“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant…’” — Matthew 26:26–28 (BSB)
“I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend… He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” — John 1:33 (BSB)
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it…” — 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (BSB)
The outward sign points beyond itself to the spiritual reality it signifies. Water represents cleansing, new birth, and union with Christ. Bread and wine signify spiritual nourishment, the body and blood of Christ, and the unity of believers in Him. These signs are real, tactile, and communal. They engage the body as well as the soul and remind us that salvation is not just internal and spiritual, but involves our whole person.
Article XXV of the Thirty-Nine Articles defines sacraments as “effectual signs of grace… by the which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him.” The outward and visible sign is essential to the sacrament, not because it has power in itself, but because Christ has chosen to use it to convey His grace.
Bishop J.C. Ryle taught, “There is no virtue in the water, the bread, or the wine themselves—but by Christ’s own appointment, they are used as channels to bless the believing soul. The outward sign points to the inward grace” (Knots Untied, 1874).
Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) explains, “The visible sign in a sacrament grounds us in reality. It tells us that God works not apart from creation, but through it—water that cleanses, bread that nourishes, wine that gladdens. Christ uses these things to speak His promise and apply His grace” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).
Canon Dr. John Yates III (Falls Church Anglican, ACNA) states, “The signs are ordinary, but the grace is extraordinary. What makes the water, the bread, and the wine powerful is not their substance, but the Word and Spirit of God acting through them” (Catechesis Forum, 2021).
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) affirms, “God uses visible signs because He knows our weakness. We need reminders we can touch, see, and taste—reminders of His love and presence. The sacraments are His gift to strengthen our faith” (Provincial Address, 2019).
Thus, the outward and visible sign is not the whole of the sacrament, but it is essential to it—chosen by Christ, consecrated by His Word, and used by the Spirit to bring God’s grace to His people.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “In Baptism, it is not water alone, but the grace of the Spirit with the water. In the Eucharist, it is not bread and wine alone, but the Body and Blood, given by Christ through the mystery.” — Catechetical Lectures, 22.3
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD): “The bread and the wine, having received the Word of God, become the Eucharist of the body and blood of Christ. The created element, when blessed, becomes a sacrament of new life.” — Against Heresies, V.2.3
St. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD): “We do not receive these as common bread and common drink. They are the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus, made real through prayer and the Word.” — 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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