There is only One Baptism

[james1523]

Ephesians 4:5 says there is only one baptism.

Yet churches will baptise believers multiple times, if necessary. This contradicts Scriptures that says there is one baptism.

Believers think that there are two baptisms, water and Spirit. But this also contradicts Scripture that says there is one baptism.

Believers also think there are more than three baptisms - by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. This also contradicts Scripture that says there is one baptism.

1 Cor 12:13 says For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to.

Believers are baptised through water and by the one Spirit into the one Lord, Jesus Christ. This is the "one baptism". And it's purpose, as 1 Cor 12:13 says, is to form one body of Christ.

However the purpose of Ephesians 4:5 is not to tell us that there is only one baptism.
It's purpose is to show us that every believer receives the same baptism, into the same Lord, to form the one body of Christ.
It is a call to Christian unity in recognition of the fact that every believer has received the one baptism into the one Christ (verse 3: "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace").
No matter how much our understandings on water baptism or Spirit baptism, pouring, immersion or sprinkling, methods and practices may divide us, we should be reminded that we are all baptised into the one and same Jesus Christ, and there is no such thing as being baptised as a Catholic, or a Methodist, or an Anglican, or a Lutheran, because we are all baptised into the one Body of Christ.

 

[clark thompson]

The Spirit baptism is most important but the water baptism is also important.

 

[farout]

The more tradition is used as a guide over what the Bible says the further we get from the truth. When the Cannon was closed that ended the revield Word of God. There is no new revelation given by speaking in what some call tongues. The moder day language of speaking in tongues is not a known langusge of any kind on earth today, where as in Acts it was a language that actually existed. So when someone says the "Lord says" unless it's backed by Scripture...it's a serious lie.

The Baptism we have today is being baptized as John did for Jesus. The Holy Spirit enter us when we surrender to Jesus Christ, seeking Him because I am filthy sinner, and I hate my sinful life and want to become a follower and I repent of my sins. That's when the Holy Spirit comes into my life. Some call that the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I become baptized as a open confession before all that I have become a follower of Jesus Christ.

 

[Davy]

Hi James 1523. I think you have missed the point of what Paul was talking about. In Ephesians chapter 4, (NIV), he starts off in verse 3 by saying, "Make every effort to keep the 'unity' of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Then he augments this by stating in verses 4-6, "4-There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, 5-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6-one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

When you take into context the whole statement, you will see Paul is not talking specifically about baptism, he is talking about 'unity' within the Christian congregation. Mentioning each of the foundations of Christianity as singular, one body in Christ, one holy spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.

Of course, this posses a dilemma, as there are many, many different churches with slightly different beliefs and understanding of bible doctrines from one another. So how can all these different churches be following Paul's inspired counsel to remain as he also put it in 1 Corinthians 1:10, (NIV): "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." There must be agreement among all true Christians, a unified message, if people are to hear what is correct, put genuine faith in the true God and call upon His name with the prospect of being saved. If that is what the bible says, what do you think God thinks, when He looks down on the earth and sees many different churches teaching slightly different understandings of the bible? Some believe in a literal hell fire and some don't. Some believe in Christ's literal millennial rein over the earth, ruling survivors of Armageddon and some don't. Some believe speaking in tongues is from the devil and some think it is from God. And ironically, some believe water baptism is essential and some don't, etc!

 

[james1523]

Hi James 1523. I think you have missed the point of what Paul was talking about. In Ephesians chapter 4, (NIV), he starts off in verse 3 by saying, "Make every effort to keep the 'unity' of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Then he augments this by stating in verses 4-6, "4-There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, 5-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6-one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

When you take into context the whole statement, you will see Paul is not talking specifically about baptism, he is talking about 'unity' within the Christian congregation. Mentioning each of the foundations of Christianity as singular, one body in Christ, one holy spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.

Of course, this posses a dilemma, as there are many, many different churches with slightly different beliefs and understanding of bible doctrines from one another. So how can all these different churches be following Paul's inspired counsel to remain as he also put it in 1 Corinthians 1:10, (NIV): "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." There must be agreement among all true Christians, a unified message, if people are to hear what is correct, put genuine faith in the true God and call upon His name with the prospect of being saved. If that is what the bible says, what do you think God thinks, when He looks down on the earth and sees many different churches teaching slightly different understandings of the bible? Some believe in a literal hell fire and some don't. Some believe in Christ's literal millennial rein over the earth, ruling survivors of Armageddon and some don't. Some believe speaking in tongues is from the devil and some think it is from God. And ironically, some believe water baptism is essential and some don't, etc!

I also agree with your viewpoint, thankyou for sharing. I believe Paul is emphasizing unity of the Spirit not unity of doctrine. Genuine unity is only achieved by every person being in the Spirit and not in their opinions and their self. Despite all the differences of opinion, we can be (and actually are) united because we have the one Father, the one Lord, the one baptism, the one Spirit and are part of the one body etc. When Paul says at the start of verse 4 "there is...", he is stating the absolute truths. What different groups believe about anything doesn't change the facts. These are the facts which every Christian is a part of, and by believing, can also hopefully reach unity in doctrine as a result of unity in the Spirit.