“He saved us, not by 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 all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:27–28 (BSB)
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.” — 1 Corinthians 12:13 (BSB)
“Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your trespasses… God made you alive with Christ.” — Colossians 2:12–13 (BSB)
Baptism is the beginning of the Christian life. It marks the believer as belonging to Christ and sets him apart from the world. Though the water is seen, the Spirit is the one who acts invisibly—raising the spiritually dead, cleansing the conscience, and incorporating the baptized person into the living Body of Christ, the Church.
Article XXVII of the Thirty-Nine Articles affirms that Baptism is “a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth,” and that it is “an instrument whereby they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church.” This means that God truly imparts spiritual grace in Baptism when it is received with faith, whether by adults or children being brought up in the covenant.
Bishop J.C. Ryle wrote, “Let it be clearly understood that the grace of Baptism is not tied to the moment it is administered, but that it is truly given when the promise is believed. The water does not save, but God saves through the sign, in His time and by His Spirit” (Knots Untied, 1874).
Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) explains, “The grace of Baptism is participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. It is more than a symbol—it is a sacramental act by which the Spirit joins us to Christ and begins our life in Him” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).
Canon Dr. John Yates III (Falls Church Anglican, ACNA) teaches, “In Baptism, God claims us as His own, forgives our sin, and pours out His Spirit. The gift is offered in full—but it must be received and lived out by faith” (Catechesis Forum, 2021).
Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba (Church of Uganda) states, “Through Baptism, we are born again, not by our effort, but by the mercy of God. We are united to Christ, filled with the Spirit, and brought into a new family—the Church” (Pastoral Letter, 2022).
Thus, the inward and spiritual grace of Baptism is God’s saving work in us—uniting us to His Son, washing away our sins, raising us to new life, and placing us within His covenant people.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD): “Baptism is the visible Word. In it, the old man is crucified, the new man is born, and the soul is filled with the Holy Spirit.” — Sermon 229
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD): “By Baptism we receive adoption, remission of sins, and the gift of the Spirit. Without it, no one can enter into the life of God.” — Against Heresies, III.17.1
St. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD): “Those who believe are brought to water and reborn in the name of God. In this washing they are enlightened, forgiven, and made alive in Christ.” — First Apology, 61
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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