Ephesians 4:5 and One Baptism

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Eph. 4:1-5

Paul says here that there is one baptism. Does this mean that there is not both water baptism and Spirit baptism?

Whenever we interpret the Bible, we must do so by balancing all parts of the Bible together.

In the New Testament, several verses speak of two baptisms. These are water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:16

John the Baptist talked about water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus also spoke of two baptisms – water and Spirit.

John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Acts 1:5

People baptize other people in water. Jesus baptizes people in the Holy Spirit. In the early church, whenever people were born again, they were baptized in water. They were also baptized in the Holy Spirit.

We see these two baptisms in Acts 10.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Acts 10:44-48a

This outpouring of the Spirit on Cornelius family and friends was called the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is mentioned both here and in Acts 2:38. This was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After being baptized in the Holy Spirit, these believers were baptized in water.

The baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate baptisms.

The writer of the Hebrews describes how baptisms – plural – are a basic teaching of Christianity.

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb. 6:1-2

Two baptisms are clearly taught throughout the New Testament. So what does Paul mean when he mentions one baptism in Eph. 4:5?

In the context of this passage, Paul is referring to unity among Christians. He says we must strive to keep unity, because we are all one body in Christ. We all share one Lord, Jesus, one faith, and one baptism. We have a shared faith. We have a common Lord. And we have a common baptism. There is not one baptism for you and another for me. The baptism – whether in water or in Spirit – is the same baptism for all who believe in Jesus.

Unity is very important. One of the last things Jesus prayed for is that all his people would be united together (John 17:20-21). The basis of our unity is spiritual commonality with the Lord and with each other. Just as we share a common Lord and a common faith, so we share a common baptism. We are baptized at different times and in different places. We are baptized in water by different people, and in the Spirit in different ways. But our baptism is common. We don’t need to get baptized repeatedly in water, nor do we need to get baptized repeatedly in the Spirit. Baptism in water and in the Spirit are the common heritage of every believer in Jesus.

One baptism refers to a common baptism. This can be in water or in Spirit. This common baptism is shared among all genuine believers in Jesus all over the world.