One Baptism. - What is it?

St. SteVen · Nov 24, 2024

Discussion with a beloved forum member this morning raised the question of baptism.
And to the question in my own mind: What is the ONE baptism?

I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

I'm struck be the singularity of this description. (in all its elements)

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6

This is a beautiful thing.
We tend to talk about what divides us.
This outlines what unites us.

[

mailmandan · Nov 24, 2024

There is only one baptism that places us into the body of Christ and that is SPIRIT baptism, not water baptism.

Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. *Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37 for the word drink(s).

St. SteVen · Nov 24, 2024

mailmandan said:
*Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37 for the word drink(s).

Great post, thanks!
Let's look at these scriptures.

John 4:10 NIV
Jesus answered her,
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 NIV
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water
welling up to eternal life.”

John 7:37 NIV
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

[

St. SteVen · Nov 25, 2024

St. SteVen said:
I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

Let's explore the three options named above.

Is the one baptism:
- Water Baptism?
- The Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
- Another Baptism, or analogy of Baptism?

This is difficult to answer.
Baptism means different things to different people.
I'm not sure if there is a wrong answer here.

The Greek indicates: The rite or ceremony of baptism. (water, I suppose)

Which I think points to the analogy of Baptism. The meaning in context of the Body of Believers.
Rather than the personal spiritual aspect of death and resurrection. The book of Acts refers to those having
been baptized as being "added to the church daily". The public witness and identity with the church.

I'm thinking out loud here. Comments?

Acts 2:41 NIV
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

[

St. SteVen · Saturday at 4:51 AM

What is the ONE baptism?

I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

I'm struck be the singularity of this description. (in all its elements)

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6

This is a beautiful thing.
We tend to talk about what divides us.
This outlines what unites us.

[

Lambano · Saturday at 5:04 AM

St. SteVen said:
Which I think points to the analogy of Baptism. The meaning in context of the Body of Believers.
Rather than the personal spiritual aspect of death and resurrection. The book of Acts refers to those having
been baptized as being "added to the church daily". The public witness and identity with the church.

I think you've captured the meaning of the baptismal ritual correctly.

St. SteVen · Saturday at 6:04 AM

Lambano said:
I think you've captured the meaning of the baptismal ritual correctly.

Thanks.
It seems that the "one baptism" is symbolic of the unifying effect of baptism. (public confession)

[

mailmandan · Saturday at 6:33 AM

St. SteVen said:
What is the ONE baptism?

I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

I'm struck be the singularity of this description. (in all its elements)

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. - Ephesians 4:4-6

This is a beautiful thing.
We tend to talk about what divides us.
This outlines what unites us.

[

Even though there are baptisms "plural" (Matthew 3:11; Hebrews 6:2) there is only one baptism that places us into the body of Christ and that is Spirit baptism and not water baptism.

Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. *Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37-39 for the word drink(s) and see the connection with the Holy Spirit.

JBO · Saturday at 6:44 AM

It is one baptism with multiple results. It is in water baptism that God forgives the sins of the one being baptized and gives him the gift, the indwelling, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

St. SteVen · Saturday at 6:58 AM

mailmandan said:
Even though there are baptisms "plural" (Matthew 3:11; Hebrews 6:2) there is only one baptism that places us into the body of Christ and that is Spirit baptism and not water baptism.

Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. *Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37-39 for the word drink(s) and see the connection with the Holy Spirit.

Good post, thanks.
But doesn't this take us into the murky waters of defining Spirit baptism?

[

St. SteVen · Saturday at 7:10 AM

JBO said:
It is one baptism with multiple results. It is in water baptism that God forgives the sins of the one being baptized and gives him the gift, the indwelling, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

You seem to be basing your position on one verse in Acts chapter two.
Isn't there more to the story than that?

Are you saying there is no forgiveness of sin for those who have not been water baptized?

Are you saying there is no indwelling Spirit for those who have not been water baptized?

[

mailmandan · Saturday at 7:10 AM

St. SteVen said:
Good post, thanks.
But doesn't this take us into the murky waters of defining Spirit baptism?

[

The waters become murky when folks conflate water baptism and Spirit baptism.

St. SteVen · Saturday at 7:19 AM

mailmandan said:
The waters become murky when folks conflate water baptism and Spirit baptism.

Agree.
Do you view Spirit baptism as a subsequent experience to the indwelling?
That may be where the definition of "one baptism" becomes murky.
Water baptism is more universally defined. And can be symbolic.
A ceremony should be an outward sign of an inward reality.

[

mailmandan · Saturday at 7:29 AM

St. SteVen said:
Agree.
Do you view Spirit baptism as a subsequent experience to the indwelling?
That may be where the definition of "one baptism" becomes murky.
Water baptism is more universally defined. And can be symbolic.
A ceremony should be an outward sign of an inward reality.

Folks in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon conversion and consider it a second blessing. I view Spirit baptism as occurring simultaneously with becoming born again/receiving salvation in which we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and placed in the body of Christ at the moment of conversion.

I view water baptism as symbolic and agree that a ceremony should be an outward sign of an inward reality.

St. SteVen · Saturday at 5:07 PM

mailmandan said:
Folks in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon conversion and consider it a second blessing. I view Spirit baptism as occurring simultaneously with becoming born again/receiving salvation in which we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and placed in the body of Christ at the moment of conversion.

This is why I cautioned about viewing the "one baptism" as being spiritual baptism.
Not everyone defines it the same way.

Folks in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles could claim that those who don't agree with there definition haven't had the "ONE baptism".
Those outside Pentecostal and Charismatic circles would claim that it's not a subsequent experience.

[

St. SteVen · Saturday at 5:12 PM

mailmandan said:
I view water baptism as symbolic and agree that a ceremony should be an outward sign of an inward reality.

This is why I think the symbolic view of water baptism is the best fit for the "one baptism".
It speaks to what unites us.

In the book of Acts, those who were water baptized were added to the church.
But to be clear, I am not dogmatic about water baptism.
The unity it symbolizes is most important.

[

JBO · Sunday at 7:00 AM

St. SteVen said:
You seem to be basing your position on one verse in Acts chapter two.
Isn't there more to the story than that?

Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; John 3:5: Acts 2:38: Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4: Galatians 3:26-27: Colossians 3:11-13: Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21.

The Bible never says anything about those who have not been baptized.

St. SteVen said:
Are you saying there is no forgiveness of sin for those who have not been water baptized?

I am saying that God has promised forgiveness of sin for those who have been baptized.

St. SteVen said:
Are you saying there is no indwelling Spirit for those who have not been water baptized?

I am saying that God has promised the indwelling Holy Spirit for those who have been baptized.

Search

Search

One Baptism. - What is it?

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

mailmandan

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

Lambano

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

mailmandan

Well-Known Member

JBO

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

mailmandan

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

mailmandan

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

St. SteVen

Well-Known Member

JBO

Well-Known Member

Similar threads