male announcer: This presentation is brought to you 00:00:02.16\00:00:03.67 by the friends of the Amazing Facts ministry. 00:00:03.77\00:00:09.27 Doug Batchelor: Did you know that when a human baby is born, 00:00:09.30\00:00:12.17 about 78% of its body is made up of water? 00:00:12.21\00:00:16.51 Our water ratio drops somewhat as we age, but water remains an 00:00:16.54\00:00:20.95 essential part of our survival. 00:00:20.98\00:00:23.32 In fact, a mere 2% drop in body water can cause fuzzy short-term 00:00:23.35\00:00:28.72 memory, difficulty with basic math, and trouble focusing on 00:00:28.76\00:00:32.79 a computer or a printed page. 00:00:32.83\00:00:35.13 If the water in your body drops 5%, you'll no longer be able to 00:00:35.16\00:00:39.93 see, a 10% drop takes away your ability to hear. 00:00:39.97\00:00:45.21 Water plays a crucial role in almost every body function, but 00:00:45.24\00:00:50.01 some researchers estimate that 75% of Americans are 00:00:50.05\00:00:54.38 chronically dehydrated. 00:00:54.42\00:00:56.45 Insufficient water increases the risk for obesity, fatigue, and a 00:00:56.48\00:01:01.26 host of common diseases. 00:01:01.29\00:01:03.06 Water is essential not only to our physical bodies, but our 00:01:03.09\00:01:06.70 spiritual survival as well. 00:01:06.73\00:01:09.26 As the living water, Jesus is the ultimate thirst quencher for 00:01:09.30\00:01:13.64 our souls, and we receive him in a special way when we enter the 00:01:13.67\00:01:18.21 waters of baptism. 00:01:18.24\00:01:19.97 So, join me now, friends, for today's program, as we take 00:01:20.01\00:01:23.08 a closer look at this very important subject, how we can be 00:01:23.11\00:01:26.21 born of the Spirit and the water. 00:01:26.25\00:01:28.68 Doug: There is a place in Austria, up in the mountains, 00:01:33.56\00:01:36.46 it's called Grüner See, or Green Lake, and it's nestled in a 00:01:36.49\00:01:41.86 beautiful valley there. 00:01:41.90\00:01:43.20 They've got a park, it's got benches, and bridges, and 00:01:43.23\00:01:46.40 flowers, and trails. 00:01:46.43\00:01:48.97 And every spring, because of the melting snow, it is baptized in 00:01:49.00\00:01:55.31 40 feet of water, and it's the whole park is immersed in water, 00:01:55.34\00:02:02.35 and it gradually drains off. 00:02:02.38\00:02:04.29 Here's a picture of someone scuba diving in the park, and 00:02:04.32\00:02:08.92 you can see there's a trail and a tree, and there'll be benches 00:02:08.96\00:02:11.23 off to the side. 00:02:11.26\00:02:12.59 But all that water drains away and it explodes with flowers, 00:02:12.63\00:02:17.23 then, in the springtime, after this, what do you call it? 00:02:17.27\00:02:21.20 Massive immersion in water. 00:02:21.24\00:02:25.51 You know, water is a central teaching in the Bible. 00:02:25.54\00:02:30.91 First, let's talk about our scripture here, Revelation 14, 00:02:30.95\00:02:34.38 verse 6, "Then I saw another 00:02:34.42\00:02:36.25 angel flying in the midst of 00:02:36.28\00:02:38.52 heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who 00:02:38.55\00:02:42.66 dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, 00:02:42.69\00:02:46.80 and people." 00:02:46.83\00:02:48.13 Now, we've talked about the everlasting gospel, now I want 00:02:48.16\00:02:50.90 to emphasize, "Every nation, tribe, tongue, and people." 00:02:50.93\00:02:56.60 Where do we hear that? 00:02:56.64\00:02:58.47 When Jesus says His parting words, Matthew chapter 28, "All 00:02:58.51\00:03:05.05 authority is given to Me in heaven and earth. 00:03:05.08\00:03:07.15 Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel to 00:03:07.18\00:03:11.85 every creature." 00:03:11.89\00:03:13.72 He says in the book of Acts chapter 1, go, "To the uttermost 00:03:13.76\00:03:17.16 parts of the world." 00:03:17.19\00:03:19.43 Jesus wants us to go everywhere, to every tribe, tongue, and 00:03:19.46\00:03:22.93 people with the gospel. 00:03:22.96\00:03:24.93 And what else does He say? 00:03:24.97\00:03:26.40 "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the 00:03:26.43\00:03:31.51 Holy Spirit." 00:03:31.54\00:03:33.04 The very beginning of the New Testament, it's in the Gospel of 00:03:33.07\00:03:36.28 Mark, and even the Gospel of John, it begins with John the 00:03:36.31\00:03:39.28 Baptist baptizing. 00:03:39.31\00:03:41.08 The last thing Jesus says before He ascends to heaven? 00:03:41.12\00:03:44.15 In the Gospel of Mark, and Luke, and Matthew, is to go to teach 00:03:44.19\00:03:49.02 and baptize. 00:03:49.06\00:03:50.36 First thing that happens in Acts chapter 1? 00:03:50.39\00:03:53.66 "Repent," Peter says, "And be baptized." 