The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to “the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (1v1). While sent firstly to the Ephesians, the letter was clearly meant to be shared with other churches, as was Paul’s habit – see also Colossians 4v16 and 1^st Thessalonians 5v27. This is therefore a message for the whole church, starting from Ephesus.

As we saw earlier, in Acts 19v1-6 {73} {74} {75}, when Paul first met “certain disciples” (Acts 19v1) in Ephesus, they had only known the baptism of John. After Paul met them and found out some more about them, they were then baptised correctly “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19v5) and received the Holy Spirit, as shown by the fact that “they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” (Acts 19v6) This was the start of the church in Ephesus, and the foundation that their faith was built on. The current verse is found in the context of this letter as a whole, and also that of the personal experience of the believers in Ephesus.

When we look at the current verse, we see immediately that Paul uses the word “one” three times. In fact, the word is used in a large number of verses in this letter. Let us look at a few of these ‘ones’ that Paul talks about in this letter:

• All things in heaven and earth will, in the fullness of time, be gathered together in one – the Lord Jesus Christ (1v10)

• We are one with God through Jesus and His blood (2v13-15)

• There is one body of believers as a result of the cross, reconciled to God (2v16)

• By one and the same Spirit we have access to the Father (2v18)

• Unity (one-ness) of the Spirit comes through the bond of peace (4v3)

• There is one body of believers (4v4)

• There is one Spirit in that body of believers (4v4)

• There is one hope of our calling as believers (4v4)

• There is only one Lord (4v5)

• There is only one faith that is true and can be believed in (4v5)

• There is one God and Father of all

• The one God and Father is above all, through all, and in all believers (4v6)

• We are all members – body parts – one of another (4v25)

• A husband and his wife are to become one flesh (5v31)

All of these ‘ones’ are unique, in their own ways. Whether it is our relationships, or who we relate to, there is no substitute. There is only one God and Father of all, there is only one son of God that shed His blood for our sins, there is only one Holy Spirit available to all that believe, there is only one way to gain access to the Father, only one Lord of all, there is only one body of believers that we can be part of, only one wife for each husband, only one saviour that we can have faith in. You can almost hear the football crowds singing “There is only one Lord Jesus Christ” (Levites and minstrels take note).

Into this mixture of unique things in the life of a believer, Paul also states the fact that there is only one baptism. This does not leave room for any other type of baptism than the one seen throughout the New Testament, as seen throughout our studies in this book. It must include the following to be effective:

• Repentance from sin

• Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sin

• Baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

• Receiving of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues

These requirements are the same for every believer, just as they were for the Ephesians – there are no exceptions, no room for substitutes.

As a result of fulfilling these requirements (all at zero cost to us personally) the following benefits are ours:

• The Holy Spirit is our promise of better things to come (1v13)

• The Holy Spirit is also our “earnest” or down-payment for the things that God has in store for us (1v14)

• We are sanctified and cleansed by washing our sins away in line with the Word of God (5v26)

• We become part of a glorious church (5v27)

• We are made Holy (5v27)

• We receive remission of sins and sanctification for God’s purpose (2v13-16, 5v26, Acts 2v38 – {56})

• We achieve the status of joint heirs with Jesus (Galatians 4v7)

• We are adopted as sons of God (Galatians 4v5-6)

• We receive all of the blessings initially promised to Abraham and his descendants (Galatians 3v29)

With all of these benefits, is there any reason for not falling in line with God’s Word in the area of baptism?

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