One Baptism. - What is it?

[St. SteVen]

Discussion with a beloved forum member this morning raised the question of baptism.
And to the question in my own mind: What is the ONE baptism?

I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope
when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV


I'm struck be the singularity of this description. (in all its elements)

There is one body
and one Spirit,
just as you were called to one hope
when you were called;
5 one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all
and through all
and in all. - Ephesians 4:4-6

This is a beautiful thing.
We tend to talk about what divides us.
This outlines what unites us.

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[mailmandan]

There is only one baptism that places us into the body of Christ and that is SPIRIT baptism, not water baptism.

Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - 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. *Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37 for the word drink(s).

 

[St. SteVen]

*Also see John 4:10,14; 7:37 for the word drink(s).

Great post, thanks!
Let's look at these scriptures.

John 4:10 NIV
Jesus answered her,
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 NIV
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water
welling up to eternal life.”

John 7:37 NIV
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

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[St. SteVen]

I know of at least two baptisms: Water Baptism and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Is the one baptism one of these, or something else entirely? Let's discuss.

Let's explore the three options named above.

Is the one baptism:
- Water Baptism?
- The Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
- Another Baptism, or analogy of Baptism?

This is difficult to answer.
Baptism means different things to different people.
I'm not sure if there is a wrong answer here.

The Greek indicates: The rite or ceremony of baptism. (water, I suppose)

Which I think points to the analogy of Baptism. The meaning in context of the Body of Believers.
Rather than the personal spiritual aspect of death and resurrection. The book of Acts refers to those having
been baptized as being "added to the church daily". The public witness and identity with the church.

I'm thinking out loud here. Comments?

Acts 2:41 NIV
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

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