About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

Baptized Into Church

1 Corinthians 12:13 and 14 provide us with a fundamental aspect to the meaning of church.  The apostle Paul wrote this:

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body — whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

Unlike many of us today, Paul did not view his church membership to be based on whether he liked the pastor or didn't like the pastor; whether he liked the style of music played in worship or didn't like the style of music.  Likes and dislikes had no influence on Paul's entrance into church.  Personal preferences meant nothing to Paul.   

The word "baptized" in 1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us how Paul viewed his entrance into church.  It was by means of a Holy Spirit baptism.  It was by means of being immersed into the present-day Body of Christ, and thus, being immersed into the lives of fellow believers. 

Becoming a member of the church is more than joining an organizational structure we commonly call church.  It is being immersed into supportive personal relationships with those whom Jesus has placed us alongside to accomplish His will.  So, the next time you sit with others in a gathering of believers, you might ask yourself a few questions.  Do I view church in terms of being an organization that I attend or have joined?  Am I immersed into the lives of any of those sitting around me?  Do I have any personal supportive relationships with anyone sitting near me with whom I can serve Jesus?     

If we can understand and implement the meaning of being baptized into church, then the church will be the effective witness for Jesus it was meant to be.