00:03:53.70\00:03:56.36 You would think the last words of Jesus should be a first 00:03:56.40\00:03:59.57 priority for believers, amen? 00:03:59.60\00:04:03.17 If it's important to Jesus, it should be important to us. 00:04:03.20\00:04:06.74 So what does the word "baptize" mean? 00:04:06.78\00:04:09.48 Baptism, Colossians 2, verse 11 and 12, "In Him you 00:04:09.51\00:04:13.21 were...buried...through baptism." 00:04:13.25\00:04:16.65 It's a symbol of death. 00:04:16.69\00:04:19.39 Now, in the world, today, there are a lot of counterfeit 00:04:19.42\00:04:23.29 baptisms, and some people sprinkle, and technically that 00:04:23.32\00:04:29.93 is not a baptism. 00:04:29.96\00:04:31.33 The word 'baptize' means to immerse, to submerge, it's a 00:04:31.37\00:04:35.20 word they used in Ancient Greek literature when they were dying 00:04:35.24\00:04:38.04 cloth, they would plunge the cloth in the vat of dye and get 00:04:38.07\00:04:42.34 it completely under so the dye would penetrate all the fibers. 00:04:42.38\00:04:46.18 And so the very word "baptize" means to immerse. 00:04:46.21\00:04:50.15 And all the churches used to practice baptism by immersion. 00:04:50.19\00:04:54.66 In our church, just right beyond that wall there, we've got 00:04:54.69\00:04:57.13 a baptistry, a lot of churches, Baptist churches and others, 00:04:57.16\00:04:59.63 have baptistries built in, because we think that it's very 00:04:59.66\00:05:02.93 important to the ceremony, that it has meaning, God wants us to 00:05:02.96\00:05:08.14 follow the pattern, because it represents a new birth. 00:05:08.17\00:05:12.64 It's like when a baby comes into the world, it comes out of an 00:05:12.67\00:05:16.64 envelope of water and takes a breath, like when that person 00:05:16.68\00:05:19.61 comes up. 00:05:19.65\00:05:20.95 And when someone dies, they pause their breathing, they go 00:05:20.98\00:05:23.45 down, and they momentarily hold their breath. 00:05:23.49\00:05:27.36 You know, when we baptize people, we don't hold them 00:05:27.39\00:05:29.36 under, we just say, "In the name of the Father, Son, and 00:05:29.39\00:05:31.59 Holy Spirit," and we put them under and we bring them up 00:05:31.63\00:05:35.83 again, and they take that new breath and it's like 00:05:35.86\00:05:37.73 a whole new life. 00:05:37.77\00:05:39.07 Number three, what does baptism symbolize? 00:05:39.10\00:05:42.54 Romans chapter 6, verse 4, "Therefore we are buried with 00:05:42.57\00:05:46.54 Him through baptism into death, just as Christ was raised from 00:05:46.57\00:05:50.58 the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk 00:05:50.61\00:05:53.85 in," a what? 00:05:53.88\00:05:55.18 It should be a, "Newness of life." 00:05:55.22\00:05:57.32 And it tells us that the person is buried, and what does 00:05:57.35\00:06:01.52 it symbolize? 00:06:01.56\00:06:03.12 Acts 22, verse 16, Ananias said to the Apostle Paul, "Arise and 00:06:03.16\00:06:08.60 be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of 00:06:08.63\00:06:14.67 the Lord." 00:06:14.70\00:06:16.04 So what's happening when you're baptized? 00:06:16.07\00:06:19.64 How many of you have ever wished you could go back, start over, 00:06:19.67\00:06:22.44 knowing what you know now about life? 00:06:22.48\00:06:25.45 My father used to say, "Youth is wasted on the young," I'm sure 00:06:25.48\00:06:29.68 he's not the first one that said it, that we wish, "Oh, if I 00:06:29.72\00:06:33.12 could go back and live my life over, knowing, having the 00:06:33.15\00:06:36.09 experience I have now, I wouldn't repeat 00:06:36.12\00:06:37.93 certain mistakes." 00:06:37.96\00:06:39.43 Baptism is a chance to get a new birth, to start a new life and a 00:06:39.46\00:06:43.43 new beginning, and have all your sins washed away. 00:06:43.47\00:06:46.23 What is more beautiful than that, to be born again, have 00:06:46.27\00:06:51.24 that new beginning? 00:06:51.27\00:06:52.91 Number four, what other ceremony does the Bible compare 00:06:52.94\00:06:56.41 to baptism? 00:06:56.44\00:06:57.78 Galatians chapter 3:27, "For as many of you as we're baptized 00:06:57.81\00:07:02.98 into Christ have," say it with me, "Put on Christ." 00:07:03.02\00:07:08.39 It's talking about, it's in the context of, "Husbands, love your 00:07:08.42\00:07:11.83 wives, as Christ loves the church." 00:07:11.86\00:07:14.36 The church is called the bride of Christ. 00:07:14.36\00:07:16.80 The New Jerusalem, Revelation, coming down out of heaven, it's 00:07:16.83\00:07:20.27 like a marriage to Jesus. 00:07:20.30\00:07:23.14 Now, this is maybe a little easier for the ladies out there 00:07:23.17\00:07:25.77 to relate to than some of the men, but it's really we are 00:07:25.81\00:07:29.24 being married to Christ. 