The Water Baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13

[Ezra]

1 Cor. 12:13

For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. the new birth baptized into the Body of Christ Born again of the spirit

 

[Ezra]

The problem with that statement, is that it does not acknowledge Christ in any way. It neither confesses His Lordship, nor does it acknowledge Him as God. These are certainly part of "confessing Christ", and claiming Him as Lord as Rom 10:9-10 command.

I would like to take advantage of your son's death." them are a bit odd words how ever if its from the heart a true repentant heart i guess it would work . there is no certain words that we say.. the night i got saved all i said was God save me and He did and it has held close to 30 years 24 in the ministry

 

[Doug Brents]

I believe 1 Cor. 12:13 refers to the one baptism that saves, but I don't believe it's water baptism. The verse itself tells us that the Holy Spirit is the One doing the baptizing, and He is not baptizing in water. He is baptizing "into one body", that is the body of Christ. This verse tells us that during this baptism, "we were all made to drink of one Spirit". So from that point on, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

And you are correct in everything here except that this occurs during water baptism. Every Scripture must be in agreement, and so when 1 Pet 3:21 says that it is now water baptism that saves you, this must also be taken into consideration with 1 Cor 12:13. And Col 2:11-14 and Rom 6:1-4 both depict the link between the two. It is during water baptism that the Holy Spirit does the actions described in 1 Cor 12:13.

This baptism is synonymous with salvation or being born again, which Jesus mentioned in John 3:3-5. Being born of water is our natural birth, which Nicodemus mentioned, and being born of the Spirit is our new birth. It is also called "a circumcision performed without hands" and the "circumcision of Christ" in Col. 2:11, and a "circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit in Romans" 2:29.
This baptism is also referred to in Galatians 3:27.

Water baptism is performed by humans with hands. This baptism is done by the Holy Spirit without hands.

Both baptisms occur simultaneously. And as Matt 28:19 and Mark 16:16 say, the water baptism is the driving force for the Holy Spirit to respond to. Spirit baptism does not happen first and then later water baptism is done. Spirit baptism occurs during/as a result of water baptism.

Water baptism by immersion is a commandment given by Jesus to new believers, that is to those who have already received the baptism into the body of Christ, by grace through faith in Jesus.

That is not what Scripture says. 1 Pet 3:21 says water baptism now saves you. Mark 16:16 says that those who hear the Gospel and believe it and are baptized (by the teacher, ie: water baptism) will be saved.

 

[dwight92070]

"Which figure also now saves us, baptism, not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but an answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:21

Water baptism is called a figure of being saved, not salvation itself. "Not a putting away of the filth of the flesh". Water baptism does NOT put away the old man with its fleshly nature. That was done by Christ "in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ"(Col.2:11), through the power of His resurrection, which happened before water baptism. After Christ removed the body of the flesh, at our new birth, we suddenly realized that we had a good conscience, free from the guilt of sin. Our answer to that good conscience, that is, our response to it, (which means it comes AFTER we were saved) is to obey Him and follow His example, and submit to the figurative act of being baptized in water. Baptism is a figurative enactment of our salvation, not our salvation itself.

Scripture further confirms this, because it repeatedly tells us that we cannot be saved, or justified, by works. Baptism is a work. Some here have said that that only refers to the works of the Law. That can't be correct - it refers to all works - because Paul tells us that Abraham was NOT justified by his works, and he lived hundreds of year BEFORE the Law. Romans 4:1-6 Look at verses 4-5. "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what it due". Let's see if that is true of baptism: Now to the one who gets baptized in water, his salvation is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. If this is true, then salvation is earned by being baptized in water. But to the one who does not get baptized in water, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. If this is true, and it is, then salvation comes by faith, not by water baptism.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

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.

Of course since "Baptism" doesn't "Save", or do ANYTHING other than get you WET, the whole issue is moot.

Eph 2:8,9 tells about salvation.

 

[dwight92070]

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.

Paul almost always refers to the universal body of Christ when he uses the word "body". Also there are no scriptures anywhere telling us that we must be baptized in water before we can join a local church body. That is a carnal idea of man that many churches require. It certainly is not God's command. In fact, the whole idea of church membership is likewise carnal. We join the universal body of Christ when we get saved, NOT when we get baptized in water. If that's not sufficient for a specific church, then look for a church that follows the Bible.

