One Baptism

Israel preparing to leave slavery in Egypt. God provided a way of salvation, the shedding of blood, and a confession of salvation by means of applying the blood. A couple million people were saved, both literally and spiritually.

God led them into the dessert: a pillar of fire by night to light their way and a pillar of cloud by day going before them and above them to shade their passage. He led them into the Red Sea with walls of water around them and a cloud above them, a couple million people were baptized.

1 Corinthians 10:1–2 (KJV 1900) — 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

This probably surprises, but the whole of the exodus is, among other things, a display of salvation that dramatically mirrors our own experiences.

Which brings us to out text.

Ephesians 4:1–6 (KJV 1900) — 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Baptism is an Identification

It Identifies us with God

Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV 1900) — 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It Identifies us with the salvation of God

Acts 8:36–38 (KJV 1900) — 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

It Identifies us with the family of God

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 (KJV 1900) — 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

Baptism is a Declaration

It Declares the Faith we have

Colossians 2:11–12 (KJV 1900) — 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

It Declares the Faith others can have

Galatians 3:26–29 (KJV 1900) — 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.