Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:3).
Those who have been groomed to believe that baptism is not an essential condition to get into Christ (Gal. 3:27) often retort that the "one baptism" noted in our text is Holy Spirit baptism. But the scriptures do not support this assertion. First, the text is about unity. If there is more than one baptism, there can be no unity regarding baptism. (In our conclusion we will see that there can be no unity regarding any of the important things noted if there is more than one baptism). To settle this, Paul tells us there is "one baptism." Second, the Ethiopian Eunuch, after having had Christ preached to him, said, "See, here is water, what doeth hinder me to be baptized" (Acts 8:26-39). If the "one baptism" is Holy Spirit baptism, then how are we to interpret the above text? Phillip and the Eunuch were riding in a chariot and came upon "a certain water." They apparently agreed that it is water because it was used to baptize a man who said he believed and was willing to confess that Christ is the Son of God. Furthermore, the text tells us "...They went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Then, the text says they "came up out of the water."
Considering the teachings of Ephesians 4:5 if it hermeneutically sound to assert that there is more than one baptism then it is hermeneutically sound to teach that there is more than one Body, more than one Spirit, more than one Lord, more than one Faith and more than one God.
Add to this the teaching of Peter regarding water that saved Noah, that he said is a "like figure" that "also now saves us" not the washing of "filth from the flesh," but the "answer of a good conscience toward God." This happens as one submits to God's conditions for being saved (1 Pet. 3:21).
Suggested Reading for further study:
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-one-baptism.htm
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-baptism-misunderstood.htm
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-born-water.htm
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