I Thank God That I Baptized None of You

This phrase came from the apostle Paul’s pen, and it was directed to the church at Corinth. He wrote, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name” (1 Corinthians 1:13-14). Paul wrote this statement to emphasize a point. Christians serve one Lord and Master—one Lawgiver. The One who died on the cross for their sins (1 Corinthians 1:13) and in whose name they were baptized was Jesus Christ alone. Christ is not divided, and Christians should not be divided either.

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:1-6)

The unity of Christianity is found in these “Ones.” Humbly, we are to endeavor to keep that unity intact. We are to serve one another and not usurp Christ’s position.

If we have one doctrine, one hope, one faith and one baptism—all originating with one Lord—then, we ought to have unity. Yet, why is there so much division? Today, division exists for the same reason there was a division in Corinth. Men follow other men instead of following Christ.

I admonish you as Paul admonished Corinth, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ…” (1 Corinthians 11:1-3). Following a man’s example and doctrine is only acceptable when that example and doctrine match the example and doctrine of Christ. Please, “…