There Is One Baptism

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                              Acts 1:5

There Is One Baptism

by Robert T. Cooper

Jesus will soon ascend to heaven. He is getting in his last bits of teaching. He is reminding the apostles to stay in Jerusalem because John the Baptist baptized with (or in) water (indeed, these apostles had baptized Jesus’ followers with or in water), but in a few days the apostles would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is an interesting word. It comes from the Greek word which means to put totally under water as one would a dish when one is washing it. It would be translated as “immerse.” That created a problem for the King James translators, because the Anglicans did not immerse and they could not have their translation teach a doctrine that did not conform to the practice of their church. So instead of translating the word, they transliterated it. Indeed if one looks biblically at what believer’s immersion symbolizes, then one sees why the mode of baptism is important.

But before we get into denominational arguments, let’s look at one more point that is even more important. Paul teaches us that there is “one baptism.” Yet here we have Jesus Himself teaching us there is water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. So where does Paul get off with this one baptism stuff?

The point is this, and I know I am on dangerous denominational ground again. Water baptism, whatever its mode, is commanded. We do it in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But from a technical point of view, it is not essential to salvation. If you were to get in a car wreck and die between the location of your placing your faith in Christ and the location of your water baptism, like the thief on the cross, your salvation would be secure. That does not mean you have the option of being disobedient and just skipping it if you so choose. It just means that you have already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the ONE baptism of which the water baptism is symbolic.

When a person places his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in that person’s life. The transaction consists of giving Christ all of your life for the rest of your life. In turn, you get all of the Holy Spirit. You are immersed in the Holy Spirit. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit. He lives in you to teach you, to direct you, to comfort you, and to spend the rest of your life transforming you into Christlikeness.

How does a person know whether or not he is really saved? One knows by the testimony of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul says to test yourself, to check yourself out.

For your comments: Have you had the one baptism (the Holy Spirit living in you because you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior)? Have you had water baptism? If so, was it believer’s immersion?