18. О крещении

Instead of these sprinklings, the gift of all-holy baptism is sufficient for believers, because it not only grants us the remission of past sins, but also puts in us the hope of the promised blessings, makes us partakers of the Master of death and resurrection, gives us the sacrament of the gift of the Spirit, makes us sons of God, and not only sons, but also heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ. Baptism is not likened, as the Messalians who have been damaged in their minds think, to a naked razor that takes away previous sins. For this is given to us in abundance. And if this alone were the work of baptism, then why would we baptize infants who have not yet tasted sin? This sacrament promises us not this alone, but something greater and more perfect. It is a pledge of future blessings, an image of the future resurrection, communion of the Master’s suffering, communion of the Master’s resurrection, clothing of salvation, tunic of joy, a bright robe, or better yet, light itself. “For as many as you have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27); and: “as we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into His death:... that as Christ was raised from the dead,... So let us also walk in the newness of life. If we were conformed to the likeness of His death, then we will also be resurrected” (Rom. 6:3-5). This is how the divine Apostle taught us to think about all-holy baptism, namely, that by being buried with Christ, we will have a part in the resurrection. But here a more mysterious teaching is required, and, having written twelve mysterious words in another place, we refer those who wish to learn to them, and we ourselves will consider the remaining chapters. You might be interested in: