Note 8 at Eph. 4:5: The Greek word that was translated "Lord" here is KURIOS. Many times it was translated in a way that would correspond to our use of "mister" or "sir" today. But in this instance, the context makes it very clear that this is speaking of the supreme Lord God (see note 3 at Lk. 1:43, p. 44). There are hundreds of examples in the New Testament where this exact Greek word was applied to Jesus and many others where this same word was applied to God the Father. Since there are not two Lords, then this has to be another tribute to the fact that God the Father and Jesus are one. See LFT Gospels hardbound edition, Footnote Index, p. F3 for a list of footnotes on the deity of Christ.

Note 9 at Eph. 4:5: Many times we will hear people ask the question, "What faith are you?" And the reply will come, "I'm of the Catholic faith" or "I'm of the Baptist faith" or any one of the other denominational groups. This implies that there are different faiths or different ways of believing which will all get us to heaven. That's not true. There is only one saving faith.

It is true that there are many different sects within Christianity which can all be distinguished by different beliefs. But if the foundational faith in the true gospel is not adhered to, then whatever belief system a person has, it will not save him. There is only one saving faith.

God has not initiated nor condoned all the different beliefs in the body of Christ. He delivered just one faith to His followers and any deviation from His Word is not according to the faith spoken of here.

Note 10 at Eph. 4:5: Hebrews 6:2 clearly mentions that there are baptisms (plural). There is the baptism into the body of Christ which is performed by the Holy Spirit at salvation (see note 2 at 1 Cor. 12:13, p. 932; see note 5 at Rom. 6:3, p. 777). There is water baptism which is to be administered after conversion (see note 9 at Mk. 16:16, p. 564; see note 2 at Acts 2:38, p. 582). Jesus spoke of His suffering as a baptism (Mt. 20:22-23). John spoke of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire (Lk. 3:16; see note 5 at Acts 1:8, p. 573; see note 6 at Acts 2:4, p. 576).

The Greek word BAPTISMA means "to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)." The root word means "to dip" or "immerse" (see note 4 at Mt. 20:22, p. 398). We can be immersed into Christ, water, suffering, or the Holy Spirit. So, there are many baptisms spoken of in the New Testament.

However, Paul is singling out one specific baptism here. He is probably speaking of the first baptism mentioned in this note, which is when the Holy Spirit takes every person who is truly saved and places them into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. This fits the context well and helps make Paul's point about unity. There is only one person who administers this baptism (the Holy Spirit), and there is only one thing that we are all baptized into (i.e. the body of Christ). Since we are all one body through this baptism, we ought to function as one body.