Donate 
Login 
<< Back to Alpha Omega Section 3 Overview
One Baptism
Ephesians 4:5
Just One, not a hundred, Just ONE, Not two; just ONE.
There is only ONE BAPTISM God has been pleased to include in the Seven-fold Unity of the Spirit recorded in Eph. 4:4-6. There is ONE BAPTISM God has commanded to be kept, safeguarded, watched over, treasured and observed attentively as being one of the facets of the listed seven-fold Unity of the Spirit. We are not asked to “make” this Unity, it is already made by God – rather we are asked to treasure it. The name of the ONE BAPTISM is not spelled out in the text but it must have the characteristic of being “ONE,” a single one that stands alone, not to be added to by another, not to be repeated, of intrinsic value, and, of such a nature as to be easily identifiable in contrast to all other baptisms, in respect to THE BAPTIZER, THE ELEMENT, and THE RESULTS.
The FATHER’S BAPTISM, of placing us INTO CHRIST, INTO HIS DEATH – and all that follows is worthy to be singled out for inclusion in the great seven-fold oneness of Eph. 4:3-6. All other baptisms are multiple:
For in that He died, He died to (the) sin once for all. Rm 6:10 Concordant Version
. . . for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. Heb. 7:27
. . . but now, once for all, upon a conjunction of the ages, for a setting aside of sin through means of His sacrifice, has He been made manifest. Heb. 9:26 Rotherham 1902 Ed
. . . . through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. Heb. 9:10 Rotherham
The Scriptures forbid a repetition of Christ’s death and sacrifice. It was “Once For All,” never to be repeated. All sacrifices and all priestcraft have been done away. The “Sacrifice of the Mass,” and all versions of it, in which Christ is supposedly “sacrificed” again is without reality. There is no repeat of Calvary at any time, any place, any form, any people. The one baptism is a monument to Christ’s complete and finished work. It is worthy of the place God has given it and in comparison all other baptisms are of less account on the stage of history. This truly engenders faith and trust so that one never needs be ashamed to confess this BAPTISM.
Within the “Unity of The Spirit” boldly set forth in Eph. 4:3-6, the Body Of Christ is mentioned first – that extension of Himself, the Joint-Body, co-sharing all that God has made Christ to be, to Himself, to others, and to the universe, a union in which Christ is all and in all, a Body in which all are peers, and in which there is no “excommunication.” All have been “Engraced in the Beloved” to/for the Father, Eph. 1:6. This “Body” is to be
“. . . filled with the fulness of God, Eph. 3:19, and
“. . . to Him (The Father) is to be glory in the church (The Body Of Christ) and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations of the age of the ages” Eph. 3:21.
This is descriptive of a long period of time – it is not in keeping with those who are looking for an end to the Body Of Christ and wanting something apocalyptic to happen. The next unit is “One Spirit,” this includes the “Sealing into Christ” of Eph. 1:13, as promissory of all that God has for us “in Christ.” Next, “One Hope” – the scope of this hope is seen in the Ephesian and Colossian Letters. It is briefly touched upon in Eph. 1:9,10 and Col. 3:1-4. It reaches before the dawn of time and extends into all the on-coming ages. The next unit is “One Lord,” the Lord Jesus Christ. His Headship alone is essential to His Body: its life, growth, and arriving a the stature of the fulness of Christ, Eph. 4:13, “Growing into Him in everything,” Eph. 4:15. “One Faith,” this is the great Mystery-Secret truths revealed through Paul in the Eph./Col. Letters. They are the :”Capstone Of All Revealed Truth.” The last unit mentioned is the most beautiful of all:
One God and Father of All, the (one) Over All and Through All and in All. Eph. 4:6.
This is the goal of the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. This is the final reference point of all God’s purposes. In this noble list there must be one more “unit” to make the list complete. Surely the great redemptive work of Christ has not been overlooked – the bridge that makes all the rest possible? It was an old rugged tree upon which the Saviour was crucified to span all distances between heaven and earth, between God and man. This has not been forgotten – it is listed in the Divine Unity as the ONE BAPTISM. Not drops or tanks of water for whatever merit some may see in these, but a JOINT-DEATH BAPTISM, A JOINT-BAPTISM INTO CHRIST’S ENTOMBMENT, A JOINT-AROUSEMENT WITH CHRIST FROM AMONG THE DEAD. God has been pleased to JOINTLY SEAT US WITH CHRIST in the Supra-heavenlies in Christ, Eph. 2:6. In view of all this never shall man’s sin be a factor to keep him away from God.