Hear. Believe. Live.

A Monday - Friday Devotional to encourage your life in Jesus Christ.

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One Baptism or Two?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).

A caller to the Basic Gospel broadcast argued that both water baptism and spiritual baptism were necessary for salvation. With this as his premise, he wondered why Paul used the phrase "one baptism" in Ephesians 4:4-6.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul does have it right. There is only one baptism that saves. To the surprise of many, it is not water baptism. 

The Holy Spirit is the one who regenerates us and baptizes us into the body of Christ. Paul explained in Romans 6. There he said that we have been baptized, or placed, into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. We were also "baptized into one body" and made members of Christ's body. Though we are many, Paul wrote, we form one body.

There are many people in this world who have been baptized in water. Simon the Sorcerer was one such person. Luke recorded in Acts 8 that Simon believed and was baptized. Did this act save him? Of course not.

He went through the motions in hopes to add to his mystic and his financial empire. And when he offered money to have the same power of the Apostles, Peter called him out saying that he was still captive to sin. He was immersed in water, but that act didn't change his heart. 

Here is an important truth to understand. Water baptism is not the sign that a person is saved. It is a wonderful celebration of the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life to save that person and add them to the body of Christ. And it is wonderful for other believers to witness. But water baptism is not the baptism that saves.

Spiritual baptism saves. Which means, everyone who has been baptized by the Spirit of God into Christ is saved.

John the Baptist said it best; "I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Mark 1:8). It is the "one baptism" by the Holy Spirit that matters.

Think back to the day when you were added to the body of Christ. It was the day when Christ through the baptism of the Spirit marked you as one of his own.

In Him,

Bob Christopher

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Bob Christopher

Jesus is our confidence

Fri, Sep 5th

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22).

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What is holding you back?

Tue, Sep 9th

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).

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