00:07:29.28\00:07:32.41 Now, what would you think if a man, asking the ladies again, 00:07:32.45\00:07:37.95 if a man said to you, "I'd like to get married, but do we need 00:07:37.99\00:07:43.56 to live together?" 00:07:43.59\00:07:44.89 Would you accept that proposal, or would you think there's 00:07:44.93\00:07:48.56 something wrong? 00:07:48.60\00:07:50.67 When people say, "I want to get baptized, but I don't want to 00:07:50.70\00:07:53.07 join a church," that's suspect right there. 00:07:53.10\00:07:57.87 So, if you want to understand these principles, you can often 00:07:57.91\00:08:00.11 just say, "What would it be like if you applied that 00:08:00.14\00:08:03.24 to marriage?" 00:08:03.28\00:08:04.61 And it'll give you the answer. 00:08:04.65\00:08:05.95 Number five, what biblical qualifications must 00:08:05.98\00:08:09.68 precede baptism? 00:08:09.72\00:08:11.32 So, if a person is going to get baptized, how do they prepare 00:08:11.35\00:08:14.79 for that? 00:08:14.82\00:08:16.16 It says in Matthew chapter 28, verse 19 and 20, "Go therefore 00:08:16.19\00:08:20.93 and make disciples of all nations." 00:08:20.96\00:08:23.87 This is what our verse was there in Revelation chapter 14, that 00:08:23.90\00:08:27.87 says to every tongue, tribe, and people. 00:08:27.90\00:08:30.31 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them 00:08:30.34\00:08:34.04 in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." 00:08:34.08\00:08:37.05 Now, do you stop with baptism? 00:08:37.08\00:08:39.38 "Teaching them to observe all things that I have 00:08:39.41\00:08:43.15 commanded you." 00:08:43.18\00:08:44.69 So, you teach the Word of God, teach what it means to be 00:08:44.72\00:08:47.56 a Christian, to follow Jesus, and then you're baptized. 00:08:47.59\00:08:50.56 There's teaching that comes first. 00:08:50.59\00:08:52.13 Now someone's going to ask the question, "Pastor Doug, why in 00:08:52.16\00:08:55.93 so many churches is there this time of teaching and 00:08:55.96\00:08:59.10 indoctrination before baptism, but I look in Acts chapter 2, 00:08:59.13\00:09:02.74 Peter preaches, and bingo, they get baptized that day, or again 00:09:02.77\00:09:07.81 in Acts chapter 5?" 00:09:07.84\00:09:09.81 It's because these were Jews that already had Bible studies, 00:09:09.84\00:09:14.42 they already knew about the 10 Commandments, all they didn't 00:09:14.45\00:09:17.82 know about was Jesus, and when Peter preached to them about 00:09:17.85\00:09:20.39 Jesus, that was the last piece they needed. 00:09:20.42\00:09:22.99 But most people don't have nearly the foundation those 00:09:23.02\00:09:25.93 Jewish people had when they were baptized, so there needs to be 00:09:25.96\00:09:29.03 some teaching that happens in advance. 00:09:29.06\00:09:30.87 Does that make sense? 00:09:30.90\00:09:33.07 You know, often I'll do evangelism where maybe 00:09:33.10\00:09:35.34 Christians of other faiths will come, and they learn some of 00:09:35.37\00:09:38.54 these truths they don't know, and they want to be baptized or 00:09:38.57\00:09:40.74 even re-baptized. 00:09:40.78\00:09:42.51 And that's a lot easier to present than when I go places 00:09:42.54\00:09:46.88 like China, and I'm preaching to people who have grown 00:09:46.92\00:09:49.68 up atheists. 00:09:49.72\00:09:51.05 Karen and I did meetings in Russia right after the iron 00:09:51.09\00:09:53.49 curtain fell, these people had not heard about God their whole 00:09:53.52\00:09:57.09 lives, except, you know, maybe just in a peripheral way, and 00:09:57.13\00:10:01.36 you have to start from scratch. 00:10:01.40\00:10:03.30 People say, "Who's Moses, David, Goliath?" 00:10:03.33\00:10:05.57 They have no idea what you're talking about. 00:10:05.60\00:10:08.74 In a secular culture like America, people at least get 00:10:08.77\00:10:11.97 some of that. 00:10:12.01\00:10:13.34 So, they need to be taught. 00:10:13.38\00:10:15.98 You can also read in Acts 8, verse 36, "And the eunuch," 00:10:16.01\00:10:19.35 there's this Ethiopian eunuch that was baptized by Philip, 00:10:19.38\00:10:22.52 "He said, 'See, here is water. 00:10:22.55\00:10:23.89 What hinders me from being baptized?' 00:10:23.92\00:10:25.92 And Philip said, 'If you,'" what? 00:10:25.95\00:10:28.69 "If you believe with," how much of your heart? 00:10:28.72\00:10:31.26 "'All of your heart, you may.' 00:10:31.29\00:10:33.76 And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the 00:10:33.80\00:10:36.77 Son of God.'" 00:10:36.80\00:10:38.13 And he was baptized. 