Articles
ONE BAPTISM!
ONE BAPTISM!
Greg King
The scripture says there is "One Baptism" (Eph. 4:5). “One baptism”, the same as the other six “ones” listed in Ephesians 4:4-6. Jesus commanded His disciples to go and teach all the world the Gospel or good news of His death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Jesus said to teach them, baptize them, and keep on teaching them...everything that He's commanded (Matt. 28:19-20).
The “One” baptism must then be what the apostle Paul describes in Romans 6:3-4. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
We know men today do not receive Holy Spirit baptism. Holy Spirit baptism was given as a promise, not as a command. Holy Spirit baptism would also be administered by Christ. Matt. 3:11 says, ““I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Holy Spirit baptism only occurred twice in scripture. It occurred in Acts 2 upon the apostles as promised by Jesus in John 14:16. It also occurred in Acts 10 upon the Gentiles as promised to show the Jews that Gentiles could be saved (Acts 10:44-48). Peter asked, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” Man can only baptize with water! Therefore, the One Baptism spoken of in Ephesians 4:5 is water baptism. In keeping with the Lord's command, Philip baptized the Eunuch with water (Acts 8:35-39), and Peter commanded the household of Cornelius to be baptized with water (Acts 10:47-48). You too must be immersed in water to be born again...saved from your past sins (John 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:21).
The blood of Jesus frees us from sin (Rev. 1:5). As we mentioned in the beginning we are baptized into the death of Jesus (Rom. 6:3-4). We are buried with Christ by baptism into death. The scripture reveals that the One Baptism is a burial or total immersion in water (Col. 2:12). Have you obeyed God and been baptized in water for the remission of your sins? If not, you are still outside of Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).
