At Baptism we receive the gift of a new birth from above
At the time of our baptism the Church gives us the gift of a new birth from above, and welcomes us into the Body of Christ, which is the Church Herself. It is our membership in Christ’s Church that gradually strengthens us as we progress in purity, receiving the fulness of the Grace we first received in Baptism. Immediately following our Baptism we are anointed with Holy Chrism, and receive the indwelling of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which consolidates the new life we have received in our Baptism. From this our life develops those hidden talents all of us received at the moment of our birth. And with the Baptism, God appoints us a guardian angel, who will be responsible for us throughout our lifetime and after our departure from this life.
From this moment on Our Saviour clothes Himself with us and clothes us with Him. Christ, is the new Man, and the very image and likeness of God. Our human spiritual being is merged with this Christ, and Christ becomes our Spirit. This leads to the healing of our nature, and our renewal as children of the Most High. As Saint Maximus the Confessors says, “The nature of virtue in each of us is the unique Logos of God, because the nature of all virtues is Jesus Christ”. From the moment of our Baptism Christ enters the deepest Sanctuary of our being, and will remain hidden. As we progress in virtue Christ becomes more and more evident within us, and causes us to be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit, and others will know we “are Christians by our love”.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photos: The Wednesday of Bright Week celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Father Philosoph Ullman of the ROCOR parish in Victoria, British Columbia, celebrated with Hieromonk Paul.
Thursday May 5, 2016 / April 22, 2016
Bright Thursday.
Bright Week. Fast-free
Venerable Theodore the Sykeote, bishop of Anastasiopolis (613).
New Hieromartyr Eustaphius priest (1918).
Hieromartyr Platon of Banja Luka (1941).
Martyr Demetrius (1942).
Apostles Nathaniel, Luke, and Clement.
Translation of the relics of St. Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel), prince and wonderworker of Pskov (1138).
Venerable Vitalis of the monastery of Abba Serid (Seridos) at Gaza (609-620).
Martyr Leonidas of Alexandria (202).
Martyr Epipodius of Lyons (177) (Gaul).
Martyr Nearchus (Greek).
Scripture Readings
Acts 2:38-43
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
A Vital Church Grows
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
John 3:1-15
The New Birth
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Could you please point me to the scripture in the bible that says we receive an angel at baptism. I’ve never heard that before. If we receive the Holy Spirit why do we need an angel?
Appreciate your reply.
Is there scripture that tells us God appoints us a guardian angel after Baptism? I would love to know that verse as I’ve always thought it was just something my grandma said. Thank you.