00:10:38.17\00:10:39.50 By the way, he was not baptized in a river, he was baptized in 00:10:39.53\00:10:43.37 maybe the sea, because he was down by Gaza, or it may have 00:10:43.41\00:10:46.24 been an oasis. 00:10:46.27\00:10:47.61 So it sometimes could be the ocean, it could be a river, it 00:10:47.64\00:10:50.61 could be a baptistry, as long as you're immersed in water and you 00:10:50.65\00:10:54.12 follow the Bible principle. 00:10:54.15\00:10:55.55 What else needs to go along with baptism? 00:10:55.58\00:10:58.29 It says in Acts chapter 2 that people heard Peter preach, and 00:10:58.32\00:11:02.56 they said, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 00:11:02.59\00:11:04.89 We've crucified the Son of God, what do we do? 00:11:04.93\00:11:07.60 What did Peter say, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized 00:11:07.66\00:11:13.27 in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." 00:11:13.30\00:11:17.14 That means the forgiveness, the washing away. 00:11:17.17\00:11:19.11 Jesus said, John chapter 3, verse 5, "Except," He was 00:11:19.14\00:11:24.35 talking to Nicodemus, "Except you are born of the water and 00:11:24.38\00:11:28.48 the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven." 00:11:28.52\00:11:32.55 It's talking about water baptism and Spirit baptism, we need 00:11:32.59\00:11:35.79 both, but you need to repent. 00:11:35.82\00:11:38.13 And what does repentance mean? 00:11:38.16\00:11:40.10 A sorrow for sin and a willingness to turn away 00:11:40.13\00:11:43.87 from it. 00:11:43.90\00:11:45.37 The Bible says repent, "Turn ye, turn ye from all your 00:11:45.40\00:11:48.34 evil ways." 00:11:48.37\00:11:49.67 So, people, if they're just saying, "Well, yeah, I'm sorry," 00:11:49.70\00:11:51.87 but they don't make any life change, if you say, "Lord, I'm 00:11:51.91\00:11:57.11 sorry that I borrowed my neighbor's rake and I never 00:11:57.15\00:12:00.72 brought it back," and you don't bring the neighbor's rake back 00:12:00.75\00:12:05.79 after you pray that prayer, you know, you got to bring it back 00:12:05.82\00:12:07.92 then, right? 00:12:07.96\00:12:09.76 It's not just enough to say you're sorry, give him back 00:12:09.79\00:12:12.29 his rake. 00:12:12.33\00:12:14.83 So you need to right all the wrongs you can, but most of the 00:12:14.83\00:12:18.60 wrongs in our life it's hard to go back, you can't unscramble 00:12:18.63\00:12:21.87 scrambled eggs, amen? 00:12:21.90\00:12:23.71 But as far as possible, if there's something, if you've 00:12:23.74\00:12:26.31 offended someone and you've been unkind, part of repentance means 00:12:26.34\00:12:29.64 you write a letter and you apologize. 00:12:29.68\00:12:32.71 And you can maybe be reconciled, maybe not, but you do your part 00:12:32.75\00:12:36.75 to right whatever wrongs you can right, because God has forgiven 00:12:36.79\00:12:40.02 you and giving you a new heart, amen? 00:12:40.06\00:12:41.89 That's what real repentance is. 00:12:41.92\00:12:43.63 John the Baptist says, "Bring forth fruits meet 00:12:43.66\00:12:46.46 for repentance." 00:12:46.49\00:12:47.86 There should be evidence in the life that your heart has 00:12:47.86\00:12:50.93 been changed. 00:12:50.97\00:12:52.30 Number six, according to the Bible, how many varieties of 00:12:52.33\00:12:56.47 baptism are acceptable? 00:12:56.50\00:12:58.87 What does it say in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 4 and 5? "There 00:12:58.91\00:13:02.71 is...one Lord, one faith, one baptism." 00:13:02.74\00:13:08.12 There's one true God, there is one true faith, there is one 00:13:08.15\00:13:11.72 true mode or method of baptism, and I think it's important for 00:13:11.75\00:13:16.26 us to stick with what the Bible says. 00:13:16.29\00:13:18.43 Can you say, "Amen"? 00:13:18.46\00:13:20.33 The devil's got the counterfeits and modifications of everything 00:13:20.36\00:13:23.67 that God says, and people drift away from the foundational 00:13:23.70\00:13:26.97 truths, and they miss the beauty of it all. 00:13:27.00\00:13:30.11 Baptism is a symbol of a death, a burial, a resurrection, a new 00:13:30.14\00:13:36.51 life, a new birth, a washing away, a cleansing. 00:13:36.54\00:13:41.85 All of that is wrapped up in this right of baptism by 00:13:41.88\00:13:46.12 immersion, where you go under and the sins are washed away, 00:13:46.15\00:13:49.89 and you come up, and God has promised that, He says, "Repent, 00:13:49.92\00:13:53.60 and be baptized, and He will give you the gift of the 00:13:53.63\00:13:55.66 Holy Spirit." 00:13:55.70\00:13:57.30 When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit came down, but today, 00:13:57.33\00:14:01.30 some churches, they just sprinkle. 