God’s Order In Three

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV]

Paul says there is but one baptism, but in Luke 3, John the Baptist shows us that this one baptism is made up of three; water, Holy Spirit and fire.

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
[Luke 3:16-17 KJV, which gives a clearer distinction between ‘Holy Spirit’ and ‘Fire’, than do some other translations]

We know that God has established a principle of three-in-one; He is the Triune God. So just as He is The one true God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; His one baptism is by water, Holy Spirit and fire. (See also Run Today’s Race below).

Paul is not wrong in his declaration to the Ephesians; he is uncovering the deeper truth in three verses packed with three-within-three revelations:

• One body, one Spirit, one hope
• One Lord, one faith, one baptism
• God who is above all, through all and in you all

The simple lesson for all of us in our daily walk is to be aware of our God’s threefold working in us through His word, His Spirit and His life.
... And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
[Ecclesiastes 4:12b NKJV]

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“Threefold Amen” — Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), from his anthem ‘Great King of Gods’, sung by Milwaukee Chamber Choir.

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OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Saturday 22nd August 2020
Things go by threes in the Bible: Father, Son and Holy Ghost; God, Church, converts; Husband, wife, children. It is God’s order, not man’s. Whenever one of the three is missing, there is something wrong.

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