This book is for every weary saint who has been striving to earn what only God gives. By Water and the Word is not a pep talk in religious performance but a plunge into the depths of divine mercy. Baptism is no mere symbol of sincerity— it is the drowning of the old Adam and the raising of a new creation, one God delights to call his child. With vivid, down-to-earth prose, the author proclaims a gospel that smells like river water and resurrection. This is for the child who cannot remember baptism, the adult who wonders if it counted, and anyone who longs to know that God’ s promise is stronger than their doubts. Accessible yet profound, this book reminds readers that baptism is not just a past event but a present identity— our daily anchor in dying and rising with Christ. Rooted in Scripture and alive with pastoral urgency, By Water and the Word offers a timely reminder that God does his greatest work through ordinary water joined to his extraordinary Word. Brian W. Thomas is the pastor of Grace Lutheran in San Diego, California. He frequently contributes to 1517 and has written several books, including Wittenberg vs. Geneva: A Biblical Bout in Seven Rounds on Doctrines that Divide and Clothed with Christ: A Biblical Style Guide for Sinners.