Wilson claims the Westminster Confession teaches baptismal regeneration. Examine his argument and why Reformed theologians disagree with his reading.

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“Raise your hand if you knew that the Westminster Confession taught baptismal regeneration...Baptism means that the one baptized has a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, has been grafted into Christ, has the sign and seal of regeneration and forgiveness of sins, and has the obligation to walk in newness of life...baptism is efficacious. But the efficacy of the sacrament is not tied to the moment when it is administered. By means of baptism, this efficacious grace is conferred on the elect at the appropriate time, the time of conversion, and it is the applied grace of their baptism.” — Doug Wilson

In this Calvinistic sense, baptism offers a twofold grace: forgiveness of sins and regeneration. In this limited sense, we can say that Calvin held to baptismal regeneration. But he also believed in the effectual call, and he knew (being a good Calvinist, perhaps even the best) that this effectual call could precede or follow the moment of baptism. — Doug Wilson

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