By Living Waters

I’ve begun to read Peter Leithart’s recently published book, The Baptized Body (Canon Press, 2007). Here I’d like to begin by providing a few excerpts that I deem worthy of consideration. Frankly, if the remainder of the volume is this insightful, then I cannot but highly recommend it!

Seas of ink have been poured out in debating whether there is any efficacy in the sacraments “in themselves.” The whole debate is worthless, because both sides begin from the false assumptions that 1) there is such a thing as a “sacrament in itself” and that 2) some things (though not sacraments) do have “efficacy in themselves.” Consider: Baptismal water is a sign authorized by Christ for His church. Validly administered, it is never simply water, but the authorized entry rite into the community of disciples (Mt. 28:18-20). We cannot, we dare not, think that this water is “mere water,” any more than we can think of the American flag as “just a piece of cloth.” Water is not a “thing in itself.” (3)

Nothing at all, other than the Triune God Himself, has efficacy “in itself.” (4)

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