00:14:01.34\00:14:03.41 Do you know that even in the Catholic Church they baptized 00:14:03.44\00:14:05.74 for the first thousand years of their history? 00:14:05.77\00:14:08.58 it wasn't until the Council of Ravenna they accepted sprinkling 00:14:08.61\00:14:11.65 or pouring, and that happened little by little over hundreds 00:14:11.68\00:14:14.95 of years. 00:14:14.98\00:14:16.32 Sometimes the kings and the royalty and the monarchs, they 00:14:16.35\00:14:18.75 would get baptized, and they said, "You know, we weren't 00:14:18.79\00:14:22.36 baptized as babies and we're going to get baptized, but we 00:14:22.39\00:14:25.73 don't want to take off our royal robes in front of all the people 00:14:25.76\00:14:28.56 and become, you know, humiliated like that. 00:14:28.60\00:14:30.87 Maybe you could just, since it's a symbol, just pour some water 00:14:30.90\00:14:33.80 on us, or sprinkle a little water." 00:14:33.84\00:14:36.10 Or someone was sick and they couldn't make it for baptism, 00:14:36.14\00:14:38.84 so the priest would come, and they'd dip a sheet in water and 00:14:38.87\00:14:41.78 then they'd wrap them up in the sheet. 00:14:41.81\00:14:43.48 And it just slowly modified, until they said, "Well, it's 00:14:43.51\00:14:46.72 a lot easier to just sprinkle." 00:14:46.75\00:14:50.72 And I took a picture of Karen and I, earlier this year, we 00:14:50.75\00:14:55.36 were in Ephesus, Turkey, and this was a church that, oh, the 00:14:55.39\00:14:59.29 church must be 1,000 years old. 00:14:59.33\00:15:01.36 And there in the middle of the church was the baptistry, and 00:15:01.40\00:15:04.30 you walk in and you walk out, they believed in baptism 00:15:04.33\00:15:07.70 by immersion. 00:15:07.74\00:15:08.97 You'll see these baptistries all over the ancient world, this is 00:15:09.00\00:15:12.24 a change that came in hundreds of years, if not over 1,000 00:15:12.27\00:15:15.44 years after Christ. 00:15:15.48\00:15:17.45 Are there examples in the Bible of people being baptized? 00:15:17.48\00:15:20.25 The answer is, emphatically, yes. 00:15:20.28\00:15:22.82 "Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by 00:15:22.85\00:15:26.72 John," by the Jordan River? 00:15:26.76\00:15:30.29 "In the Jordan River." 00:15:30.33\00:15:32.13 Why did Jesus need to be baptized? 00:15:32.16\00:15:35.76 You can read in the Gospel of John, Mark, Matthew, Luke; 00:15:35.80\00:15:43.44 Jesus is baptized. 00:15:43.47\00:15:44.84 Now, if baptism is a symbol of washing away sin, why was 00:15:44.87\00:15:48.41 Jesus baptized? 00:15:48.44\00:15:51.11 Well, there's three reasons. 00:15:51.15\00:15:53.78 One, Jesus is baptized as an example, I heard someone say, 00:15:53.82\00:15:57.72 for us to follow. 00:15:57.75\00:16:00.32 He's also baptized in behalf of those 00:16:00.36\00:16:04.96 who could not be. 00:16:04.99\00:16:06.86 You know, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, there was a thief 00:16:06.90\00:16:09.46 hanging beside Him, or two thieves, but one of them turned 00:16:09.50\00:16:12.57 to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into 00:16:12.60\00:16:15.54 your kingdom." 00:16:15.57\00:16:16.91 And Jesus said, "Verily, I say to you today, you will be with 00:16:16.94\00:16:20.31 me in paradise." 00:16:20.34\00:16:21.84 He promised he would be in paradise, Jesus didn't say, "If 00:16:21.88\00:16:24.51 you can get off the cross and get baptized, you'll be 00:16:24.55\00:16:26.92 with Me." 00:16:26.95\00:16:28.32 But if baptism is important and he couldn't be baptized, I think 00:16:28.35\00:16:33.19 in the same way Jesus died for our sins there are people who 00:16:33.22\00:16:37.29 get credit for Jesus's baptism because they couldn't 00:16:37.33\00:16:40.00 be baptized. 00:16:40.03\00:16:41.76 I remember going to a hospital, visiting a young man that was 00:16:41.80\00:16:44.63 dying of AIDS, several years ago, they didn't have the 00:16:44.67\00:16:47.54 medications for it. 00:16:47.57\00:16:49.14 And he thoroughly repented of his sins and he wanted to be 00:16:49.17\00:16:53.71 saved, he said, but he's hooked up to all these machines and 00:16:53.74\00:16:56.64 apparatus, and there's just no way the hospital could 00:16:56.68\00:16:59.35 accommodate a baptism. 00:16:59.38\00:17:01.15 And I reassured him, I said, "Jesus will give you credit for 00:17:01.18\00:17:03.95 His baptism," and he died soon after. 00:17:03.99\00:17:06.96 I was able to lead him to the Lord. 00:17:06.99\00:17:09.19 And do you think baptism will be an obstacle to his salvation? 00:17:09.22\00:17:13.46 So Jesus was also baptized not only as an example, not only in 00:17:13.50\00:17:17.60 behalf of those who were baptized, His baptism 00:17:17.63\00:17:20.87 demonstrates what we should expect in our baptism. 