Read Acts 19:1-7; Ephesians 4:4-6

One Baptism

Baptism is a very touchy subject for a lot of people. One group teaches one thing about baptism, while another teaches something entirely different. How are we to know what is correct?

God has revealed for us exactly what He wants us to know about baptism. First, it is immersion. This is the very definition of the Greek word God used. Words have meanings, and we cannot change the meanings of words just because we don’t like them. If God wanted to indicate sprinkling as a proper way to baptize, He would have used a different Greek word.

God also revealed the purpose of baptism. Take some time to look at these Scriptures and see what is written:

• It is for salvation (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
• It is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
• It will “wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16).
• It is the means by which one gets “into Christ” and “into His death” (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4).

These are not trivial matters. They are eternally significant.

You may be thinking to yourself, “I don’t think this is how or why I was baptized.” You are not alone. There were twelve men in Ephesus in the same situation. They had been taught the baptism of John, not the baptism of Jesus. They had not been baptized for the proper purpose. What did they do when they found out? “When they heard this, they were baptized int eh name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).

Does it really matter, though? Paul wrote, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Paul included seven things in this inspired list of “ones.” If “one baptism” is as good as another, why isn’t “one God” as good as another?