In Ephesians 4, Paul encourages the Christians in Ephesus to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace†(verse 3). We are united because we have “one body…one Spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith,
one baptism…one God and Father†(verses 4-6). Tragically, baptism often divides Christians instead of uniting us, as God desires.
While Christians do have different understandings of the timing and methods of baptism, we all agree on the following gospel truths, which unite us: (1) Jesus is the One who saves, (2) we are helpless to be saved without His grace, and (3) baptism identifies us with the people of God through Christ. Regardless of method or timing, baptism points to our need of a Savior—to our helplessness to save ourselves from sin and death.
Baptism happens differently in every Christian church you will enter, and—so long as the above gospel truths undergird the process—none of these differences make the practice more Christian or less. When Christian churches choose how they will practice baptism, they do so out of an understanding of baptism that includes hundreds of years of thought and practice by really smart Christian people who have gone before us in history—people who loved Jesus, His Word, and His church and wanted to practice baptism biblically.
Interestingly, the “Didache,” one of the earliest Christian writings outside of the Bible that speaks of baptism, acknowledges Christians will practice baptism differently sometimes. For example, while the “Didache” encourages full submersion, it also considers pouring water on someone’s head equally valid.
Faith in Christ and repentance of sin is more important than the actual process of baptism, though the ceremony itself is also an important aspect of our faith as it truly does unite all of us in our hope—found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. • Andy Smith
• Read Mark 16:15-16, Romans 6:1-11, Colossians 2:12-14, and 1 Peter 3:18-22. Why is baptism important? What does it show about Jesus and our relationship to Him?
• To learn more about how your church practices baptism and why, talk with your pastor, youth leader, parents, or another trusted Christian in your life.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Ephesians 4:5 (NIV)
Read Verses:
Matthew 20:25-28
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