On Sharing in Christ’s Victory

CatechismTheology
Written By Chris Corbin
 

Q. How can we share in his victory over sin, suffering, and death?

A. We share in his victory when we are baptized into the New Covenant and become living members of Christ.

This question could yield quite a lengthy exposition were it not for the fact that there is an entire section of six questions dedicated to baptism. Indeed, one should probably see the entire rest of the Catechism as an exposition of this question, starting as it does with the New Covenant and then moving through the Holy Spirit as the Person of the Trinity enlivening the Church, the community of the New Covenant, and then the beliefs and form of life of this community.

Beyond offering the promise that further exposition of the Catechism will constitute further exposition of this question, this question on its own does seem to raise one significant question in need of immediate exposition: the singular focus on Baptism. What of the imitation of Christ or Christian discipleship? Surely prayer and the Eucharist play an important role in sharing in Christ’s victory.

The implication here seems to be the simple but profound one that everything that may fall under the category of “the life of the Christian” is not preparation for or a means of appropriating a share in Christ’s victory, but rather is part and parcel of Christ’s victory over sin, suffering, and death. Insofar as what is spoken of here is another way of talking about salvation, the catechism is staking, at least in this question, the claim that salvation is not merely secured in Baptism but actually begins therein. Such a framing pushes simultaneously in a very Protestant direction, affirming salvation not as something merited by proper ecclesial or moral behavior, as well as one emphasizing sanctification or theosis. “To be saved” is not merely to exist in a kind of holy holding pattern, remaining in justified state in order to merit some heavenly reward after we die. Salvation, while not reaching its climax until after our deaths in the New Creation, nonetheless really and properly begins at the moment of baptism.

Much more will be said as the rest of the Catechism is explicated, offering what I hope is an explication of the explication of this final question of who God the Son is and what he accomplishes. Next we turn to the section on this New Covenant, that into which we are baptized to share in Christ’s victory.

 

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Chris Corbin

The Rev. Dr. Chris Corbin is editor-in-chief for Earth & Altar and is the Missioner for Transition and Leadership for the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota. His interests include British Romanticism, Anglican theology, ministerial formation, and evangelism. Beyond this, Chris spends far too much time drawing cartoon versions of saints. He likes to think of himself as the Episcopal Church’s Ron Swanson, what with his woodworking and avoiding small talk. He/him. You can check out his book, The Evangelical Party and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Return to the Church of England, or follow him on Twitter @theodramatist.

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On Descending into Hell