 

[360watt]

Paul almost always refers to the universal body of Christ when he uses the word "body". Also there are no scriptures anywhere telling us that we must be baptized in water before we can join a local church body. That is a carnal idea of man that many churches require. It certainly is not God's command. In fact, the whole idea of church membership is likewise carnal. We join the universal body of Christ when we get saved, NOT when we get baptized in water. If that's not sufficient for a specific church, then look for a church that follows the Bible.

1 Corinthians 12-- is of a local body. That is the the description. The letter is to local body at Corinth.

The whole language of 1 Co 12 is of a connected, unified body. Each member has care for one another. One member feels the problems of another.. etc..

This is language of a local body of believers. So when you go to 1 co 12:13.. it is the same body.. local and visible.

'There is one body' in Ephesians. YES! One body AT Ephesus. One body AT Corinth. One body AT Antioch.. etc..

1 Corinthians 12:13

This is being baptised (immersed) into (or in reference to) the body at Corinth. Just like Pink said.. the Greek upon which this passage is based has no capitalised 's'. You have to look at the context to determine what kind of 'pneuma', 'spirit' is being addressed. Is it a being baptised in a spirit of unity.. or the capital S Holy Spirit?

Jesus does indeed seal us with the Holy Spirit at salvation.. but is that 'baptism'? Maybe figuratively. But it isn't solid teaching to have Holy Spirit baptising people for salvation.

 

[Doug Brents]

"Which figure also now saves us, baptism, not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but an answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:21

Water baptism is called a figure of being saved, not salvation itself. "Not a putting away of the filth of the flesh". Water baptism does NOT put away the old man with its fleshly nature. That was done by Christ "in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ"(Col.2:11), through the power of His resurrection, which happened before water baptism. After Christ removed the body of the flesh, at our new birth, we suddenly realized that we had a good conscience, free from the guilt of sin. Our answer to that good conscience, that is, our response to it, (which means it comes AFTER we were saved) is to obey Him and follow His example, and submit to the figurative act of being baptized in water. Baptism is a figurative enactment of our salvation, not our salvation itself.

"For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
The image is the Flood, not baptism. The Flood, like the first temple, Passover, sabbath, and other OT events and objects are the shadow of what was to come, and the NT equivalent is the real thing (Col 2:16-17, Heb 8:4-5). And the reference here is not to the sinfulness of the flesh, but to physical dirt. It is not "taking a bath", but a ceremonial cleaning which is actually performed by the Holy Spirit during water baptism (Col 2:11-14) to give us a clean conscience. Col 2:12 is very clear that the working of the Holy Spirit takes place DURING baptism (in water), "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." And because we are buried with Him in baptism, it is "in which [baptism]" that the Holy Spirit does the cutting of our sins from us, it is during baptism that we are saved.

Scripture further confirms this, because it repeatedly tells us that we cannot be saved, or justified, by works. Baptism is a work. Some here have said that that only refers to the works of the Law. That can't be correct - it refers to all works - because Paul tells us that Abraham was NOT justified by his works, and he lived hundreds of year BEFORE the Law.

And James tells us that Abraham's works worked with his faith (actually making his faith complete), and so it was by both his faith and his works that he was declared righteous (James 2:21-24). Not that he "earned" righteousness by sacrificing Issac, but that his actions completed his faith (made it alive (James 2:26)).

Romans 4:1-6 Look at verses 4-5. "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what it due". Let's see if that is true of baptism: Now to the one who gets baptized in water, his salvation is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. If this is true, then salvation is earned by being baptized in water. But to the one who does not get baptized in water, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. If this is true, and it is, then salvation comes by faith, not by water baptism.

Baptism, like Abraham's sacrifice of Issac, is an act of faith through which (like a pipeline) salvation is delivered to us. Look at Rom 10:9-10. Is not "confession with the mouth" absolutely a physical act? If it is, and it is, and if it "leads to" receiving salvation, and it does, then that destroys the argument that there are no physical actions that lead to salvation.

 

[dwight92070]

1 Corinthians 12-- is of a local body. That is the the description. The letter is to local body at Corinth.

The whole language of 1 Co 12 is of a connected, unified body. Each member has care for one another. One member feels the problems of another.. etc..