00:17:20.90\00:17:25.64 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be 00:17:25.67\00:17:28.98 baptized by him. 00:17:29.01\00:17:30.48 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized 00:17:30.51\00:17:33.68 by You, and You're coming to me?' 00:17:33.72\00:17:36.05 But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, 00:17:36.08\00:17:39.42 for thus it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.'" 00:17:39.45\00:17:42.96 He was fulfilling the prophecy that we read about there in 00:17:42.99\00:17:45.53 Daniel chapter 9, it says that the Most Holy would be anointed. 00:17:45.56\00:17:50.37 When Christ came out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down 00:17:50.40\00:17:53.47 as a dove, He then began his public ministry. 00:17:53.50\00:17:56.97 Can you point to any miracle that Jesus performed before 00:17:57.01\00:17:59.67 His ministry? 00:17:59.71\00:18:02.21 No, nothing in the Bible, you might find some apocryphal 00:18:02.24\00:18:05.31 writings, but nothing in the Bible, He began his ministry at 00:18:05.35\00:18:09.15 30 years of age with His baptism, another reason for it. 00:18:09.18\00:18:12.95 Number nine, doesn't the baptism of the Holy Spirit replace 00:18:12.99\00:18:16.69 baptism by immersion? 00:18:16.73\00:18:18.86 Some people say, "All you need is the baptism of the 00:18:18.89\00:18:21.06 Holy Spirit, that's the most important thing." 00:18:21.10\00:18:23.06 Well, you do need that, and if you only had one of the two, 00:18:23.10\00:18:25.97 you'd want that, but by all means, you need both. 00:18:26.00\00:18:28.24 Notice, when Cornelius, who is a Roman Centurion, and his family 00:18:28.27\00:18:33.04 were filled with the Holy Spirit after hearing Peter preach, and 00:18:33.07\00:18:36.78 they haven't been baptized, what did Peter say? 00:18:36.81\00:18:39.35 Well, first of all, he says, "Repent, and let every one of 00:18:39.38\00:18:42.02 you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 00:18:42.05\00:18:45.02 of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." 00:18:45.05\00:18:48.12 That's Acts 2, verse 38, both go together. 00:18:48.16\00:18:52.16 But now, while Peter is preaching, this is in Acts 00:18:52.19\00:18:54.73 chapter 10, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and those who heard 00:18:54.76\00:18:59.40 the Word of God. 00:18:59.43\00:19:00.84 And Peter answered and said, "Can anyone forbid water, that 00:19:00.87\00:19:03.41 these should not be baptized who have received," what? 00:19:03.44\00:19:07.31 "The Holy Spirit." 00:19:07.34\00:19:08.68 Peter could have said, "Look, they got the Holy Spirit, 00:19:08.71\00:19:10.01 no sense for water baptism." 00:19:10.05\00:19:11.51 Peter said they need both, isn't that clear? 00:19:11.55\00:19:15.22 Just as we have, "He commanded them to be baptized in the name 00:19:15.25\00:19:19.32 of the Lord." 00:19:19.35\00:19:20.69 John the Baptist said, "Indeed I baptize you with water unto 00:19:20.72\00:19:23.79 repentance, but He was coming after me is mightier than I, 00:19:23.83\00:19:27.76 whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. 00:19:27.76\00:19:29.33 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 00:19:29.36\00:19:31.83 and fire." 00:19:31.87\00:19:34.40 And we need that baptism as well. 00:19:34.44\00:19:37.71 Is rebaptism ever necessary? 00:19:37.74\00:19:41.28 People ask me this question, they say, "Well, you know, 00:19:41.31\00:19:44.01 I was baptized." 00:19:44.05\00:19:45.38 Now, there's three reasons you might be rebaptized, first let 00:19:45.41\00:19:49.48 me give you our verse. 00:19:49.52\00:19:50.95 In Acts chapter 19, Paul is traveling through Ephesus, he 00:19:50.99\00:19:54.86 encounters 12 Ephesian men, these are Gentiles. 00:19:54.89\00:19:57.99 Very interesting, Jesus had 12 apostles that were Jews, that 00:19:58.03\00:20:01.50 were baptized, filled with the Spirit, now Paul runs into 00:20:01.53\00:20:04.50 12 Gentiles. 00:20:04.53\00:20:06.63 He asks him, "Were you baptized?" 00:20:06.67\00:20:08.97 They said, "Yeah, we are baptized by John's baptism." 00:20:09.00\00:20:12.17 And Paul says, "John preached the baptism of repentance, 00:20:12.21\00:20:14.74 saying that they should believe on Jesus who was to come." 00:20:14.78\00:20:17.21 They had been baptized by John the Baptist, they went back up 00:20:17.25\00:20:20.25 to Ephesus, they had not heard about the baptism of Jesus, and 00:20:20.28\00:20:26.96 says, "We haven't even heard if there be any Holy Ghost." 00:20:26.99\00:20:29.92 And he said, "In what then to were you baptized?" 