One Baptism in Christ – Baptism for the Body of Christ is a chapter from my E-Book: Buddhist Monk Saved by Jesus. You can download it for free on my Home page ⟶ Buddhist Monk Saved by Jesus
Many Baptisms in the Bible — Not All Are the Same
We usually believe that in the Bible there is only water baptism. Whenever we hear the word “baptism,” we think of water. However, the Holy Scriptures mention many different baptisms, and many of them are “dry,” including the only baptism necessary to become part of Christ’s body. We need to understand what is the one baptism in Christ?
There are fourteen different baptisms mentioned throughout the Bible, and understanding which one applies to us today is essential. If you want to see how each baptism differs — from Moses and John to Paul’s one baptism — read more in the article Baptisms in the Bible, which clearly explains every baptism and shows why only one remains for the Body of Christ today.
Ephesians 4:5 — “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
This is our only baptism into Christ by the Spirit, which Paul taught for our dispensation of the grace of God, for our church Body of Christ, and our gospel that Jesus Christ gave to Paul:
1 Corinthians 12:13 — “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
Romans 6:3 — “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?”
Galatians 3:27 — “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Colossians 2:12 — “Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith of the operation of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
These verses show that believers today are identified with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection — a spiritual truth revealed directly to the apostle Paul by the risen Lord. This identification happens by faith alone, not through any physical act. This is what one baptism in Christ is.
Many evangelical churches don’t discern which instructions are for us and which are not, and attach these passages to water baptism, saying that going under the water represents dying with Christ and rising again. But this is not what Paul taught. There is no water in this baptism — it is entirely spiritual, performed by the Holy Spirit the moment we believe.
Catholic tradition added infant baptism, which is also foreign to our gospel of grace. Both follow baptism instructions from the “Great Commission”, which belonged to Israel’s prophetic program that God has now paused. The Body of Christ today follows Paul’s revelation — one Lord, one faith, one baptism in Christ.
The Error of Water Baptism for Today
Christian denominations believe in the wrong baptism, which was for Israel under the covenant in the four Gospels or on Pentecost day in Acts 2, where the New Covenant for Israel began. Through water baptism you can become a member of various Christian communities, but you cannot become part of the church, the body of Christ, which is the only true church today.
Colossians 2:12 — Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
There is only one baptism that baptizes you into Christ’s body. God performs it when He baptizes you into Christ’s body by one Spirit. Nothing physical can baptize you into Christ’s body, because it is a spiritual body. Jesus is the head, and all saved believers are parts of one body — the body of Christ. We are a One New Man in Christ, this is not a physical church, but spiritual, all saved people in the world are in one body – the church.
The True Meaning of Baptism in Scripture
Many evangelical pastors say that baptism is not included in salvation, but should serve as a public acknowledgment that we are believers. This is a human invention. Water baptism in the Bible has always been intended for the cleansing — forgiveness of sins.
Ezekiel 36:25 — “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your impurities, and I will cleanse you from all your idols.”
Mark 1:4 — “John baptized in the wilderness and preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 28:19-20 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Acts 2:38 — “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
These verses spoke to the fallen church, a nation of Israel; this is NOT for our church of Christ’s body. We are NOT TO baptise people in the water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or in the name of Jesus Christ. In the dispensation of the grace of God given to Paul (Ephesians 3:2-13). God baptises people by one Spirit into one body only through faith. (Ephesians 1:12-14)
Our Baptism in the Present Age of Grace
For our church, there is no water baptism. Justification from sin, the seal of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of salvation are received exclusively through faith in our Gospel of Salvation. Christ’s blood has paid for all our sins. Our public confession of faith is testimony and proclamation of the gospel, not water baptism.
1 Corinthians 1:17 — “Christ did not send Paul to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with the wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.”
Jesus sent the twelve apostles to baptize and to make all nations for His disciples. However, Israel again rejected Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit. God caused their fall and turned to the Gentiles through the apostle of the Gentiles — Paul — with the new gospel of grace, which was kept secret since the world began.
Colossians 2:8 — “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than according to Christ.”
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
Churches that do not know how to rightly divide the word of truth have everything confused; they do not know what our baptism is and do not follow Christ — even though they will tell you that they follow Christ. Therefore, you must study God’s word rightly divided; this is the main key to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Whoever does not know how to rightly divide the preaching of Christ according to the mystery vs. Christ in the flesh — which was the eartly ministry of Jesus for Israel as a minister of circumcision — is preaching the wrong gospel and does not act according to God’s will or plan for present age and our church.
One Baptism in Christ is a chapter from my E-Book: Buddhist Monk Saved by Jesus. You can download it for free on my Home page ⟶ Buddhist Monk Saved by Jesus
Related posts and continuation
If you want to explore more topics connected to your spiritual journey, check these out:
The Gospel of Salvation – How to be saved and start a new life in Christ.
👉 https://gospelgracegod.com/the-gospel-of-salvation/
Old and New Man – Understanding how God changes us from the inside out.
👉 https://gospelgracegod.com/old-and-new-man-understand/
Walking After the Spirit – Living daily guided by the Spirit instead of our old ways.
👉 https://gospelgracegod.com/walking-after-the-spirit/
Rightly Dividing the Word of God – Learning to understand God’s instructions for today.
👉 https://gospelgracegod.com/rightly-dividing-the-word-of-god/