“Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” — John 6:53–54 (BSB)
“Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death…” — Romans 6:3–4 (BSB)
“Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body…” — 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (BSB)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” — Acts 2:42 (BSB)
Because we are not pure spirits but embodied creatures, Christ uses created things—water, bread, and wine—to draw us into the mystery of His salvation. The sacraments make the Gospel visible: Baptism shows that we are buried and raised with Christ, and Holy Communion proclaims His death until He comes. They are signs of God’s covenant love and seals of His promises.
Article XXV of the Thirty-Nine Articles states, “Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God’s good will toward us.” They confirm our faith, strengthen us against temptation, and mark the Church as Christ’s visible Body in the world.
Bishop J.C. Ryle taught, “The sacraments are appointed by Christ as helps to faith—not as substitutes for it. They are the Lord’s witnesses, pledges, and tokens that He is ever with His people” (Knots Untied, 1874).
Canon Dr. John Yates III (Falls Church Anglican, ACNA) explains, “The sacraments are Jesus’ gracious accommodation to our weakness. He knows we need visible signs to assure us of invisible grace. In them, we don’t just remember Christ—we receive Him by faith” (Catechesis Forum, 2021).
Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “The sacraments are Gospel encounters. In Baptism, we are marked as Christ’s own. In the Eucharist, we are fed by Christ Himself. Both unite us to the cross and resurrection” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) affirms, “Christ instituted the sacraments so that we might never forget His sacrifice and never doubt His presence. They are signs of His love and means of His grace” (Provincial Address, 2019).
Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba (Church of Uganda) adds, “Through the sacraments, Christ comes close. He forgives, heals, strengthens, and sends His people into the world. This is not ritual—it is reality” (Easter Message, 2022).
The sacraments are Christ’s living testimony to His Church—strengthening believers in their weakness, nourishing their faith, and sealing the hope of the Gospel in body and soul until He returns in glory.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “Christ gave us these mysteries to be means of salvation… He gave water and the Spirit in Baptism, and His own Body and Blood in the Eucharist, that we might truly live in Him.” — Catechetical Lectures, 22.3
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD): “In the sacraments, Christ joins earth to heaven. Through them He nourishes the Church with His life and prepares us for resurrection glory.” — Against Heresies, IV.18.5
St. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD): “Christ Himself gave these sacraments to be the food of eternal life. They are no mere symbols, but the means by which the faithful are made strong in grace.” — First Apology, 66
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.
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