The Water Baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13

[Seabass]

1 Cor 8:5
"For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;"
Paul wrote of there being many kinds of lords and gods, but there is just ONE Lord and ONE God that can save (Eph 4:4-5)

James 2:14
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?"
James speaks of different kinds of faith, but there is just ONE faith that can save (Eph 4:5)

Matt 3:11-13; Acts 2:38; etc
The NT speaks of different kinds of baptisms, but there is ONE baptism that can save (Eph 4:4-5).

To claim there is more than one kind of baptism that can save people today, then a person might as well claim there are more than one kind of lord and god that can save or more than one kind of faith that can save people today. To deny there is one baptism that saves, (or deny any of the "ones" of Eph 4:4-5) is to deny the very foundation of Christianity itself.

 

[Seabass]

Corinthians Were Already Water Baptized

Water baptism of the great commission, the one baptism of EPh 4:4-5 that saves, had disciples (humans) administering it and humans can administer water baptism, Christ would be the Administrator of baptism with the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11). The Corinthians were baptized with the water baptism of the great commission (Acts 18:8) Paul even water baptized some of those Corinthians himself.

1 Cor 6:11-
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The verb 'washed' is middle voice carrying the meaning "you had yourselves washed". They of their own free will actively choose for themselves to submit to God's command to be water baptized. Much like in 1 Pet 1:22, Peter says 'you have purified you souls in obeying the truth'. Man cannot purify his own soul by himself, but by 'obeying the truth' in submitting to water baptism God removes man sins and in that sense, man washes/purifies himself as those Corinthians.

We can see from 1 Cor 6:11 those Corinthians at the point of water baptism had their sins washed away by the blood of Christ (Rev 2:5 cf Jn 19:34 cf Rom 6:3-7). They were sanctified, set apart consecrated to God by water baptism and were justified by having the body of sin cut away by God in baptism (Col 2:11-12).

The Bible is Its Own Best Commentary

Jn 3:5---------------Spirit +++++++++++++ water >>>>>>>>>> in the kingdom
1Cor 12:13--------Spirit ++++++++++++baptized >>>>>>>>> in the body

Body is the same as the church (Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18,24) and the church is identified with the Kingdom of Christ (Mt 16-18-19). Therefore, water baptism is how one gains entrance into the body, the church of Christ. Since there is but one way to be saved, no alternatives, then both verse must express the exact same teaching and it can clearly be seen water is associated with the baptism of 1 Cor 12:13.

Water baptism Necessary to Be Of Christ

Paul condemned the division within the church located at Corinth in 1 Cor 1. To heal this division Paul asked a rhetorical question in v13;
"Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

This verse stated in the positive Paul is saying Christ is not divided. Christ was crucified for you, you were baptized in the name of Christ.

Paul's point is that to be "of" someone two things must be true of that someone:

1. that someone must be crucified for you
2. you must be baptized in the name of that someone.

These two things are only true of Christ, hence none of those Corinthians could be of Paul or of Cephas or of Apollos.

To be OF Christ, Christ must 1) be crucified for you. Heb 2:9 Christ died for every man so why isn't every man saved? For every man will not meet the necessary condition number 2 in order to be of Christ, that being, baptized in the name of Christ. Baptism in the name of Christ is the human administered water baptism of the great commission for the remission of sins (Acts 2:28; Acts 10:47-48). The phrase 'in the name of' carries a legal connotation to it, that it shows possession. I buy a new vehicle and I go have it registered 'in the name of Seabass' showing I am the legal owner of that vehicle. Those who are not water baptized are not in the ownership of Christ. Those not water baptized have not obeyed the gospel of Christ (2 Thess 1:8) and have not accepted the gospel word (Acts 2:41).

Acts 15:11;
But we believe that we (Jews) shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they (Gentiles).

There is just one way the NT teaches men to be saved and all those that will be saved by the NT gospel will be saved the exact same way. In this context Peter says that Jew and Gentile are saved in a like manner way that way being the command to be water baptized in the name of the lord for remission of sins, Jews in Acts 2:38, Gentiles as Cornelius and Corinthians in Acts 10:47-48.