This is language of a local body of believers. So when you go to 1 co 12:13.. it is the same body.. local and visible.

'There is one body' in Ephesians. YES! One body AT Ephesus. One body AT Corinth. One body AT Antioch.. etc..

1 Corinthians 12:13

This is being baptised (immersed) into (or in reference to) the body at Corinth. Just like Pink said.. the Greek upon which this passage is based has no capitalised 's'. You have to look at the context to determine what kind of 'pneuma', 'spirit' is being addressed. Is it a being baptised in a spirit of unity.. or the capital S Holy Spirit?

Jesus does indeed seal us with the Holy Spirit at salvation.. but is that 'baptism'? Maybe figuratively. But it isn't solid teaching to have Holy Spirit baptising people for salvation.

Dwight - Sure, the letter was written to the church in Corinth, but Paul constantly had all the churches that he started on his heart and mind, and even some that somebody started.
2 Corinthians 11:28 "Apart from such external things , there is the daily pressure on me of CONCERN FOR ALL THE CHURCHES."
1 Corinthians 16:19 "The CHURCHES OF ASIA GREET YOU." (NOT just one church)
Not only that, but he was always encouraging his converts to pass his letters along to other churches. Col. 4:16
Paul knew his letters would be read by many churches. What he probably did not know was that his letters would be read by US over 2000 years later. No, he is referring to the entire body of Christ, then and NOW, including the church at Corinth.
The Spirit does not baptize us into only one local body. If that were true, every time a Christian moved, he would have to get baptized again in his new city. That's ridiculous.

"But it isn't solid teaching to have Holy Spirit baptizing people for salvation"
We go by Scripture, not your opinion or mine of what we think is "solid" teaching.

 

[dwight92070]

"For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
The image is the Flood, not baptism. The Flood, like the first temple, Passover, sabbath, and other OT events and objects are the shadow of what was to come, and the NT equivalent is the real thing (Col 2:16-17, Heb 8:4-5). And the reference here is not to the sinfulness of the flesh, but to physical dirt. It is not "taking a bath", but a ceremonial cleaning which is actually performed by the Holy Spirit during water baptism (Col 2:11-14) to give us a clean conscience. Col 2:12 is very clear that the working of the Holy Spirit takes place DURING baptism (in water), "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." And because we are buried with Him in baptism, it is "in which [baptism]" that the Holy Spirit does the cutting of our sins from us, it is during baptism that we are saved.

And James tells us that Abraham's works worked with his faith (actually making his faith complete), and so it was by both his faith and his works that he was declared righteous (James 2:21-24). Not that he "earned" righteousness by sacrificing Issac, but that his actions completed his faith (made it alive (James 2:26)).

Dwight - You're saying just the exact opposite of what Romans 4:5 says. There it says that he was justified even when he had done NO (Zero) works.

Baptism, like Abraham's sacrifice of Issac, is an act of faith through which (like a pipeline) salvation is delivered to us. Look at Rom 10:9-10. Is not "confession with the mouth" absolutely a physical act? If it is, and it is, and if it "leads to" receiving salvation, and it does, then that destroys the argument that there are no physical actions that lead to salvation.

 

[Doug Brents]

Dwight - You're saying just the exact opposite of what Romans 4:5 says. There it says that he was justified even when he had done NO (Zero) works.

I am not the one saying that; James, the brother of Christ, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the one saying that. He is quoting the exact same quote from Gen 15:6 that Paul quoted, and both give a different interpretation of it. Is one wrong? No, I believe that Paul was making the point that it is not works of the Law that lead to righteousness, but faith. And James is helping to define faith as not just intellectual assent but also actions that prove the faith is real and alive.

 

[360watt]

Dwight - Sure, the letter was written to the church in Corinth, but Paul constantly had all the churches that he started on his heart and mind, and even some that somebody started.
2 Corinthians 11:28 "Apart from such external things , there is the daily pressure on me of CONCERN FOR ALL THE CHURCHES."
1 Corinthians 16:19 "The CHURCHES OF ASIA GREET YOU." (NOT just one church)
Not only that, but he was always encouraging his converts to pass his letters along to other churches. Col. 4:16
Paul knew his letters would be read by many churches. What he probably did not know was that his letters would be read by US over 2000 years later. No, he is referring to the entire body of Christ, then and NOW, including the church at Corinth.
The Spirit does not baptize us into only one local body. If that were true, every time a Christian moved, he would have to get baptized again in his new city. That's ridiculous.

