In Christian Science theology, the sacraments of baptism and communion are particularly important. They are profound inner experiences of regeneration and salvation.

Christian Science teaches that baptism, rather than being relegated to a single, physical event, can be an ongoing, spiritual, and private activity, the continuing purification of an individual’s thought and life. God’s deeply touching words in this verse from the Bible’s book of Ezekiel explain His purifying action and its results: “I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (36:27).

Acknowledging that God’s love, cleansing truth, and strength are present in us as His children empowers, enlightens, comforts, and even heals. In the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gives the spiritual sense of baptism: “Purification by Spirit; submergence in Spirit” (p. 581).

As our thoughts and perspectives are submerged—immersed—in God, Spirit, it naturally becomes clearer to us that we are actually all God’s ideal, spiritual offspring. God always sees His creation as the expression of His own nature. This pure, clear sense of ourselves as God’s perfect creation is both humbling and empowering. Jesus experienced this and observed, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Bathing our hearts and inner thoughts in Spirit is communion with God. Partaking of this communion is far more than an outward ceremony. Communing with God in prayer is an entirely spiritual act—one that refreshes and deeply inspires. In relation to communion, Mrs. Eddy explains that Christian Scientists “bow before Christ, Truth, to receive more of his reappearing and silently to commune with the divine Principle, Love” (Science and Health, p. 35).

Students of Christian Science know from experience the practicality of the Christian sacraments of baptism and communion. The choice to commune often with God in prayer, receptive to divine Spirit’s purifying of our motives and lives, reaps sure rewards.

God has made every last one of us worthy and able to practice the Christian sacraments of baptism and communion.

This is definitely not a single event. Daily, even moment by moment, we can bring everything about ourselves to God in the expectation of experiencing the purification that is Christian baptism. This ongoing, pure desire has the power to bring us a completely new, pure view of ourselves—and everyone.

I experienced this type of spiritual transformation when I learned that instead of living as beings separate from God, we all actually exist in perpetual oneness with Him. As I submerged myself in this amazing truth, I realized that what is one with God—including each of us as God’s creation—exists to represent God’s nature. Before this, I had felt that I needed to prove my worth. Now I saw that there is no need to validate or prove the worth of that which is the evidence of God’s presence. The issue was settled for me one day when I read these words of the Apostle Paul in the Bible: “What? know ye not that . . . ye are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19). Since then, I’ve felt the truth of what I’ve learned even more deeply.

When we commune with God and are baptized—our heart and thoughts converted by Christ, Truth—we find ourselves looking at everything from a completely different perspective. We are freed of concerns we thought were such big problems. The healing Christ is Spirit’s communication to us all, and it’s right to give Christ our full attention. As the psalmist declares, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalms 119:97).

It is so encouraging to learn that God has made every last one of us worthy and able to practice the Christian sacraments of baptism and communion and experience the completely new views they afford. Such fresh vision is the substance of each healing. And to the degree that we concur with the inspired view that Spirit has provided, fear melts away. The confidence that results is not just a human feeling but has God’s full presence and power behind it. This is the basis for Christian Science healing and transformation, including the healing of illness and injury. We see new views of Truth and find ourselves free.