 

[Seabass]

Context Matters....the Context leading up to 1 Cor 12:13

The context is not Paul giving instructions on how sinners are saved but rather those Corinthians were in strife and jealousy over the diverse gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit. Some boasted of the gift they were given while some had no gift at all. To bring unity to the Corinthians over their diverse gifts Paul used phrases as "one Lord", "one God" and "one Spirit".
1 Cor 12:11
"but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will."

Paul shows the Spirit gives these miraculous gifts as He wills. Since each gift was given to men as the Spirit willed, then there should be no jealousy or boasting over what the Spirit willed, there should be unity with these gifts for each one is important and comes from the one same Spirit as He willed.

This leads to v13;
"For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Why did not Paul say baptized with water if water baptism was under consideration in this verse? Because THE CONTEXT is about bringing unity to those Corinthians over their diverse gifts given to them by the will of the ONE Spirit. Hence it fit Paul's purpose to bring unity by mentioning the Agent (the One Spirit) rather than the element (water). The Agent/Administrator is the Spirit that inspired the Apostles to teach the necessity of water baptism for the remission of sins. That same ONE Spirit that willed gifts was used to bring unity over those gifts, now we have Paul bringing unity over their water baptism that was given by that ONE Agent/Administrator.

This is similar to John 4:1-2;
"When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
(although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),"

Verse 1 says Jesus baptized but verse 2 says Jesus baptized not. This is not a contradiction. Jesus did not water baptize people personally Himself but Christ was the Agent/Administrator that commanded His disciples to go and baptize. Hence all those who obediently submit to water baptism are then truly being baptized by the Agent Jesus Christ. Just as all those Corinthians that obediently submitted to water baptism were truly being baptized by the Agent, the ONE Holy Spirit.

 

[360watt]

Hold on.... I agree with water baptism being the subject of 1 co 12:13....

But the body in question is the local body at Corinth... Not all redeemed.

So they were saved before baptism. Baptism gave them the pre requisite to join a local body.

'ye are the body of Christ ' is the church at Corinth.

Saved before immersion baptism. The baptism allowing them to join the church at Corinth.

 

[Ezra]

one should be baptized as it is following Christ .. but if one gets saved and something happens before baptism they still go to haven. water baptism is a work WE do... Born again is a spiritual Birth man has Nothing to do with it..

 

[Fred]

1 Cor 8:5
"For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;"
Paul wrote of there being many kinds of lords and gods, but there is just ONE Lord and ONE God that can save (Eph 4:4-5)

James 2:14
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?"
James speaks of different kinds of faith, but there is just ONE faith that can save (Eph 4:5)

Matt 3:11-13; Acts 2:38; etc
The NT speaks of different kinds of baptisms, but there is ONE baptism that can save (Eph 4:4-5).

To claim there is more than one kind of baptism that can save people today, then a person might as well claim there are more than one kind of lord and god that can save or more than one kind of faith that can save people today. To deny there is one baptism that saves, (or deny any of the "ones" of Eph 4:4-5) is to deny the very foundation of Christianity itself.

https://berean-apologetics.community.forum/threads/all-believers-are-baptized-into-the-body-of-christ.507/#post-11028

 

[Seabass]

Hold on.... I agree with water baptism being the subject of 1 co 12:13....

But the body in question is the local body at Corinth... Not all redeemed.

So they were saved before baptism. Baptism gave them the pre requisite to join a local body.

'ye are the body of Christ ' is the church at Corinth.

Saved before immersion baptism. The baptism allowing them to join the church at Corinth.

The body refers to the church, the body of Christ, the kingdom apart from which there is no salvation and it is by baptism one enters this body/church/kingdom. No remission of sins apart from water baptism.

 

[Seabass]

one should be baptized as it is following Christ .. but if one gets saved and something happens before baptism they still go to haven. water baptism is a work WE do... Born again is a spiritual Birth man has Nothing to do with it..

If something happens befoe one has faith one is lost just as if something happens befoe water baptism one is lost. Submitting to water baptism is obedience to God;s will and there is no salvation apart from obedience.

