Articles
The One Baptism
For the last few articles we have observed the three different baptisms spoken of in Matthew 3:11—the baptism of John, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the baptism of fire. However, in Ephesians 4:4-7 it is declared that there is but “one baptism.”
Obviously, there is more than one baptism in the Bible. So, how can there only be one? It can’t be that this one baptism is a generic term that covers all of the different baptisms. Baptisms of repentance, of the Holy Spirit, and of judgment are of such a different nature that they cannot be united as one. They have different purpose, different modes, different sources, and different subjects. About the only thing that unites them is that they are found in one verse (where they are being described in contrasting ways rather than in similarities).
In the list of seven ones, baptism isn’t the only subject that has a “many but one” problem. It is stated that there is one God (Eph. 4:6), but there are many gods. Paul addresses this subject by saying, “indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father” (I Cor. 8:5-6). The world worships many different gods—Baal, Molech, Zeus, Artemis, and Hermes are just a few that are mentioned in the Bible. These are false gods. There are many false gods, but there is only one true God. In the same way, there is only “one faith” (Eph. 4:5), but we know that many people believe many different and contradicting things. There are many faiths, but only one true faith. So also, there are many baptisms, but only one true baptism.
The one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 can only be baptism into Christ. It would make no sense for it to refer to the baptism of John, since that one was proven insufficient and was replaced (Acts 19:1-7). It makes no sense for it to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit, since that was proven to be rare, only occurring twice in the Bible to fewer than 200 people. Likewise, baptism of fire would not seem to fit as the judgment is not for those who are unified in the “bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
It shouldn’t be hard to see that baptism into Christ is the one baptism. It is obvious based on the number of times it is spoken about in the New Testament vs the relatively few times the other baptisms are mentioned. It would be obvious based on the fact that while other baptisms are mentioned early on in the gospels, the epistles speak exclusively about the baptism into Jesus (with a debatable exception of baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12).
Unlike the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the baptism into Christ is commanded (Acts 2:38; 10:48; etc.) and therefore is a choice any one of us could make.
Unlike the baptisms of Matthew 3:11, baptism into Christ is directly connected to our salvation (I Pet. 3:21).
Unlike the baptisms of Matthew 3:11, this one baptism is into Christ. Those who were baptized by John were baptized into his baptism. Only later were they “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:3-5). When Cornelius and his family received the baptism of the Holy Spirit they were afterwards commanded to be baptized in water “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:44-48). Holy Spirit baptism, therefore, despite being amazing and exceedingly special, did not put Cornelius into Christ. He still had to choose that. Baptism into fire (judgment) is for those who are outside of Christ, but there is no judgment for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1). Since baptism is into Christ, for this reason alone, the one baptism excels far above the others.
Isn’t it amazing that in this exclusive list of seven ones such a thing as baptism should be found? These seven things must be of extreme importance since they are connected to our unity and the “bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Imagine if someone tried to be a member of the Lord’s church but denied that there was one God? We wouldn’t allow it. Imagine if they denied that the Holy Spirit existed? Again, we would object. How can you be a Christian and deny such a thing? Yet, so many claim to be Christians while denying the necessity of baptism. Yet, here baptism is plainly listed in the seven ones. It is not optional. It is obviously important. Otherwise, why include it?
To be clear, though, the significance of baptism is not the water and it is not our goodness. Had Jesus not commanded us to be baptized into Him, I dare say that baptism wouldn’t matter at all. Jesus matters (John 14:6), therefore baptism matters (Rom. 6:2-4; Gal. 3:27). Obedience matters to Jesus (Mt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46; John 14:15), therefore baptism should matter to us (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:48). Just as we stand for God and for the Holy Spirit, let us stand for the one true baptism.
