One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism Explained
Have you ever read something in the Bible that felt so clear, yet looked so different from the world around you?
Or maybe, because of the many beliefs and doctrines out there, you found yourself confused… or even stopped believing altogether?
This blog doesn’t exist by accident. It exists by God’s purpose, to help guide you back to His true doctrine and bring clarity to the confusion you may be facing.
Before you continue reading, I encourage you to pause and pray. Ask God to open your heart and mind, to give you understanding through His Word, and to reveal the truth He wants you to see.
I’ll break it down into three parts: One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism.
CONTENT
- ONE LORD: Who is God? And who is Jesus Christ?
- ONE FAITH: Why Did Jesus Have to Come in Human Form?
- ONE BAPTISM: Why the Apostles Baptized in Jesus’ Name
- SUMMARY
ONE LORD: Who is God? And who is Jesus Christ?
Before we go deeper, we need to understand how the people of Israel, God’s chosen people, referred to Him. Throughout the Old Testament, they called Him “the Lord” or “the Lord God.” This wasn’t just a title, it was a declaration of who He is: the one true, eternal, and sovereign God.
Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 15:2
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless...
Deuteronomy 6:4
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
These verses show us how the Israelites didn’t separate “the Lord” from “God”, they were calling on God Himself.
Isaiah 43:10
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen:
that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he:
before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
This is as clear as it gets. God is saying: “I alone am God. No one came before Me, and no one will come after Me.” There’s no room for confusion or for multiple deities. He is the one true God—eternal, unchanging, and the only one worthy of worship.
But this brings us to a huge question: Who is Jesus Christ? If God said, “I am the only God,” then where does Jesus fit into all of this? To find the answer, let’s go back to the beginning.
John 1:1,14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
Compare that with the very first verse of the Bible:
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
This tells us something incredibly powerful: The Word was God. And that Word, who was God, became flesh. God, the Creator of all things, took on human form and lived among us.
John 1:10-11
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
This is clearly speaking about Jesus. And yet, it says the world was made by Him. If you read this alone, it might seem like there are two creators—Jesus and God. But that would contradict what we read in Isaiah 43:10: I am he. There is no God before or after Me.”
So what’s the truth?
Let's read what the book of Timothy, and the book of Philippians says:
1 Timothy 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Philippians 2:11
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is not a second God, Jesus is God, walked among us, showed us His nature in a way we could see and understand. So when God declared in Isaiah, “I am he.” He meant it—in every way. Jesus is the fulfillment of that very statement. He is the Lord God of the Old Testament, made visible in the flesh in the New Testament.
ONE FAITH: Why Did Jesus Have to Come in Human Form?
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, that single act of disobedience broke the sacred relationship between mankind and our Creator (Genesis 3). From that point on, humanity was separated from God—spiritually dead in sin and under the influence of the enemy (Ephesians 2:2).
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Ephesians 2:12
12 That at that time ye were without Christ... having no hope, and without God in the world."
But God didn’t abandon us.
Because of His great love, He made a way for us to be restored to Him.
Ephesians 2:4
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross?
Jesus, God in the flesh, came to carry our sins and pay the price for our redemption. Our sins deserved death, but He took our place.
1 Peter 2:24
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Romans 5:19
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Through His sacrifice, we were given the chance to be healed spiritually restored, forgiven, and made right with God.
The Gift We Didn’t Deserve
We were once outsiders, separated from God’s promises.
But through Jesus, we are now brought near and made part of His household.
Ephesians 2:19–20
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
Galatians 3:22
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
We didn’t know God, and yet He chose to save us.
Not because we were worthy, but because He is full of grace and unconditional love.
Believing vs. Having Faith
Believing in Jesus is the first step. But faith goes deeper.
Belief is acknowledging that Jesus is real and that He died for our sins. Faith, however, is trusting Him with your whole heart, loving God no matter what, even when things are hard, even when the world doesn't make sense.
Belief opens the door. But faith is walking through it, holding His hand, and never letting go.
ONE BAPTISM: Why the Apostles Baptized in Jesus’ Name
Baptism is one of the most significant acts of obedience in the life of a believer. It’s more than just a ritual. It symbolizes a believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But an important question often arises: How should we baptize?
The Command
Matthew 28:19
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He didn’t say to repeat these titles, but to baptize in the name that represents all three. So we need to find out what's the name.
The Fulfillment
Acts 2:38
38 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.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, did exactly what Jesus had commanded. He didn’t simply repeat the titles; he used the name that carried the full authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Jesus Christ.
Why This Matters
The apostles weren’t disobeying Jesus or introducing a new method, they were acting on divine revelation. They understood:
- The Father was revealed in the Son (John 14:9–11).
- The Son was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
- The Holy Ghost was the Spirit of Jesus (John 14:26).
All of this was wrapped in one saving name: JESUS.
Colossians 3:17
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Why is Baptism Important?
Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
In these verses, Jesus makes it clear that both belief and baptism are essential for salvation. Baptism isn’t just a symbol; it’s a necessary step that must follow faith in Christ. It's not optional, it’s commanded by Christ Himself.
The Example of Cornelius
Cornelius, a Roman centurion, is described in Acts 10:1-2 as a man with a heart for God—devout, God-fearing, generous, and a man of prayer. In fact, his sincere devotion reached such a level that an angel appeared to him, acknowledging his faith and good works: "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4).
Cornelius’s sincerity and kindness were not in question. He had everything one could desire in a believer. Yet, despite his commendable relationship with God, there was still something missing: the full message of salvation.
Though God honored Cornelius's faith, He didn't stop there. He sent Peter to deliver the full gospel message, ensuring Cornelius received the truth about salvation, including baptism. As Peter preached about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard, including Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44). However, their sincere faith still required baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of sins.
Why This Matters
Cornelius’s story shows us a vital truth: even the most sincere faith must be accompanied by full obedience to the gospel. Cornelius was devout, but salvation came through the complete understanding and obedience to the message of Jesus Christ, which includes baptism in His name.
Just as Peter baptized Cornelius and his household in Acts 10, baptism is still required today as part of our obedience to God’s Word. It is through baptism in the name of Jesus that we experience the fullness of God’s salvation plan. Without it, we will just become a memory to Him (Acts 10:4)
SUMMARY
- One Lord – Who is Jesus Christ?
- The Bible declares that there is only one true God (Isaiah 43:10). Jesus is not separate from this one God—He is God revealed in human form (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16). When we see Jesus, we see the fullness of God made visible (Colossians 2:9). He is not “another” but the one Lord who came to dwell among us.
- One Faith – Why Did Jesus Come in the Flesh?
- Sin separated us from God, but God’s love made a way back through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12; 1 Peter 2:24). Faith isn’t just believing Jesus exists—it’s fully trusting and following Him, knowing we are saved by grace through that faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus took our place on the cross, offering life to all who truly believe.
- One Baptism – Why In Jesus’ Name?
- Jesus told His followers to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The apostles understood and obeyed this by baptizing in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38)—because Jesus is the name that carries the fullness of God's identity. Baptism isn’t just a ritual—it’s a response of faith and obedience, part of entering into new life with Christ (Mark 16:16).
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