When the Bible speaks of “one baptism” it is not unity between Presbyterian and Baptist, between error and truth, but rather as we see in the history of the church described by the gospel in Acts 10:1–11:18 where all are made clean, Jew and Gentile to be in one body. So there is not a Jewish baptism and a Gentile baptism, or a Jewish Supper and a Christian one, but there is one in the true faith. Thomas Goodwin writes,
“Christ did it; it was by the blood of his cross he broke down the partition wall. The partition wall of the ceremonial law is broken down, which is elegantly signified, alluding to the wall in the temple that kept the Gentiles from the court of the Jews. Here Jew and Gentile, who would not eat one with another before, are made friends; now they eat together at the same table, at the same supper, one sacrament, one God, one Lord Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile one. (Thomas Goodwin, an Exposition of Ephesians 1, sermon 12 as cited from ESV Church History Study Bible).
Now the one who practices infant baptism who lays claim that it does not matter the meaning, mode, and subjects thereof, is abusing the text of Scripture, and treating the Baptist as a gentile and tax collector. This is not right. The one baptism is that of what has resulted from the cross of Jesus Christ making of two people one—Jew and Gentile as planned in the covenant of redemption, and inaugurated in the covenant of grace.
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV)
As Calvin says, “Faith, and baptism, and God the Father, and Christ ought to unite us, so as almost to become one man” (Commentary on Ephesians). Just because Calvin did not practice this does not mean it was any less true. Christian unity is the result of bringing Jew and Gentile into one body called the church based on sound theology and positive ordinances clearly stated in Scripture. Baptism, in particular, is only positively applied to believers everywhere in Scripture. The job of the church is not to unite those who practice infant baptism and those who practice believer’s baptism. Rather, one states like as having a sword in the way, and when asked, “Are you for us or our enemies?” The answer is, “no.” The question is, “Is what you are practicing for Christ?” We are charged to aid men in growing up into Him.
