One Baptism! By Pastor Lantz
There is only one baptism into the Body of Christ! This word baptism means to be immersed or made fully wet. We understand from the epistle to the Ephesians and other scriptures that we can only be immersed into Christ death and resurrection once. Eph. 4:4-6 One body, and one Spirit, even as you are 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. The A.S. Worrell New Testament is one of the most accurate translations and he uses the word immersion in the following passages concerning God’s invitation for us to die to self and to be resurrected as his child. Eph. 4:1-6 A.S. Worrell . . . one Lord, one faith, one immersion . . . Rom. 6:3-4 A.S. Worrell Or are ye ignorant, that all we who were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into His death? We were buried, therefore, with Him through the immersion into death; that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. The one baptism we are referring to takes place in the unseen realm of the spirit and is accomplished by the working of the
This first Baptism is not by man but by the Mighty Spirit of God!
Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. This baptism or immersion into the Body of Christ was accomplished through Christ by the working of God’s mighty power! God wants us to know the exceeding greatness of his power that he released for those who believe! The power of God was made available to all who will believe that Jesus is the Christ! There is no sin to big that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse. There is no sickness that Jesus has not borne for you. The truth is that by his stripes you were healed! Many of God’s people are trying to get their healing that Jesus already purchased for them. Jesus said, if at any time, you will see with your eyes and hear with your ears and understand with your heart and change (to conform) I will heal you. Divine healing is from the Spirit. You receive (take) it in your heart before it manifest on the outside. Those who walk by sight are always looking to see if they are healed. That’s not how faith works. Faith says, I take my healing, then they get busy doing what God told them to do. Jesus said, it is just as easy to be healed as it is to be forgiven of your sins. God wants you to receive your prosperity by faith also. 3 John 2 A.S.Worrell Beloved, I pray that, in all things, you may be prosperous, and be in health, even as your soul prospers. He became poor that we might become rich!
The scriptures mentioned earlier are not referring to being baptized in water. We are commanded to be baptized in water but that comes after we commit ourselves to God and believe on the lord Jesus Christ. Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing (baptizing in water) them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Peter commanded that those who respond to the truth, that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ, be baptized in water. Acts 2:38 . . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Philip told the Ethiopia eunuch that he would baptize him if he believed with all his heart. (Acts 8:37) Saul of Tarsus was baptized in water after he confessed Jesus as his Lord. (Acts 9:18)
The scriptures teach that there are additional baptisms. The baptisms are part of the basic fundamental doctrine of Christ, or you could say elementary teachings. The principles of the doctrine (teachings) of Christ are listed in Hebrews 6:1&2 . 1. Repentance from dead works. 2. Faith toward God. 3. Doctrine of Baptisms. 4. Laying on of hands. 5. Resurrection of the dead. 6. Eternal judgement. There is the initial baptism into the body of Christ, then baptism in water, and baptism in the Holy Ghost, and the baptism of fire. You can easily see in Jesus ministry that he did no miracles until after he was baptized with the Holy Spirit. Many mistakenly think that Jesus could just do any miracle any time he wanted to, but he said about himself. John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Jesus was the only begotten of the Father while he walked this earth but he operated here as a man filled with the mighty Holy Spirit. Luke 3:21&22 . . . Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Jesus referred to himself again and again as the Son of man. The traditions of men say that Jesus did miracles on earth because he was the Son of God, but, the Bible teaches that Jesus did miracles as the Son of man filled with or baptized with the Holy Spirit of God. Now we have a choice, to be made a son of God and to be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit), and do the works that Jesus did or believe the lies of men and be powerless. After Jesus was
Be powerless or be baptized into the Body of Christ and baptized with the Holy Spirit!
resurrected from the dead you will never again read in the Bible of him being the only begotten Son of God. Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The Apostle Paul writes by the Spirit of God that there is one baptism. Eph. 4:5&6 One Lord (Jesus), one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all . . . God is saying a person can only be born again once. When a believer sins, their fellowship with the Father is broken and needs to be restored. We are still God’s child but sin has separated us from receiving the blessings of God. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we were born of God we received a new nature. ( 2 Cor. 5:17 1 Pet.1:23 John 1:12&13 ) Our spirit was recreated and is now made righteous. Our desires begin to change and now we want to do what is right. Yes, the flesh will still want to dominate our decision making but we are to rule from the heart and crucify the flesh.
Some say once saved always saved. This doctrine is not scriptural nor consistent with God’s dealings with angels and men. Satan lost his place with God through rebellion. Adam lost the glory of God and was forever separated from the Father. Eli lost the priesthood which God had declared to be for his house forever. Judas lost his place and is now in hell. Jesus taught that forgiveness could be lost! Mt. 18:23-25 A child of God can not accidentally be removed from the body of Christ. The only way a person can get out is the same way they came in and that is to purpose with their will. One who confesses Christ as his Lord and continues to live in sin is either overriding their spirit or not really saved. A false conversion means they said the sinners prayer but did not really believe in their heart that they were saved. A true christian will be corrected by their Heavenly Father and their own heart will condemn them of sin. When a christian persists in rebelling against the word of God, they expose themselves to the curse. God desires for us to judge ourselves (stop the sin) but if we don’t we are turned over to the tormenter in hope that we will repent while we still can. 1 Cor. 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The scriptures tell us that a christian who has been filled with the Holy Spirit and tasted of the good word of God and operated in the gifts of the Spirit falls away (not an accidental falling away but a purposeful forsaking the Lord) that they will not be graced to come to repentance again. Heb. 6:4-6 For it is impossible . . . if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Anyone who experienced this much of God’s grace and decided they didn’t want Him any more has their name blotted out of the book of life. Anyone who is fearful that they have committed the unpardonable sin has not committed it. They have no desire to return to Christ. If you have strayed from the Lord, confess your sin and commit to do right! God is rich in mercy! His best is for you!
