Baptism is Fire, and Water

St. Paul reminds St. Titus Jesus saves us not by the merit of our own deeds, but by his mercy, “washing” us by “regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit…so that we might be justified by His grace and heirs of hope in eternal life” (Titus 3: 5-7).  The SS and the Catechism teaches that through Baptism, we become a “new creation,” (cf 2 Cor 5:17) and that the Holy Spirit dwells in us now as in a Temple (1 Cor 6:19). We are baptized into Christ Jesus, becoming His “light,” becoming Light itself, enlightened by the understanding through faith of His Word (CCC # 1216). We are not only saved through these waters made Sacred by Christ’s own baptism but are adopted as sons and daughters into the very life of the Holy Trinity, being invested with the very life and mission of Jesus, so that we ourselves become Him. “It is no longer I but Christ who lives in me…” (Gal 2:20). Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies (CCC #1227).