I Cor. 12:13,Gal. 3:27, Eph. 4:4, I Cor. 1:30
“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.” – 1 Cor. 12:13
Every believer in the Church Age is placed in union with Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation by the Holy Spirit, as indicated by 1 Corinthians 12:13. This is not optional! This is a positional truth. It does happen to the believing sinner instantaneously after trusting the all sufficient cross-work of Christ. The Christian has been so vitally united to CHRIST by the baptism of the Spirit that he is said to be “in Christ,” and CHRIST is said to be “in” the believer.
According to the Scriptures, there is no other meaning to the baptism of the Spirit than this (I Corinthians 12:13). Thus, being placed by the Spirit in organic union with CHRIST, the believer is related to CHRIST as the branch is to the vine, or as a member of the human body is to its living head. Because of this most vital union to CHRIST through the baptism with the Spirit, the believer is said to be a partaker in all that CHRIST is, all that CHRIST has done, and all that CHRIST will ever do. This is a limitless theme since it opens before one the eternal realities of an unchangeable identification with CHRIST.
The word baptism means to be “immersed, to plunge in, or to put into, to be buried or planted” (Romans 6:3-5). This baptism according to Colossians 2:11-12 has nothing to do with water baptism. It is said to be “made without hands” or the “operation of God.”
It also denotes “Identification” (Rom. 6:3-5). Thus, upon salvation the believer becomes part of the body of Christ and identified with the Lord Jesus Christ at the point of salvation by baptism of the Holy Ghost. We become identified with Christ and He with us. What is true of Christ is now true of us because we are in Him.
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” — Romans 6:3-5
This passage of scripture from Paul’s epistle to the Romans teaches us that baptism has to do with identification, whereby one thing is so immersed in another that it loses its own identity as one engulfs the other. Consider water baptism as an example. When the believer is immersed in water, he is cut off from the precious air he breathes. In this manner he identifies with death as if baptism were a burial in a watery grave. Romans chapter 6 isn’t talking about water baptism at all, but Spirit baptism.
Of course, water baptism is merely a picture. It is an outward testimony to the world of the Spirit baptism that took place the moment we believed. It is this baptism of the Spirit that identifies us with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. This alone makes us part of the body of Christ. A clear understanding of this doctrine is vital because some sects have so confused water baptism and Spirit baptism, that they believe water baptism necessary to salvation.
Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Christ becomes the believer’s identification. We are hid in Him, and have put on everything He is. Therefore, God views the believer as Christ. When God looks at me, He sees me the exact same way He see His Son, the Christ whom God set to be the Propitiation (Romans 3:25).
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”—Ephesians 5:30-33
Ephesians 5:30 says that we have become part of His body, but how did we get into His body? The Holy Spirit baptizes each believer into the body of His flesh and of his bones.
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series