Daily Devotions
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Reading for March 9: Joshua 14-17
Weekly reading for March 4-10: Ephesians 1-6
Title: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
...one Lord, one faith, one baptism...
Ephesians 4:5
When the question of whether baptism is necessary for salvation comes up, this verse is not normally brought up.
Naturally, passages like Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 make a strong case for the necessity of baptism, but there are other passages which make an equally strong link between baptism and salvation, though not as directly. This is one of those passages.
This passage lists seven "ones" which unify us: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one Father. Note that the trinity is represented: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (also the work of Father, Son, & Spirit in Eph 1:3-14; 2:18; 3:14-17; 5:18-20). The other four things are all vital aspects of who we are (body, hope, faith, and baptism). This is a lofty list. It would seem strange for Paul to mention something which has nothing to do with salvation. If baptism were mere symbol, it would seem to take away from the force of Paul's argument here.
Just some things to think about...
Father, give us a greater appreciation of what you accomplished when we were baptized into Christ.
