WE SAW YESTERDAY that the proposal to unite the Christians around a special type of bishop or a special type of baptism would result in division, not union. Neither bishops nor baptism can go back to Jesus for their starting point and for their authority.
It was said of Jesus: “Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples” (John 4:2). Why didn’t Jesus baptize with water? He saved Himself to give the one baptism—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5)—what is that baptism? With water? The “one Lord” is the Lord Jesus; the “one faith” is the faith in the Lord Jesus; the “one baptism” is the baptism which the Lord Jesus gives. John said: “I came baptizing with water . . . this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:31, 33). Jesus said the same: “for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). The fulfillment of that is this: “Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear” (Acts 2:33). There He was giving the one baptism—the baptism with the Holy Spirit. So baptism with water cannot unite us, for it is not the one baptism which Jesus came to give—it is marginal—the baptism of the Spirit is central.
Nor could bishops unite us. Ordination of bishops by the laying on of hands in a line of succession does not go back to Jesus. There is no record that He laid hands on His disciples to ordain them. But He did ordain them: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit” (John 15:16 KJV ). They were ordained by the choice—He separated and commissioned them by that choice—not by any laying on of hands.
O Jesus, Thy choice is our ordination. All men can do is to recognize that choice, that ordination. They cannot give that ordination, for Thou art Lord, not they. Thy call is my separation. I yield to it and yield to it gladly and completely. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Thy choice is my consecration—I need and want no other.
