ONE BAPTISM OR IS THERE MORE?

Every Believer, I am sure without a doubt loves the letters of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, which are so full of truth and the Holy Spirit constantly wants to quicken Paul’s teaching to our hearts, so that it is not just information, but truly revelation and life transforming to us.

I was sitting in a Men’s Bible Study yesterday and one the men mentioned something two or three times that got me thinking, and I want to share some thoughts with you that have come out of my musings.

Eph.4:4-6 NKJV tells us There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one faith, one Lord,one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

PASSION being one body and one spirit, as you were all called into the same glorious hope of divine destiny.
For the Lord God is one, and so are we, for we share in one faith, one baptism, and one Father, And He is the perfect Father who leads us all, works through us all, and lives in us all!

N.L.T. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

MESSAGE You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

Each of the various truths Paul mentions here, are very self explanitory, except where Paul says ONE BAPTISM, what does Paul mean here? as we are very aware of different types of Baptisms in the New Testament.

I want to suggest to you the baptism Paul is referring to here is explained clearly in 1 Cor. 12:13 NKJV 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.

PASSION For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.

N.L.T. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

This Baptism is the awesome moment when we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes us and immerses into the Body of Christ, and we become part of God’s family. Any other baptism really isn’t relevant unless we have been BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Sadly, some “scholars” call this The “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”, which is completely different. (More about this Baptism later in this blog).

When Peter preached his first Pentecostal sermon in Acts 2, the people came under such conviction, and we read in verse 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter’s reply we read in verses 38-39 NKJV “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This is what we call Believer’s Baptism, where someone who is born again obeys the Lord and declares “old things have passed away and all things have become new”, the old person had died and a new person is resurrected and seen in the person being immersed in water then coming up out of the water. This is the 2nd Baptism mentioned in the New Testament.

We read of the third Baptism in the New Testament for Believers declared by John the Baptist in Matt.3:11 NKJV I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

PASSION Those who repent I baptize with water, but there is coming a Man after me who is more powerful than I am. In fact, I’m not even worthy enough to pick up his sandals. He will submerge you into union with the Spirit of Holiness and with a raging fire.

N.L.T. I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

MESSAGE I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.

Jesus declares after His resurrection in Acts 1:5 NKJV “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

When we are born again the Holy Spirit comes to make His home in us, we cannot get anymore of the Holy Spirit but THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN GET A LOT MORE OF US, during those 10 days of seeking God in the upper room, there came that moment of complete surrender in the disciples lives and He filled the house (their body).Following our being born again of the Spirit and usually after being baptized in water, we like the disciples must come to that place of surrender to the Lord and also we learn to re-affirm His Lordship 24/7 and obey Eph. 5:18 NKJV And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord..

Everyone of the 120 began to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. When the Holy Spirit fills the house, we become intimately acquainted with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the fact that all 120 spoke in tongues indicates to me, that every Believer can have and should have a “prayer language” to be used regularly.

John the Baptist adds the words AND FIRE, an emblem of the Holy Spirit and His sanctifying ministry in the life of the Believer. Pentecostals major on Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Yes, the Baptism on the Holy Spirit is to empower Believers to witness and fulfil the Great Commission, but as we learn to live the “Surrendered life” the Holy Spirit ministers to us as a “refiner’s fire” and deals with the dross and impurities in our life, just as fire purifies precious metals.

There is a 4th Baptism mentioned in the New Testament which we read about in Matt. 20:22-23 NKJV But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;

I think Jesus was talking about a baptism of suffering, as I understand it all the Apostles were martyred (except John,) I guess not every believer will experience such a “baptism” but history confirms that many Believers over the centuries experienced a “baptism of suffering”, I guess there are numerous forms of suffering not just physical. There are many things we do not understand, but say with the Apostle Paul (Rom.8:28 NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I hope this blog will cause some response and discussion, I really would love to hear your response.

Have a blessed anointed fruitful weekend.