"But it isn't solid teaching to have Holy Spirit baptizing people for salvation"
We go by Scripture, not your opinion or mine of what we think is "solid" teaching.

You don't get baptized again and again..but once. Thereby having the pre requisite to join one of God's churches.

It's not that the baptism actually joins them to a church, but it fulfills a pre requisite. They also need to get voted in by a majority of members.

I didn't put it right before. The baptism isn't the joiner but the preparation.

The church at Jerusalem being added to with 3000 souls is just this. Already saved before.. added to as church members.

 

[TomL]

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.

There is no baptism into water in 1cor 12:13

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NASB 2020) — 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

 

[Doug Brents]

They also need to get voted in by a majority of members.

Can you please show me where this is in Scripture? I don't see anything about needing to be "voted in by a majority of members" anywhere in Scripture.

 

[360watt]

Can you please show me where this is in Scripture? I don't see anything about needing to be "voted in by a majority of members" anywhere in Scripture.

This is a good teaching on this:

The Biblical Basis for Congregational Voting

Where in the Bible does it talk about church voting? Many Christians view the practice as an extra-biblical tradition created to reflect the democratic values of America rather than being derived f…

jamesattebury.wordpress.com

 

[Doug Brents]

This is a good teaching on this:

The Biblical Basis for Congregational Voting

Where in the Bible does it talk about church voting? Many Christians view the practice as an extra-biblical tradition created to reflect the democratic values of America rather than being derived f…

jamesattebury.wordpress.com

While that gives a good argument for a "vote" on Church discipline (actions for/against someone already in the Church), it does not address the concept of voting on someone ENTERING the Church. Man is not given the authority to approve or deny anyone admission to the Church. When one is baptized into Christ he becomes our brother, and there is no voice we have in the matter.

 

[360watt]

While that gives a good argument for a "vote" on Church discipline (actions for/against someone already in the Church), it does not address the concept of voting on someone ENTERING the Church. Man is not given the authority to approve or deny anyone admission to the Church. When one is baptized into Christ he becomes our brother, and there is no voice we have in the matter.

See here is the thing: we are not looking at the same thing being entered into.

You've got 'the Church ' big 'C' of all redeemed. Entered by conversion through Jesus. Not the local small 'c' church.

I've got the small 'c' church..of a particular group of saved and baptized believers. That is entered into by someone already converted, and baptized before hand by immersion in water. Conversion not being what joins them to a small 'c' church. But a prerequisite.

Again the 3000 souls added to 'the church ' by context is the church AT Jerusalem. Not all redeemed.

And again the 'body ' for 1 co 12 is describing a local body. All redeemed don't have members where if a believer in Washington USA is hurting, I'll feel it here in Christchurch, New Zealand. But a local body of believers does.

And again 'there is one body' in Ephesians is about the body AT Ephesus. The letter to the Ephesians is about unity in their church.

All churches plural can be conceived as 'the church ' like 'the dog' ...'the bar' ..'the horse ' .. but it is still plural.. not one universal 'Church' ..not one universal 'dog'.

All redeemed is part of the Kingdom and Family of God. The Kingdom and the Family are larger than 'the church '. Churches are inside the Kingdom and Family.

 

[Doug Brents]

See here is the thing: we are not looking at the same thing being entered into.

You've got 'the Church ' big 'C' of all redeemed. Entered by conversion through Jesus. Not the local small 'c' church.

If the local congregation is teaching Biblical truth, then that local congregation is part of the Church as a whole, there is no division. But if the local congregation is not teaching Biblical truth, then they are not part of the Church, they are a false church.

When I write, I use the word congregation to depict a local body of the Church, and Church to depict the totality of the Body of Christ.

I've got the small 'c' church..of a particular group of saved and baptized believers. That is entered into by someone already converted, and baptized before hand by immersion in water. Conversion not being what joins them to a small 'c' church. But a prerequisite.