00:20:29.96\00:20:31.93 They said, "John's baptism." 00:20:31.96\00:20:33.70 Paul said to them, "'John indeed baptized with a baptism of 00:20:33.73\00:20:37.47 repentance, saying to the people they should believe on Him who 00:20:37.50\00:20:40.07 would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' 00:20:40.10\00:20:43.10 When they heard this, they were," what? 00:20:43.14\00:20:45.64 "Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." 00:20:45.67\00:20:47.84 They were rebaptized, both baptisms were by immersion. 00:20:47.88\00:20:51.88 And here they are, living up in the Greek cities, and they're 00:20:51.91\00:20:54.85 baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke with 00:20:54.88\00:20:57.69 tongues just like the apostles did at Pentecost. 00:20:57.72\00:21:00.76 So it's almost like a parallel Pentecost that happens up there 00:21:00.79\00:21:04.46 in Ephesus. 00:21:04.49\00:21:06.09 Three reasons to be rebaptized, one, maybe your parents baptized 00:21:06.13\00:21:10.97 you as a baby, that's not baptism, that's 00:21:11.00\00:21:15.37 a baby dedication. 00:21:15.40\00:21:17.04 Jesus was dedicated as a baby, but He wasn't baptized until He 00:21:17.07\00:21:20.91 was an adult, so that's something separate. 00:21:20.94\00:21:25.65 Babies cannot repent, be taught, and believe. 00:21:25.68\00:21:29.78 So, if you weren't baptized biblically, that's another 00:21:29.82\00:21:32.82 reason to be rebaptized. 00:21:32.85\00:21:35.29 If you divorce yourself from the Lord, and that doesn't mean if 00:21:35.32\00:21:38.56 you slip and you sin, that's why churches have an ongoing 00:21:38.59\00:21:41.63 communion service, you can renew your commitment if you make 00:21:41.66\00:21:44.20 mistakes, as you will. 00:21:44.23\00:21:46.53 But if you just stop going to church and you separate yourself 00:21:46.57\00:21:49.57 from the Lord, you should get remarried, and you may need to 00:21:49.60\00:21:53.71 be rebaptized, talk to your pastor about that and they'll 00:21:53.74\00:21:56.91 explain that. 00:21:56.95\00:21:58.28 If someone's coming back to get rebaptized every year, there's 00:21:58.31\00:22:00.38 something wrong, it's supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime 00:22:00.42\00:22:03.32 experience, but there are occasions where you 00:22:03.35\00:22:05.59 are rebaptized. 00:22:05.62\00:22:06.96 Some are baptized as children, they say, "I had no idea what I 00:22:06.99\00:22:09.29 was doing, now I understand." 00:22:09.32\00:22:11.93 I heard about a Baptist minister, came to a seminar like 00:22:11.96\00:22:14.73 ours, and he said, "I'd like to get rebaptized." 00:22:14.76\00:22:18.17 We said, "Well, you're Baptist, right?" 00:22:18.20\00:22:20.67 "Yeah." 00:22:20.70\00:22:22.04 "You believe in baptism by immersion?" 00:22:22.07\00:22:23.37 "Yep," said, "But I was only baptized into nine commandments, 00:22:23.41\00:22:25.44 I want to get baptized into all ten now." 00:22:25.47\00:22:28.08 So, if you're in doubt, do the same thing, he was rebaptized. 00:22:28.11\00:22:31.91 And then the third reason for rebaptism is like these 12 00:22:31.95\00:22:35.15 Ephesian believers, they came into a whole new understanding 00:22:35.18\00:22:37.62 of the truth, and they realized that they needed to get 00:22:37.65\00:22:40.86 baptized, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:22:40.89\00:22:44.09 Is baptism connected with joining the church? 00:22:44.13\00:22:47.10 Absolutely. 00:22:47.13\00:22:48.46 "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into," what? 00:22:48.50\00:22:52.50 "One body." 00:22:52.53\00:22:53.87 And again, you can read where it says, "And He," Jesus, "Is the 00:22:53.90\00:22:57.57 head of the body, the church." 00:22:57.61\00:23:00.58 You can read in Acts chapter 2, verse 41, "Those who gladly 00:23:00.61\00:23:04.21 received the word were baptized...and added to them." 00:23:04.25\00:23:07.88 And it says, "The Lord," in verse 47, "Added to the church." 00:23:07.92\00:23:10.85 They are baptized and added to the church. 00:23:10.89\00:23:14.36 God has no "Rambo" Christians out there to get baptized and 00:23:14.39\00:23:17.53 just are mavericks out there by themselves, you are part of 00:23:17.56\00:23:20.63 a family when you're baptized. 00:23:20.66\00:23:22.90 Number 12, is baptism required to be saved? 00:23:22.93\00:23:26.97 We've talked about this, "He who believes and is baptized will 00:23:27.00\00:23:31.21 be saved." 00:23:31.24\00:23:32.57 Who said that, friends? 00:23:32.61\00:23:33.91 That's Jesus, Mark 16:16, "He who does not believe will 00:23:33.94\00:23:37.48 be condemned." 