12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body ​— ​so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body ​— ​whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free ​— ​and we were all given one Spirit to drink.  -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Unity in Diversity (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

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This week, Mike Continued our GAME CHANGERS series, where we investigated the importance and role of baptism as the way to "put on the uniform of faith." Here is our working definition of baptism:

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). In obedience to Christ, baptism publicly proclaims that a person is united to Christ by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection(Romans 6:3-4), and is a member of His body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13). Essentially, baptism visualizes what God has accomplished in us through the gospel.

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Our scripture for today, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, describes how the body of Christ has a DIVERSITY of parts functioning together as ONE. In regard to baptism, this passage teaches us that baptism is never done in isolation. You cannot baptize yourself as believers are baptized into the body of Christ by someone who is already of member of the body.

Baptism declares that we belong to God and belong to each other. Verse 13 tells us that "we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and we were all given one Spirit to drink." Do you notice the repetition? We are united together, regardless of our distinctives. Paul intentionally uses "Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free" as his example as there could not be more diversity or more difference between these two groups, they stand on polar opposites, yet in Christ, they are one!

In baptism, the local church effectively says, “Welcome to the family of God. We are committed to you as you follow Christ with us.”

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As we watch others be baptized, may we participate in welcoming them to the family of God and rejoice that we are not our own but belong to God and to His Church!