[Theme Music] It has
stood the test of time,
00:00:00.96\00:00:12.20
God's book, the Bible,
still relevant in today's
00:00:12.20\00:00:18.70
complex world.
00:00:18.70\00:00:22.13
It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
00:00:22.13\00:00:29.53
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:00:36.96\00:00:37.83
Thank's for joining me.
00:00:37.83\00:00:38.66
This is It Is Written.
00:00:38.66\00:00:41.00
The year was 1527.
00:00:41.00\00:00:42.63
The event was an execution.
00:00:42.63\00:00:45.56
The place was Zurich,
Switzerland, and the man
00:00:45.56\00:00:48.50
was Felix Mantz.
00:00:48.50\00:00:50.96
His crime?
00:00:50.96\00:00:51.96
Well, Felix Mantz had been
baptizing adults by immersion.
00:00:51.96\00:00:57.46
The Zurich city magistrates
chose to execute him,
00:00:57.46\00:01:00.96
and not by burning at the stake,
which was the common method
00:01:00.96\00:01:03.00
of execution in those
days, not by beheading him.
00:01:03.00\00:01:06.43
The punishment that
they thought fit the crime
00:01:06.43\00:01:08.66
of baptizing by
immersion was death by drowning.
00:01:08.66\00:01:12.33
Now Ulrich Zwingli, a
key figure in the Reformation
00:01:12.33\00:01:16.33
and the spiritual leader
of Zurich, wrote to a friend
00:01:16.33\00:01:19.63
defending the
action of the city leaders.
00:01:19.63\00:01:23.03
These city officials were
supporters of Zwingli's Swiss
00:01:23.03\00:01:26.03
Protestant Reformation -
and they believed that babies
00:01:26.03\00:01:29.63
should be baptized.
00:01:29.63\00:01:31.13
Mantz had been baptizing
adult believers in defiance
00:01:31.13\00:01:34.50
of the ruling of
the Zurich city council.
00:01:34.50\00:01:36.63
They had forbidden the practice.
00:01:36.63\00:01:39.63
But why the death
penalty for baptizing someone?
00:01:39.63\00:01:42.56
Today, if one church practices
infant baptism and another
00:01:42.56\00:01:45.56
church practices baptism
by immersion, people would
00:01:45.56\00:01:48.43
typically say, "Okay - you do
it your way, we do it our way,
00:01:48.43\00:01:52.33
and we'll agree to disagree."
00:01:52.33\00:01:54.23
You wouldn't expect anybody
to think that somebody should
00:01:54.23\00:01:56.86
die for having a different point
of view on a subject like that!
00:01:56.86\00:02:01.70
So why did the Swiss reformers
think Felix Mantz should die
00:02:01.70\00:02:05.96
for baptizing by immersion?
00:02:05.96\00:02:08.80
And why did Mantz
believe so strongly in baptism
00:02:08.80\00:02:11.26
by immersion that he was willing
to die for what he believed?
00:02:11.26\00:02:15.60
Today, in free countries where
church and state are separate,
00:02:15.60\00:02:19.53
it is hard to understand how
a city government could execute
00:02:19.53\00:02:22.33
someone for a harmless
religious practice such
00:02:22.33\00:02:24.76
as baptism.
00:02:24.76\00:02:26.66
In order to understand,
let's go back in time, back
00:02:26.66\00:02:30.23
to the Europe of the early
1500's. Separation of church
00:02:30.23\00:02:32.43
and state didn't exist.
00:02:32.43\00:02:33.93
In fact, infant
baptism was seen as essential
00:02:33.93\00:02:38.03
to the union of
church and state.
00:02:38.03\00:02:41.73
People were born as citizens
of the state, and soon after
00:02:41.73\00:02:45.16
became baptized
members of the church.
00:02:45.16\00:02:49.53
Every person, without
exception, was a member
00:02:49.53\00:02:52.76
of the state church before
he or she could even think.
00:02:52.76\00:02:57.90
There was no
choice in the matter.
00:02:57.90\00:03:00.10
And to a 16th century
European, that was just
00:03:00.10\00:03:03.16
the way an
orderly society had to be.
00:03:03.16\00:03:05.56
It was pretty much
how Christendom had been
00:03:05.56\00:03:07.56
for hundreds of years.
