One Baptism

Articles

Derek Long
12/15/19 - Salvation

One Baptism
By Derek Long
Ephesians 4:5 declares there is, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” In the religious world today there are many different baptisms practiced by various religious groups. What are some of the characteristics of the “one baptism” mentioned in Ephesians 4:5?
The “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 is not some unimportant or unnecessary baptism. Ephesians 4:4-6 describe things which are not optional or unimportant. The one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one God are not unimportant or unnecessary things. Why then would some conclude baptism is unnecessary or unimportant when it is placed in a list with such things?
The “one baptism” is an immersion. The word for baptism in the original Greek would indicate we are dealing with an immersion. One does not have to know Greek though to understand the “one baptism” is an immersion. We could look at examples where people in the Bible were baptized and understand it is immersion. As John was preparing people for Jesus he baptized people. John 3:23 says, “Now John was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.” If baptism was simply the act of sprinkling or pouring water upon a person, it would not be necessary to be at a place where there was much water. Jesus is baptized by John and Matthew 3:16 says, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.” Jesus came up immediately from the water which infers He went down into the water to be baptized. Similar language is used in reference to the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:38-39, “So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” Other New Testament passages would teach us baptism is a burial (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). A person is not buried by simply having dirt sprinkled or poured on top of them. A person is buried when they are immersed in dirt. There are religious groups today though who practice sprinkling or pouring and call it baptism but such is not the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5.
The “one baptism” is for the remission of sins. Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Other passages in the New Testament show baptism precedes salvation and is not something one does after being saved. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Baptism is placed prior to salvation in Mark 16:16. Acts 22:16 tells us baptism is the point at which one’s sins are washed away. Ananias asked Saul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:21, “There is also an antitype which now saved us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Peter did not agree with those who say baptism does not save us; Peter taught baptism does now save us. Many religious groups may practice a baptism but claim it is something done because a person has already been saved from their past sins. Baptism which is not done in order to obtain the remission of sins is not the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5.
The “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 is in the element of water. 1 Peter 3:21 speaks about the baptism which saves us as corresponding to how Noah and his family were saved by water in the flood (1 Peter 3:20). The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized in water (Acts 8:36-39). Peter taught Cornelius and his household to be
baptized in water. Acts 10:46-48 says, “For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” Cornelius and his household needed to be baptized in water in order to obey the words by which he and his household would be saved (Acts 11:14). There are religious groups today who think a person must be baptized with the Holy Spirit in order to be saved but these passages illustrate the baptism which saves is in water not with the Holy Spirit.
The “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 results in one being added to the Lord’s church. In Acts 2, Peter taught the people on the Day of Pentecost to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). About 3,000 obeyed the message and were added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Baptism which makes one a member of some denomination founded and established by men is not the baptism discussed in Ephesians 4:5.
Have you submitted to the “one baptism” mentioned in Ephesians 4:5 and described in the pages of the New Testament? If you have been “baptized” in a different baptism, it no more saves you than if you accept a different Lord, God, etc. It is important to be baptized and to do so in harmony with what the Bible teaches. If you would like to study this topic or some other Bible subject further, please contact us.