----- Original Message ----- 
From: <JACKJEFF@...>
>I believe it would be beneficial if these particular "logical" conclusions
were set over against a grammatical diagram of Col. 2:11-12.


The "sign" view of baptism isn't to the exclusion of the "memorial" view,
nor is the "memorial" view to the exclusion of the "sign" view.  It's
"both/and", not "either/or".  In fact, Col. 2 places a close connection
between baptism and regeneration.  Col. 2 allows for the sign view within
its eschatology: Christ's resurrection is the reality behind regeneration.
God "made (us) alive" together with him"... our regeneration... was secured
by "raised him from the dead"... Christ's resurrection.  Without the
resurrection, there is no regeneration.  If baptism is tied to the
resurrection of Christ, it is tied to regeneration because the two are one
and the same... our regeneration is our participation in the resurrection of
God (raised "with him").  One cannot speak of the resurrection and our
participation in it without speaking of regeneration because resurrection
and regeneration are two sides of the same coin.

Chad Bresson
Xenia, OH