Ahh, Ok, so you use the small c to designate an individual congregation of the Church. This causes misunderstandings when dealing with issues like this, but once it is explained, I can deal with it. If someone is in the Church,

I agree that membership in a congregation requires membership in the Church.

Again the 3000 souls added to 'the church ' by context is the church AT Jerusalem. Not all redeemed.

But they were the totality of the redeemed in the NT Church at that time. It started with the 120 in the upper room when the Spirit fell on them. To them was added the 3000 that day, and others daily as they were being saved. Those saved in the OT were not part of the Church, because the Church was not started until Jesus' resurrection at the earliest, and Pentecost (the time I think is more accurate) at the latest.

And again the 'body ' for 1 co 12 is describing a local body. All redeemed don't have members where if a believer in Washington USA is hurting, I'll feel it here in Christchurch, New Zealand. But a local body of believers does.

That is mostly because you don't know about those hurting in Washington, but if you do, then you hurt for them because they are part of the same Body as you are. Some have gifts that are more widespread in their application than others.

And again 'there is one body' in Ephesians is about the body AT Ephesus. The letter to the Ephesians is about unity in their church.

No, the letter to Ephesus was copied and shared with all the other congregations of Christ followers, as were many of the other letters of Paul we have today (Col 4:16). It was not just to the congregation in Ephesus, but to the Church as a whole. There is supposed to be no division in doctrine or mission in the Church.

All churches plural can be conceived as 'the church ' like 'the dog' ...'the bar' ..'the horse ' .. but it is still plural.. not one universal 'Church' ..not one universal 'dog'.

Jesus did not build multiple Churches. He built one Church (Matt 16:18), and that one Church is broken out into multiple congregations around the world. Now, it doesn't matter what the name on the outside is as long as the doctrine taught inside is correct.

All redeemed is part of the Kingdom and Family of God. The Kingdom and the Family are larger than 'the church '. Churches are inside the Kingdom and Family.

No, the Church is the same as the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Kingdom of God, the Family of God, the Redeemed, etc. All of these terms refer to the totality of those saved in Christ. Local congregations are to the Church as the hand is to the body, and an individual is to the congregation as a cell is to the hand. All are part of the whole, but each has its own function and its own place in the whole.

 

[360watt]

If the local congregation is teaching Biblical truth, then that local congregation is part of the Church as a whole, there is no division. But if the local congregation is not teaching Biblical truth, then they are not part of the Church, they are a false church.

When I write, I use the word congregation to depict a local body of the Church, and Church to depict the totality of the Body of Christ.

Ahh, Ok, so you use the small c to designate an individual congregation of the Church. This causes misunderstandings when dealing with issues like this, but once it is explained, I can deal with it. If someone is in the Church,

I agree that membership in a congregation requires membership in the Church.

But they were the totality of the redeemed in the NT Church at that time. It started with the 120 in the upper room when the Spirit fell on them. To them was added the 3000 that day, and others daily as they were being saved. Those saved in the OT were not part of the Church, because the Church was not started until Jesus' resurrection at the earliest, and Pentecost (the time I think is more accurate) at the latest.

That is mostly because you don't know about those hurting in Washington, but if you do, then you hurt for them because they are part of the same Body as you are. Some have gifts that are more widespread in their application than others.

No, the letter to Ephesus was copied and shared with all the other congregations of Christ followers, as were many of the other letters of Paul we have today (Col 4:16). It was not just to the congregation in Ephesus, but to the Church as a whole. There is supposed to be no division in doctrine or mission in the Church.

Jesus did not build multiple Churches. He built one Church (Matt 16:18), and that one Church is broken out into multiple congregations around the world. Now, it doesn't matter what the name on the outside is as long as the doctrine taught inside is correct.

No, the Church is the same as the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Kingdom of God, the Family of God, the Redeemed, etc. All of these terms refer to the totality of those saved in Christ. Local congregations are to the Church as the hand is to the body, and an individual is to the congregation as a cell is to the hand. All are part of the whole, but each has its own function and its own place in the whole.

Okay well this is the popular teaching. But I don't believe this is what is actually in scripture. I'll agree to disagree.

 

[Doug Brents]

Okay well this is the popular teaching. But I don't believe this is what is actually in scripture. I'll agree to disagree.

Please show me where in Scripture you get a different understanding.