Kindly help me with an explanation of 1 Corinthians 12:13. Does it teach that one is baptized into a particular church?Thanks
I do not know if the questioner means a particular denomination or a particular congregation. The New Testament does not authorize more than one church. Jesus only promised to build his church (singular). The church is the body of Christ, according to Ephesians 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18). There is one body (Ephesians 4:4). Not only is there one body, the New Testament teaches that there is but one body (1 Corinthians 12:20). That means there is but one church, because the body is the church. 1 Corinthians 12:13 teaches that "by the teaching and instruction of one Spirit, we (the members of the church) are all baptized into one." When one believes the gospel, repents of sins, confesses Jesus as the Christ of God, and is baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, he/she is saved (as on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:37-41). What happens to the saved? See Acts 2:47: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." How many people who do these things enter Christ or the church? Gal. 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." When people obey the gospel (as in Acts 2:37-41) they are baptized into the church that you read about in the Bible -- not into any human denomination. The Lord adds them to his church.