ONE Baptism

There is “ONE baptism” (Eph.4:5 below), as it is written.

I believe that when Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water … .” (Jn.3:5 below), Jesus was saying to Nicodemus, One must be born into this world by the breaking of water at birth (Jn.3:4, Jn.3:6 below) to be able to be baptized of the Holy Spirit (Jn.3:6, Jn.3:8, 1 Cor.12:13 below), the “one baptism” (Eph.4:5 below).

I believe Nicodemus knew full well that Jesus was speaking of having to be born into the world through the breaking of water at birth, because Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born (Jn.3:4 below)?”

When God the Father draws us to Jesus (Jn.6:44) we are baptized into ONE BODY by the Spirit (1 Cor.12:13).

When we are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit we become a “new” creature (2 Cor.5:17, Gal.6:15). We become individually, as well as collectively, the living body of Christ Jesus (Col.1:24). We BECOME the church of God (1 Cor.10:32, 1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13, Acts 20:28, 1 Ti.3:5).

We tend to think that we “go” to church. We GO to church, and we come home FROM church. But the truth of the matter is that we who are in Christ Jesus ARE the church!

I believe “water” baptism was for the Jews (1 Cor.10:32) prior to Jesus’ ministry.


Eph.4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism (1 Cor.12:13 below),

Jn.3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews (Jn.3:10 below):

Jn.3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jn.3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (Jn.3:7-8 below), he cannot see the kingdom of God (Jn.3:5 below).

Jn.3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jn.3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit (Jn.3:6, Jn.3:8 below), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Jn.3:3 above).

Jn.3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jn.3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Jn.3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Jn.3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jn.3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel (Jn.3:1 above), and knowest not these things?

1 Cor.12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized (Eph.4:5 above) into one body (Eph.2:16, Gal.3:28), whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.



Patricia (©) Bible Prophecy on the Web
COMMENT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BibleProphecy
Author of the self-study aid, The Book of Revelation Explained © 1982