How does "one baptism" connect with other New Testament teachings on baptism? Setting the scene: Ephesians 4:5 “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The meaning of “one baptism” • A shared, unrepeatable act that publicly identifies believers with Christ. • Part of the sevenfold unity Paul lists (vv. 4-6), showing baptism is essential, not optional. • Points to a single, God-given reality rather than multiple competing forms or meanings. Unity with the Trinity • Matthew 28:19 – “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” One name, three Persons; baptism visibly proclaims Trinitarian faith. • 1 Corinthians 12:13 – “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Spirit, Son, and Father work together, underscoring the oneness Paul highlights in Ephesians. From John the Baptist to Jesus’ mandate • Mark 1:4 – John preached “a baptism of repentance.” • Acts 19:3-5 – those who had only John’s baptism were re-baptized “into the name of the Lord Jesus.” • The shift shows that the definitive “one baptism” is Christian baptism, grounded in Christ’s finished work. Acts: baptism in practice • Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” • Acts 8:12-13; 10:47-48; 16:31-33 – whenever the gospel advances, baptism immediately follows faith, highlighting its singular place in conversion. • No second-tier experience is offered; baptism is the common entry sign for Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 15:8-9). Romans 6:3-4 – union with Christ • “We were buried with Him through baptism into death… so we too may walk in newness of life.” • One baptism links every believer to one historical death and resurrection; there is no alternative path to this union. Galatians 3:27 – new identity • “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” • Baptism is the moment the believer’s old labels fall away—“neither Jew nor Greek… male nor female”—reinforcing Paul’s call to unity in Ephesians. Colossians 2:12 – spiritual circumcision • “Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the power of God.” • One covenant-entry sign replaces the old; baptism fulfills the shadow of circumcision, pointing to a single new-covenant community. 1 Peter 3:21 – salvation affirmed • “Baptism… now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body, but a pledge of a clear conscience toward God.” • Peter harmonizes with Paul: outward water joins with inward faith, producing one saving reality rooted in Christ’s resurrection. Practical implications for the church today • Guard the gospel: teach baptism as Scripture defines it—immersion in water following personal faith. • Preserve unity: whether background, ethnicity, or prior religious history, baptism testifies we all enter the same way. • Disciple intentionally: baptism marks the start of ongoing obedience (Matthew 28:19-20); it is not a finish line but a launchpad. • Reject rival rites: no additional ceremonies or second blessings are needed to complete what baptism signifies. Summary points • “One baptism” in Ephesians 4:5 sums up a rich, consistent New Testament witness. • Baptism visibly unites believers with the one Lord, inserts them into the one body, and declares the one gospel. • Every major baptism text—Acts, Romans, Galatians, Colossians, 1 Peter—echoes this single theme: through faith, we pass through one water into one life in Christ. |
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