Amos Ministries

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism  EPHESIANS 4:4-5

Ephesians 4:4-5 is usually quoted by Christians who hold the incorrect belief that there is only one baptism. We must understand that when making this statement, the Apostle Paul was speaking to born again believers in the church. Let us examine the verses before also.

Ephesians 4:1-3 – As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

At this point, Paul is addressing Holy Spirit filled members in the church in Ephesus about how to live a Godly life. When Paul speaks to Holy Spirit filled believers, he only mentions the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is not focused on past baptisms.

In the same way, once someone receives a University degree for example,  we don’t focus on their Kindergarten graduation, it is already implied by the degree itself. The same concept is applied in this situation. Once you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the original first step of water baptism or repentance becomes merely an obvious step in the process of receiving the end goal which is the Holy Spirit.

The focus becomes the Holy Spirit, as we can also see in the following scriptures, when Paul speaks to mature spirit filled believers:

Romans 6:3-4 – Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Galatians 3:27 – or all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Paul is speaking about being baptized into the name of Christ Jesus not John’s baptism of repentance. But when Paul speaks to new believers, he says:

Acts 19:1-7 – While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit whenyou believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

Priscilla and Aquila also explain two baptisms to Apollos.

Acts 18:24-26 – Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

We must understand that there are different baptisms mentioned in the Bible, but the one that is the most important for a believer, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The water baptism of John is a necessary first step to reaching the final goal of baptism by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 10:2 – They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Here we see there was a baptism of Moses also. Peter also speaks of a baptism during the time of Noah.

1 Peter 3:20-21 – to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…

Even Jesus speaks about a baptism of suffering:

Mark 10:38 – But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

Luke 12:50 – But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

Paul speaks about this in:

1 Corinthians 1:12-13 – What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Even today, we are baptized into a specific denomination and not necessarily the name of Jesus. Once we go through the water baptism of John, we then learn and follow the interpretation of a specific denomination and follow false apostles and preachers like John Calvin (Calvanists), John Knox (Presbyterianism), Samuel Seabury (Episcopalians), or John Smyth (Baptists) . We end up baptized into their name (their own interpretation of God’s word) instead of into the name of Jesus (Jesus’ interpretation of God’s word). This causes us not to receive the Holy Spirit because the Spirit can only be received through the name of Jesus.

The name of the different denominations essentially amounts to traditions passed down by men. 

Mark 7:13 – Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

Matthew 15:3 & 6-9 – He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?…6 … So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Jesus is stating that the traditions of men boil down to lip service. Paul also concludes that his former denomination teachings were basically just the traditions of man.

Galatians 1:14 – I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

But once we become repentant, we must learn the teachings of Jesus. We must learn his name – unadulterated by the traditions of man which are the false interpretations and denominational doctrines of these false apostles. We must only be baptized into the name of Jesus! Jesus offers us an uncompromised interpretation of God’s word which is not soiled by denominational manipulation and compromise. It is the only way to receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The name of “the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” is one name, meaning they do not contradict one another. The teachings and interpretation of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the same. So then, to be baptized in the name of Jesus is the same thing as being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit”.

Matthew 28:19 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The key to receiving the Holy Spirit is to be baptized in the name of Jesus (which is one with the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit), unadulterated by the name of false apostles (denominational doctrines). These false apostles have developed false doctrines which are essentially asserting their own names. This is achieved through their own teachings as they differ in interpretation from the teachings of Jesus in various ways. These denominational teachings do not result in the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 2:1-3 – But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Acts 20:30 – Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

Revelations 2:2 –  I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

1 Timothy 4:1 – The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

1 John 4:1 – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Mark 13:22 – For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

To read more about water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism, check out our post:

Don’t Let Water Baptism Stop You From The Ultimate Goal