St. Basil on Baptism

Rich Lusk's recent article on justification and baptism reminded me of this statement by St. Basil in On the Holy Spirit:

"Faith and baptism are two inseperably united means of salvation. Faith is perfected through baptism; the foundation of baptism is faith, and both are fulfilled through the same names [that is, the baptismal invocation]."

Mr. Lusk writes:

"Thus, we can say that faith is the instrument of justification on our end, while baptism is the instrument on God’s side. God offers Christ and applies Christ to us through the instrument of baptism. We receive Christ as he is offered in the sacrament with the outstretched and open hand of faith. Baptism is not a good work we do to earn justification; it is a gift of grace through which God grants justification to faith."

Mississippi went to the polls yesterday, and I for the first time was involved in the great American tradition, having reached eighteen a little more than a month ago. I went with my parents to the little community center of Johnson, a few miles up the road from our house, and cast our ballots.

The Republican candidate, Haley Barbour, won, quite handily it would seem, and according to my expectations. I voted for Mr Barbour, although I must admit he is not the most thrilling of men. He did, in my opinion, have a certain edge over the incumbent Ronny Musgrove, a Democrat, if for nothing other than his party affiliation. In fact, politicians in this state tend to all lean right, whether Republican or Democrat. There are some very decent Democrats in this state whose views I would by and large endorse. However, I am very relucant to support a Democrat, even a conservative Mississippi one, because of his party affiliation: a somewhat unfair position, I suppose, but I simply do not desire to give any support to a party which, by and large, is dominated by pro-abortionists, various leftists, and such.