There are three primary effects of Baptism, three things that Baptism does for us. First, it cleanses us of Original Sin (and if we are baptized after having attained to the age of reason, which is about seven years old, then Baptism cleanses us also of all actual sin, in addition to Original Sin). Second, Baptism marks us as a child of God; we are made part of God’s beloved and chosen family by the grace of adoption. Third, Baptism inaugurates us into the community of the Church.