This study was first taught on March 12, 2017

Topic: The Doctrine of Baptisms_4: The Matter of Experience

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Background
So far, we have seen two cruxes of baptisms—that they are rites of passage that every Christian must pass through, and they are the identification mark that every Christian must be sealed with, otherwise they are not of God! In looking at the latter last week—our identification mark—we noted that baptisms as a mark of identity is to the New Covenant, what circumcision was to the Old Covenant. While circumcision was performed privily only on males, by a man who cut away the foreskin; baptisms are a public, spiritual, operation performed without human hands, on every believer in Christ—male and female, free and slave, rich and poor—and declares what Christ had already done in the believer—the cutting away of sin from his/her life! We noted that even though in most cases, the mark of identification with Christ on a Christian are not physical and visible to the human eye; yet, in some cases, as in persecution (the baptism of suffering), the mark can be physical—the wounds and scars of persecution!

We also noted that the mark of identification on the believer in Christ identifies him/her as belonging to, and being a part of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, every Christian who is thus marked should manifest the personality of Christ, as the mark of identity distinguishes him/her from the people of the world, who manifest a different behaviour and conduct, and who readily take on the mark of Satan to have an advantage, and, avoid persecution and difficulties of any sort, in this world! Furthermore, the identification mark of a Christian, of which baptisms are a channel, sets him/her apart for divine protection and preservation (Psalm 27; 121:5-8), on one hand; while on the other hand, it marks him/her out for targeted onslaughts of Satan’s hordes, from which he/she is guaranteed victory!

Thus, the doctrine of baptisms instructs, and challenges, Christians to be easily and readily identifiable to both angels and demons, as belonging to, and united with Christ, our identity (1 Corinthians 11:10)! Hence, baptisms must be seen, not just as mere physical acts, but as crucial spiritual acts, which distinguish Christians before God; making them a reference of how God loves and cares for His own!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:5; Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-2a; Matthew 3:7-8; Luke 3:7-1
The first two cruxes of the doctrine of baptisms, have taught us that spiritual maturity and identification in Christ are not just essential results of baptisms, but that baptisms are a spiritual reality, which though, may not be visible to the human eye, yet, have ramifications that are manifest by the conduct and lifestyle of the Christian in this dark world, and, among the brethren. Believers in Christ today must not just know about baptisms and its blessings and ramifications, they must also have experienced these in their lives—this will be our subject today. We pray that the Holy Spirit will challenge us to live out the experience of the doctrine of baptisms in our lives every day.
Experience is where “the tyre meets the road”; it is the translation of doctrine to demonstration or display, and, of teaching to daily practice. Experience is what happens when a person has tasted of the ‘pudding’ that has been so aptly described, and then attests to the truth in what had been earlier described to him/her. The question we seek to answer today, is, “Does your experience agree with the doctrine of baptisms?” Put differently, “Is there are gap between the doctrine of baptisms and your experience of it?”
James 1:22-25; Psalm 34:8; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Hebrews 6:4-8; Acts 19:1-6; 10:37-48; Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; Ephesians 4:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 13:1-8; 8:1-13; 14:1-6; Romans 12:9-21; 13:1-10; John 7:37-39; Mark 16:15-18.

Conclusion
It is one thing to have been taught and to have learnt about the blessings of baptisms, it is another thing entirely, to have the evidence or proof in your life. This is where the matter of experience becomes significant to the teachings of baptisms. Since baptisms are rites of passage, transforming the hitherto unbeliever, into a believer in Christ; permanently transitioning him/her from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; and maturing him/her from one level to another; why do you not exhibit Christlikeness? Why have you not transitioned permanently into God’s kingdom? What are you still doing in Satan’s kingdom? Why have you not matured spiritually and significantly, since the time the Spirit of God bore you anew? Since the bible teaches the unity of the body through baptisms, which is truth, why are you still racial, ethnic, and gender-motivated? Since you have been marked as belonging to, and being a part of Christ, why do you still desire the mark of Satan to gain an advantage? Why can’t you trust God to protect and preserve you? Since you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, why are you not witnessing Christ in the power of God? Why do you seek strange powers to do the work of God? Many more questions can be asked as to your experience based on the doctrine of baptisms, or any doctrine for that matter!

There is a gap between doctrine and demonstration or display; and, between teaching and daily practice. This gap exists largely because of a lack of personal relationship between the believer in Christ, and God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Many believers are yet to submit themselves fully to the Lord Jesus Christ, even though they may submit to “men of God”, and gather together with others in church, merely being religious (2 Timothy 3:5; James 1:27). They have also not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit to work in them and perform the requisite operation—sanctification—which makes it possible for the Christian to live as Christ lived—doing God’s Will—tempering knowledge with love, and, making us to understand that no challenge in life is insurmountable, but that God uses such life-challenges to strengthen, and make, us who He wants us to be, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25). To elaborate further, the doctrine-demonstration gap is the result of a lack of desire (Matthew 5:6) to partake of the blessings of baptisms, arising from a refusal to accept the teaching on baptisms, unbelief, as well as a lack of conviction. Where truth is accepted, and believed with conviction, the desire to taste of truth grows strongest, and the result is the evidence—proof—of the doctrine in experiential terms!

To eliminate the doctrine-experience gap, you must return to God, submit totally to Christ (James 4:7-10), and, yield to the Holy Spirit, letting Him daily lead you (Romans 8:14). As the gap between doctrine and demonstration closes, the proof of the blessings associated with baptisms will become a reality in your life, and you will be able to manifest your love for God (obeying His every word), and, your love for all peoples—the brethren (being bound together with them) and for all others (as you display the love of God for mankind to them); thus, proving that you are indeed a disciple of Christ (John 13:34-35).

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