One Baptism
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:5
Originally preached July 7, 1957
Scripture
5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Sermon Description
How important is baptism and what connection does it have to the unity within the church? At a first glance, it might seem odd that Paul would include it as a point of unity. Why is this? In this sermon on Ephesians 4:5 titled “One Baptism,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that a shared view of baptism is a result of unity around Christ. He presents various views of baptism and demonstrates from Scripture why Christians must view baptism as a representation of something, not as an act that accomplishes salvation in and of itself. The danger that many people throughout the centuries have run into is that they take acts like baptism and teach that they are necessary for salvation. However, Scripture clearly teaches that this is not the case. It is a representation and Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that it brings unity, because biblically-correct baptism is into the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to be “baptized into Christ,” as Paul writes elsewhere? Importantly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, it signifies and proclaims that Christians no longer identify with the world— instead, they are one with Christ. This is what brings unity to the church, and it does so because all who have been baptized according to Scripture are the Lord’s people.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on Ephesians 4:5 which states "One Lord, one faith, one baptism".
- The sermon explains that to understand verse 5, we must look at the surrounding verses 3-6. These verses discuss unity in the church.
- Verse 5 gives reasons for unity - there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
- The sermon focuses on "one baptism" and examines different interpretations of this phrase.
- The first interpretation is that "one baptism" refers to baptismal regeneration. The sermon rejects this view.
- The second interpretation is that "one baptism" refers to a particular mode of baptism, specifically adult baptism by immersion. The sermon rejects this view.
- The third interpretation is that "one baptism" refers to the right of baptism. The sermon says there is some truth to this view but it can imply baptism is essential for salvation which it is not.
- The sermon concludes the correct interpretation is that "one baptism" refers to what baptism represents - being placed into Christ and his body.
- Baptism represents being placed into the sphere of Christ's influence and leadership. We are now identified with Christ and separated from the world.
- Baptism represents confessing Christ as Lord and submitting to him.
- Baptism represents dying to sin and the old self and being raised to new life in Christ. Our old nature has been crucified with Christ.
- Because baptism represents being placed into Christ and united with him, it leads to unity in the church. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.