What is the One Baptism of Ephesians 4:5?
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What is the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5?
Matthew 3:11 mentions three: baptism of water, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and baptism of fire. John the baptizer says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” There are also several baptisms mentioned under the Old Covenant. These are referred to in Hebrews 9:10 where it says “divers washings.” The word “washings” is translated from the Greek word baptizo. This is probably something similar to what the Pharisees practiced as mentioned in Mark 7:4 and Luke 11:38 where the verb “wash” is also translated from the same word. Matthew 20:22 also speaks of a different kind of baptism–a baptism of sufferings. Finally, we come to Acts 8:38 and we see Phillip taking the Ethiopian down into the water and baptizing him based upon the confession of Christ. So we have at least six different ways in which the word is used in the New Testament. There is baptism 1) in water of John, 2) of the Holy Spirit, 3) of Fire, 4) Washing, 5) of Suffering, and 6) In water of Christ. Which one is the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5?
First, the “one baptism” of which Paul speaks is not the common baptism of washing plates and cups before you eat out of them. Second, a baptism of suffering is not a literal baptism, but a figurative one. In Ephesians 4, Paul speaks literally about all the other “ones.” Just as there is one Lord, one Father, one faith, one hope, one Spirit, there is one baptism. Those other “ones” are pretty much referring to literal things. So the one baptism must be something equally as literal.
What about baptism of fire? Matthew 3:12 says, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” This is not a baptism associated with salvation, but condemnation. Baptism in fire is something that you don’t want. Jesus will baptize in fire those who have not obeyed his gospel at the second coming according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8. This is not the baptism of Ephesians 4:5.
What about John’s baptism? In Acts 19:1-7, twelve men were baptized with John’s baptism, but Paul tells them to be baptized with Christ’s baptism—the baptism that mentions the Holy Spirit. This is what Christ commanded in Matthew 28:18-20, “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” John’s baptism did not do this and so they had never heard of the Holy Spirit prior to Paul. So, Paul baptized them properly. So, the one baptism was not John’s baptism.
This leaves the baptism of the Holy Spirit and water baptism in the name of Christ. Let’s look at Holy Spirit baptism first. In Matthew 4:11 John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Jesus would baptize with two additional elements. A) the Holy Spirit, B) fire. These two baptisms are administered by Jesus, not men. No one but Jesus may administer these baptisms. However, in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16, Jesus tells his disciples to baptize believers. This baptism was in the name of Christ in water. This is what Christians practiced in the book of Acts. Acts 8:38 shows that this was in water.
In Acts 1:5, Jesus says, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” The context tells us that Jesus was talking to the apostles (v.2 and 4). He would baptize them in the Holy Spirit. He did this in Acts 2:1-4. It is not water baptism. It is not baptism that is for the whole world. There is only one other instance of Holy Spirit baptism within the New Testament in Acts 10. Peter said in Acts 11:15, 16, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” So Jesus baptized Cornelius in the Holy Spirit. However, in Acts 10:48 Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. They had already been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Peter commands them to be baptized in water. Why? That is what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:16.
The baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is water baptism because water baptism is for everyone who believes. It is for everyone to obey. It is the baptism that Jesus commanded the disciples to practice. It is the baptism that we may preach and command today. Holy Spirit baptism was limited to a few. It cannot be obeyed. It was not commanded to the disciples, and only Jesus administers it.