“He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” — Titus 3:5 (BSB)
“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” — Romans 5:10 (BSB)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 (BSB)
“He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.” — 2 Timothy 1:9 (BSB)
Conservative Anglicans affirm that salvation is both a moment and a journey. We are justified by faith the moment we believe in Christ (Romans 5:1), and we are sanctified progressively through the work of the Holy Spirit as we grow in grace. As the Book of Common Prayer states in the service of Holy Communion: “who hast promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Thee.” Salvation thus includes justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification.
This holistic understanding is grounded in the Gospel. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). Salvation is not a reward for good behavior but the result of God’s mercy and Christ’s substitutionary atonement. Our response is to believe, repent, be baptized, and walk in obedience and love. In the words of the Thirty-Nine Articles (Article XI): “We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings.”
The Christian life is a living out of salvation. As Ephesians 2:10 continues, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.” The Anglican tradition emphasizes both assurance and fruitfulness: while salvation is by grace alone, true saving faith will bear fruit in repentance, worship, and good works. J.C. Ryle wrote, “Tell me not merely what a man says with his lips, but what he lives in his life—that is the proof of grace.”
God’s saving purpose is not limited to individual souls but extends to the restoration of all creation. The Church is the foretaste and instrument of that redemption. We are saved into a community, nourished by Word and Sacrament, and called to reflect Christ to the world. Thus, salvation is deeply personal but never private—it is about being made whole, holy, and ready for the eternal Kingdom of God.
Irenaeus emphasized that salvation involves participation in the divine life through union with Christ.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) proclaimed: “For He was made man that we might be made God.” — On the Incarnation, 54
This profound statement underscores salvation as a transformative union with God through Christ.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) said: “Salvation comes not from works, but from grace. For even if we should have thousands of good deeds to our credit, our salvation is still the gift of grace.” — Catechetical Lectures, 5.3
Cyril affirms the foundational truth that salvation is by grace, not earned by works.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “Grace alone brings about the beginning, the progress, and the perfection of man’s salvation.” — On the Spirit and the Letter, 34
Augustine emphasized that salvation from start to finish is the work of God’s grace.
St. Gregory Nazianzen (c. 329–390 AD) declared: “What has not been assumed has not been healed.” — Letter 101
Gregory affirms that Christ’s full assumption of our humanity is essential for our salvation, which includes the healing of the whole person.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
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Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
