There Is One Baptism Series

Alba 5-7-2023

THERE IS ONE BAPTISM

Ephesians 4:5

The story is told of a preacher who had just starting serving a new congregation. For eight Sundays in a row he preached about baptism.

Finally, the chairman of the elders approached him and said, “Preacher, we get the point about baptism, and so I’d like to pick your text for next Sunday’s sermon. Please preach on Genesis 1:1.” The elder thought that there was no way the minister could preach on baptism from the very first verse in the Bible.

The next Sunday, the preacher got up in the pulpit and read Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He then added, “The earth is two-thirds water. Today’s subject is water baptism.”

Well, today's sermon is about what the Bible says about baptism, but we don't have to stretch or contort verses of scripture to deal with this subject. In fact the Bible is quite clear as to the meaning and mode of baptism.

But saying that, I have to admit that there is some confusion about it. Various churches have various teachings and various practices concerning baptism. But that does not mean that the Bible does not provide us with a good understanding of the will of God in the matter of baptism.

There are many Bible verses that, if taken in the plain meaning of the words, give us a clear picture about baptism and what God intends for us to know and to do.

Ephesians chapter four verse five includes in the list of “one” things that there is “One Baptism”. So let's see what the Bible does say about this subject.

The idea of baptism is introduced in the New Testament in the ministry of a man named John. He was so connected with the act of baptism that he earned the name, John the Baptist. Just to be clear, he was not a part of the Baptist denomination. That didn't come until many hundreds of years, centuries, after the New Testament was written.

John preached a message of repentance. It was preparation for the coming of the Messiah. He is described as a “voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'” (Matthew 3:3)

But his baptism is not the “One Baptism” that is referred to in Ephesians chapter four. We know that because in Acts 19 it tells us that the apostle Paul found some disciples and he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

Their answer was, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Right away Paul realized that something was wrong so he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Acts 19:4-5 shows us that Paul understood what was needed to be done. “Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

The Bible does not talk about “re-baptism”. It says there is “One Baptism”. Obviously the baptism of John is not the "one". There is something different about baptism into Jesus Christ.

The apostle Peter tells us what that is in Acts 2:38. Peter and the other apostles were boldly proclaiming that the very One whom they crucified was now alive, resurrected from the grave, and is both Lord and Christ.

When the people heard that they were “cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' 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. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'” (Acts 2:37-39)

Baptism into Christ Jesus is for more than just repentance. That is included but is only the beginning. The apostle Peter tells us that when we submit to the Lord in baptism it is for the forgiveness of our sins. And also to receive the Holy Spirit.

That is what was missing in the disciples that Paul met at Ephesus. They needed to submit to the “One Baptism” and be baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to receive all that God in His grace will give. There is no need for a second blessing to receive the Spirit. It happens at the time of baptism into Christ.

In baptism, God offers and we accept the forgiveness of our sins. When pardoned of our sins, which separated us from God, we are justified. That is, we are freed from the guilt and penalty of sin and restored to a right relationship with God.