 

[Fred]

No remission of sins apart from water baptism.

By receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48) demonstrates these Gentiles already had the remission of sins before their water baptism.

 

[Fred]

Submitting to water baptism is obedience to God;s will and there is no salvation apart from obedience.

God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).
Since the Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit before their water baptism (Acts 11:17; 15:8) demonstrates they were already obedient before their water baptism.

 

[Ezra]

If something happens befoe one has faith one is lost just as if something happens befoe water baptism one is lost. Submitting to water baptism is obedience to God;s will and there is no salvation apart from obedience.

sorry but you absolute wrong answering of a clear conscience is what water baptism is.. along with a affirmation of our faith.. symbolic of death to the old man and the new man resurrected .. do you think Jesus was baptized by john the Baptist for salvation . water baptism salvation is watered down theology

 

[Seabass]

By receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48) demonstrates these Gentiles already had the remission of sins before their water baptism.

Reception of the HS had nothing to do with the personal salvation of Cornelious. The vision God gave Peter showing him the Gentiles were clean and God baptzing the Gentiles with the HS was for the purpose of proving to the Jews salvation was not just for them but was to go to the Gentiles also. As a result of Peter telling the Jews in Jerusalem of these two things, it made the Jews realize salvation was to go to the Gentiles..."When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18). This is why Peter saud if amy Jew tried to forbid water (Acts 10:47) they would be trying to thwart God's will in salvation going to the Gentiles for God saves only those who have obeyed His will in submitting to water baptism.

Even if God had not baptized Cornelius with the HS, he would have been saved anyway when here heard the words of the gospel ("saved by words" Acts 11:14 not saved by HS baptism) and was obedient to those word in submitting to the command to be water baptized. For Cornelius to be saved, he would be saved by words (gospel Acts 11:14) he must work righteousness (obey God's commands Acts 10:35) to be accepted with God.

His being baptized with the HS was not how he received those saving words, they were taught to him by Peter. And being baptized with the HS was not how he worked God's righteousness but obeying God's command to be water baptized is how he was accepted with God. The Spirit did not 'spirit baptize' the eunuch nor did the Spirit teach the eunuch the saving words of the gospel. Instead, the Spirit sent for Phillip who taught those saving words as Peter taught them to Cornelius and Philiip water baptized the eunuch as Peter water baptized Cornelius. The eunuch not being baptized with the HS does not prove he was not save nor more than Cornelius being baptized with the HS proves he was saved before water baptism.

1)
the fact water baptism wsa commanded to Cornelius would make it essential to salvation if for no other reason for disobedience to God's commands is unrighteousness for he that continues to NOT do God's righteousness continues to not be of God (1 Jn 1:10)....will not be accepted with God per Acts 10:35. Hence obedience in obeying by working God's righteousness (Acts 10:35), is HOW he would be accepted with God.

2)
Acts 11:14 Peter points out Jew and Gentile are saved in a like manner way, all those saved by the NT gospel are saved in the same way, there are not 101 different ways to be saved. The way the Jews in Acts 2 were saved was by the command to be baptized in the name of the Lord for remission of sins and Gentiles the same in Acts 10:47-47 commanded to be water baptized in the name of the Lord......exactly like the eunuch. Hence baptism with the HS has nothing to do with NT salvation.

3)
Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
The logical implication is those that rejected Peter's words rejected baptism. Hence being water baptized is HOW one receives the saving words of the gospel. Acts 8 the Simon and the Samaritans believed and were baptized and this is how they received the word of God, (Acts 8:14).
Acts 11:1
"And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God"
The way the Gentiles received the word of God was by being water baptized, rejecting water baptism is rejecting the word of God per Acts 2:41. Again, being baptized with the HS was NOT how Cornelius received the saving words, they were taught him by Peter.

4)
2 Thess 1:8 - All those who do NOT OBEY the gospel of Christ will be in flaming fire, as Cornelius would be in flaming fire had he not obeyed the gospel.

