Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
What Baptism?
Baptism Series Part 1
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3
The Scriptures speak of one true baptism, and they define it plainly. Paul writes, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3. This is the baptism that unites a believer with Christ Himself. It is the baptism into His death, His burial, and His resurrection. It is the new birth, the raising to walk in newness of life. No water can accomplish this. Only the Spirit of God can.
Whatever else may be practiced outwardly, Scripture identifies only one baptism as the true and effectual baptism, and Romans 6:3 is the passage that defines it. Water baptism is only the outward symbol of the truly effectual baptism that saves, the baptism into His death.
This one baptism is affirmed again in Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Whatever outward forms may exist, Scripture recognizes only one baptism as the real and saving baptism, and that baptism is the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
This understanding clarifies several verses often pressed into service for water baptismal regeneration. Mark 16:16 states, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Acts 2:38 reads, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 22:16 says, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” If Scripture teaches one true baptism, then these verses must be understood in harmony with Romans 6:3. They point to the baptism into Christ, not to water. The outward act symbolizes the inward reality, but the inward reality is the baptism that saves.
The objections may come from those who teach water baptismal regeneration, but Scripture never teaches it, not even in one place. Every passage used to support it, when read in context and in harmony with Romans 6:3 and Ephesians 4:5, points to the one true baptism into Christ, not to water. Water baptism symbolizes the reality, but the reality itself is the baptism into His death.
Water baptism has its place, but Scripture never confuses it with the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5. Water baptism is the symbolic representation of the real thing. It pictures death, burial, and resurrection. It identifies the believer with a body of doctrine. It is the public declaration of what one has been baptized unto. Paul asked in Acts 19:3, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” The question is not about the mode of baptism, but about the message and the doctrine. Israel was baptized unto Moses. The disciples of John were baptized unto John’s message, but that message was the announcement of Christ as the Messiah. John preached repentance and faith in the One who was coming after him, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Their baptism unto John’s doctrine was therefore a baptism unto the belief that Jesus was the Christ. In this sense, their identification with John’s message was in harmony with Romans 6:3, for they believed in the One whose death and resurrection would be the ground of the true baptism. Those believers were prepared material, and Christ called them out to form His church. The believer today is baptized unto Christ and into the fellowship of doctrinally defined churches, the same kind of church Christ first built.
Water baptism also serves as the doorway into church membership. Acts 2:41 records, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Baptism preceded addition to the local body. Paul writes to the church at Corinth, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” 1 Corinthians 12:13. This is written to a local church, and it identifies the Spirit’s work of placing believers into the body of Christ, which the local assembly represents in its visible form.
Finally, water baptism is an act of obedience. It is commanded by Christ, practiced by the apostles, and expected of disciples. It does not regenerate. It does not impart life. It does not transfer inspiration. It is the outward obedience that follows the inward reality.
The Scriptures speak of one baptism. Romans 6:3 defines it. Ephesians 4:5 affirms it. The verses often used to support water regeneration actually point to the spiritual baptism into Christ. Water baptism remains the symbol, the identification, the doorway into fellowship, and the act of obedience. The one baptism is the baptism into Jesus Christ, into His death, and into His resurrection.
Colophon
Written in gratitude for the clarity of Scripture and for the grace of the God who joins His people to Christ by the one true baptism into His death. May this small work strengthen those who seek to understand the difference between the inward reality and the outward symbol, and may it honor the Lord who saves by His life and not by our rituals.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 – Free to use with proper attribution
Baptism Series Part 1
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3
The Scriptures speak of one true baptism, and they define it plainly. Paul writes, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3. This is the baptism that unites a believer with Christ Himself. It is the baptism into His death, His burial, and His resurrection. It is the new birth, the raising to walk in newness of life. No water can accomplish this. Only the Spirit of God can.
Whatever else may be practiced outwardly, Scripture identifies only one baptism as the true and effectual baptism, and Romans 6:3 is the passage that defines it. Water baptism is only the outward symbol of the truly effectual baptism that saves, the baptism into His death.
This one baptism is affirmed again in Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Whatever outward forms may exist, Scripture recognizes only one baptism as the real and saving baptism, and that baptism is the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
This understanding clarifies several verses often pressed into service for water baptismal regeneration. Mark 16:16 states, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Acts 2:38 reads, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 22:16 says, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” If Scripture teaches one true baptism, then these verses must be understood in harmony with Romans 6:3. They point to the baptism into Christ, not to water. The outward act symbolizes the inward reality, but the inward reality is the baptism that saves.
The objections may come from those who teach water baptismal regeneration, but Scripture never teaches it, not even in one place. Every passage used to support it, when read in context and in harmony with Romans 6:3 and Ephesians 4:5, points to the one true baptism into Christ, not to water. Water baptism symbolizes the reality, but the reality itself is the baptism into His death.
Water baptism has its place, but Scripture never confuses it with the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5. Water baptism is the symbolic representation of the real thing. It pictures death, burial, and resurrection. It identifies the believer with a body of doctrine. It is the public declaration of what one has been baptized unto. Paul asked in Acts 19:3, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” The question is not about the mode of baptism, but about the message and the doctrine. Israel was baptized unto Moses. The disciples of John were baptized unto John’s message, but that message was the announcement of Christ as the Messiah. John preached repentance and faith in the One who was coming after him, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Their baptism unto John’s doctrine was therefore a baptism unto the belief that Jesus was the Christ. In this sense, their identification with John’s message was in harmony with Romans 6:3, for they believed in the One whose death and resurrection would be the ground of the true baptism. Those believers were prepared material, and Christ called them out to form His church. The believer today is baptized unto Christ and into the fellowship of doctrinally defined churches, the same kind of church Christ first built.
Water baptism also serves as the doorway into church membership. Acts 2:41 records, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Baptism preceded addition to the local body. Paul writes to the church at Corinth, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” 1 Corinthians 12:13. This is written to a local church, and it identifies the Spirit’s work of placing believers into the body of Christ, which the local assembly represents in its visible form.
Finally, water baptism is an act of obedience. It is commanded by Christ, practiced by the apostles, and expected of disciples. It does not regenerate. It does not impart life. It does not transfer inspiration. It is the outward obedience that follows the inward reality.
The Scriptures speak of one baptism. Romans 6:3 defines it. Ephesians 4:5 affirms it. The verses often used to support water regeneration actually point to the spiritual baptism into Christ. Water baptism remains the symbol, the identification, the doorway into fellowship, and the act of obedience. The one baptism is the baptism into Jesus Christ, into His death, and into His resurrection.
Colophon
Written in gratitude for the clarity of Scripture and for the grace of the God who joins His people to Christ by the one true baptism into His death. May this small work strengthen those who seek to understand the difference between the inward reality and the outward symbol, and may it honor the Lord who saves by His life and not by our rituals.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 – Free to use with proper attribution