00:23:37.51\00:23:38.81 The most important thing is, "Believed," but notice, He puts 00:23:38.85\00:23:40.82 baptism right in there. 00:23:40.85\00:23:42.62 And again, Jesus said, "Unless one is born of the water and the 00:23:42.65\00:23:45.99 Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." 00:23:46.02\00:23:48.52 Baptism is as important to a Christian as a wedding is to 00:23:48.56\00:23:53.80 a marriage, it is the ceremony by which we make that commitment 00:23:53.83\00:23:58.20 to Jesus. 00:23:58.23\00:23:59.57 Well, friends, in behalf of Jesus, He is proposing to you, 00:23:59.60\00:24:06.04 He says, "I love you, will you marry Me?" 00:24:06.07\00:24:10.38 That's what baptism is, he's saying, "I love you, I want to 00:24:10.41\00:24:15.45 live eternally with you, I want to be joined together with you, 00:24:15.48\00:24:20.19 I want to fill you with My Spirit, I want us to be 00:24:20.22\00:24:23.89 fruitful together." 00:24:23.93\00:24:26.43 And He's wanting to know, what's your response? 00:24:26.46\00:24:29.33 You will hear God speak in a way that you have not heard Him 00:24:29.36\00:24:32.23 speak before. 00:24:32.27\00:24:33.57 Trust me, friends, I experience all these things. 00:24:33.60\00:24:36.30 Christ was baptized as an example of what we can expect, 00:24:36.34\00:24:41.91 He came up out of the water and the heavens were open, the 00:24:41.94\00:24:46.31 heavens are open for you when you bring Christ into your life, 00:24:46.35\00:24:51.85 you have new access to the Father through Christ. 00:24:51.89\00:24:54.79 ¤¤¤ 00:24:54.82\00:24:59.16 Doug: Baptism, how important is this Christian right, is it 00:24:59.19\00:25:03.30 essential to go to heaven, and if so, is there a right way and 00:25:03.33\00:25:06.97 a wrong way to do it? 00:25:07.00\00:25:08.67 Can you get baptized on behalf of another person? 00:25:08.70\00:25:11.84 The answers may surprise you. 00:25:11.87\00:25:14.18 We have a wonderful free resource we'd like to share with 00:25:14.21\00:25:17.01 you called, "Baptism, Is It Really Necessary?" 00:25:17.05\00:25:19.85 In this book, you're going to find all of the balanced and 00:25:19.88\00:25:22.72 biblical answers you need about the purpose and meaning of 00:25:22.75\00:25:25.65 baptism in the life of every Christian, straight from 00:25:25.69\00:25:28.76 God's Word. 00:25:28.79\00:25:30.13 To get your free copy, call the phone number on your screen and 00:25:30.16\00:25:33.63 ask for "Offer #165," or visit the web address. 00:25:33.66\00:25:37.93 And after you read this incredible resource, make sure 00:25:37.97\00:25:41.07 to share it with a friend. 00:25:41.10\00:25:43.07 ¤¤¤ 00:25:43.10\00:25:46.71 Doug: Friend, God came to earth 2,000 years ago in the form of 00:25:46.74\00:25:50.88 a man, His name was Jesus. 00:25:50.91\00:25:53.52 He came for three reasons, to show us what God is like, to 00:25:53.55\00:25:57.62 show us how to live, and finally to die for our sins that we 00:25:57.65\00:26:01.89 might be forgiven. 00:26:01.92\00:26:03.49 But this only works if you choose to accept Him as your 00:26:03.53\00:26:06.43 personal Savior, confess you're sorry for your sins, and invite 00:26:06.46\00:26:10.60 Him to be the Lord of your life. 00:26:10.63\00:26:12.50 His arms are open wide, why don't you ask Him now? 00:26:12.53\00:26:16.71 ¤¤¤ 00:26:16.74\00:26:26.75 ¤¤¤ 00:26:56.75\00:27:00.72 girl: Mommy, Daddy, help me. 00:27:00.75\00:27:05.39 male: No, I don't think so, you didn't do very well on your 00:27:05.42\00:27:08.52 report card this last quarter, so, no. 00:27:08.56\00:27:11.93 female: You haven't been pulling your weight around here lately. 00:27:11.96\00:27:14.40 You want help? 00:27:14.46\00:27:15.73 Well, I wanted help with the dishes last night. 00:27:15.76\00:27:18.00 Help yourself. 00:27:18.03\00:27:19.40 girl: Huh? 00:27:19.43\00:27:20.77 male: Honey, did you bring the marshmallows? 00:27:20.80\00:27:23.30 ¤¤¤ 00:27:23.34\00:27:33.35 ¤¤¤ 00:27:34.35\00:27:44.36 male announcer: Don't forget to request today's free 00:27:51.47\00:27:52.93 offer, it's sure to be a blessing. 00:27:52.97\00:27:55.10 And thank you for your continued support 00:27:55.14\00:27:57.44 as we take the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:27:57.47\00:27:59.37 to the world. 00:27:59.41\00:28:00.84 We hope you'll join us next week as we delve 00:28:00.88\00:28:02.98 deep into the Word of God to explore more 00:28:03.01\00:28:05.75 Amazing Facts. 00:28:05.78\00:28:08.15 ¤¤¤ 00:28:08.18\00:28:13.99 ¤¤¤ 00:28:14.86\00:28:24.00 male announcer: This presentation was brought to you 00:28:24.03\00:28:25.57 by the friends of the Amazing Facts ministry. 00:28:25.60\00:28:27.74