1 Cor 15:1-4 the gospel is the death burial and resurrection of Christ.

Thus upon becoming a Christian, one must die to sin (Rom 6:3-7) hence the old man of sin "dies", is "buried" and "raised up from" the watery grave THEN one can walk in newness of life. Hence there is a death burial and resurrection that takes place in water baptism and NOT in any spirit baptism, NOT by saying some sinner's prayer, NOT by faith only but only in water baptism does one obey the gospel of Christ. and water baptism is how Cornelius obeyed the gospel of Christ per 2 Thess 1:8.

 

[Seabass]

sorry but you absolute wrong answering of a clear conscience is what water baptism is.. along with a affirmation of our faith.. symbolic of death to the old man and the new man resurrected .. do you think Jesus was baptized by john the Baptist for salvation . water baptism salvation is watered down theology

Jesus was baptized to fullfill all righteousness. Lk 7:30 those who rejected John's baptism are said to have rejected God's counsel. Why then can be said of those who reject Christ's command to be water baptized? The logical implication of Acts 2:41 is rejecting water baptism is rejecting the word being water baptized is receiving the word.

 

[Seabass]

God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).
Since the Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit before their water baptism (Acts 11:17; 15:8) demonstrates they were already obedient before their water baptism

One has obeyed God unless/until they obey God's command to be water baptized. Those that reject water baptism are rejecting the word (Acts 2:41) and have not obeyed the gospel of Christ (2 Thess 1:8) will not be accepted with God until they work God's righteousness by obeying God's command to be water baptized (Acts 10:35 cf Acts 10:47-48).

 

[Ezra]

No remission of sins apart from water baptism.

you just cant help it why do you reject scripture

Hebrews 9:21-23​

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King James Version​

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21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ( the blood atonement )

1 Peter 1:18-20​

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King James Version​

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18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Jesus was baptized to fullfill all righteousness. Lk 7:30 those who rejected John's baptism are said to have rejected God's counsel. Why then can be said of those who reject Christ's command to be water baptized? The logical implication of Acts 2:41 is rejecting water baptism is rejecting the word being water baptized is receiving the word.

there is more to the Bible than acts.. your

The logical implication of Acts 2:41

is completely out of context the only thing logical is all scripture is profitable

2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version

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16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


read your bible

 

[360watt]

Baptism for the remission of sins ... 'for' is 'eis' in the Greek.. which means 'in regards to' or 'because of '.

This is because that is how other scripture deals with baptism by immersion, as after already being converted

 

[Fred]

Reception of the HS had nothing to do with the personal salvation of Cornelious.

It had everything to do with his salvation.

He was "given" the Holy Spirit, and according to 1 John 4:13 this proves he dwelt "in God."

 

[Fred]

One has obeyed God unless/until they obey God's command to be water baptized.

You just contradicted Acts 5:32.

 

[Doug Brents]

Baptism for the remission of sins ... 'for' is 'eis' in the Greek.. which means 'in regards to' or 'because of '.

This is because that is how other scripture deals with baptism by immersion, as after already being converted

This is a wrong understanding of 'eis'.
Acts 2:38 says we repent and are baptized 'eis' (for) the forgiveness of sin.
Acts 3:19 says we repent in order to receive forgiveness.

There is no grammatical break between "repent" and "be baptized" in 2:38, and 3:19 clearly puts repentance as a condition for receiving forgiveness. So in 2:38 repentance and baptism both are conditions for receiving forgiveness, not done in response to having already received it.

 

[Ezra]

2:38 repentance and baptism both are conditions for receiving forgiveness,

are you familiar with the doctrine of justification ? which broke down in meaning is 1. Forgiven 2. declared Righteous " not guilty " 3. just as if we had never sinned know then we have the meaning defined . lets take a look at the means according to scripture in which we are Justified . justified by Grace :

Romans 3:24-26

King James Version

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24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

justified by faith : Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Galatians 2:15-21

King James Version

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15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

justified by the blood :

Romans 5:9​

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.


please note no mention of water baptism which follows after salvation not part of. once again you have to move past acts

Romans 6:4​

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Colossians 2:12​

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 12:13​

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” ----> this is the most important baptism water baptism follows