00:03:07.56\00:03:10.10
When the Protestant
Reformation came about, most
00:03:10.10\00:03:12.66
of the reformers didn't
see a need to modify the union
00:03:12.66\00:03:15.26
of church and state.
00:03:15.26\00:03:16.43
Lutherans simply wanted
a Lutheran state instead
00:03:16.43\00:03:18.76
of a Catholic one.
00:03:18.76\00:03:20.06
Swiss reformers under Zwingli
preferred their own Protestant
00:03:20.06\00:03:23.40
Swiss cantons.
00:03:23.40\00:03:25.00
Later, in Geneva, Switzerland,
Calvin's reform movement was
00:03:25.00\00:03:27.93
backed by the
authority of the city.
00:03:27.93\00:03:30.30
In all these places,
every person became a member
00:03:30.30\00:03:32.93
of the church through infant
baptism, just as in Catholic
00:03:32.93\00:03:36.76
controlled regions.
00:03:36.76\00:03:38.33
No one cld choose
not to be in the church
00:03:38.33\00:03:40.43
or the state.
00:03:40.43\00:03:41.56
It was as unthinkable
as it would be for us today
00:03:41.56\00:03:44.30
to not be a
citizen of a country.
00:03:44.30\00:03:47.10
A man outside the church
was about the same as a man
00:03:47.10\00:03:49.86
without a country - only worse.
00:03:49.86\00:03:51.90
At least being without a
country doesn't mean you'd
00:03:51.90\00:03:54.33
be lost for eternity, as
it was believed being outside
00:03:54.33\00:03:57.60
the church meant
back in those days.
00:03:57.60\00:04:00.53
Baptizing babies put everyone
in the united church and state
00:04:00.53\00:04:04.10
and kept society nice and
orderly with church leaders
00:04:04.10\00:04:07.30
and magistrates in
an unchallenged position
00:04:07.30\00:04:09.90
of authority.
00:04:09.90\00:04:11.46
To challenge infant
baptism was viewed as an attack
00:04:11.46\00:04:14.20
on the order of society.
00:04:14.20\00:04:16.53
So why was it challenged?
00:04:16.53\00:04:18.53
What was the problem?
00:04:18.53\00:04:19.53
The problem...
00:04:19.53\00:04:21.13
was the Bible.
00:04:21.13\00:04:23.76
Felix Mantz, his friend
Conrad Grebel and several others
00:04:23.76\00:04:27.36
believed that the Bible taught
that only repentant believers
00:04:27.36\00:04:31.26
could decide to be baptized
- which made infant baptism
00:04:31.26\00:04:35.83
a logical impossibility.
00:04:35.83\00:04:38.70
They believed that
babies - who can neither believe
00:04:38.70\00:04:41.16
nor repent - couldn't
possibly decide to be baptized.
00:04:41.16\00:04:45.70
A decision for a baby
to be baptized is made FOR
00:04:45.70\00:04:49.10
the child, and not BY the child.
00:04:49.10\00:04:53.30
So where in the Bible
did these men get the idea
00:04:53.30\00:04:56.10
that baptism ought to
be by immersion - only?
00:04:56.10\00:05:00.10
We'll find that
out in just a moment.
00:05:00.10\00:05:03.23
In Matthew 4:4, the Word of
God says, "It is written: man
00:05:04.80\00:05:08.63
shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that proceeds
00:05:08.63\00:05:12.76
from the mouth of God.
00:05:12.76\00:05:13.80
Every Word is a one-minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:05:13.80\00:05:17.56
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:05:17.56\00:05:20.76
especially for
busy people like you.
00:05:20.76\00:05:22.93
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch
00:05:22.93\00:05:25.93
it on-line everyday on
our website, itiswritten.com.
00:05:25.93\00:05:30.30
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:05:30.30\00:05:32.16
Watch Every Word.
00:05:32.16\00:05:33.66
You'll be glad you did.
00:05:33.66\00:05:35.33
Here's a sample.
00:05:35.33\00:05:37.60
What a great
example Jacob gave us.
00:05:45.96\00:05:48.33
He had made plenty of mistakes
but late one night he wrestled
00:05:48.33\00:05:50.53
with God and said to God
in Genesis 32:26: "I will
00:05:50.53\00:05:54.36
not let you go
unless you bless me."
00:05:54.36\00:05:56.43
Now, there's the right attitude.
00:05:56.43\00:05:58.43
Lord, I must have your
blessing and I am going to hang
00:05:58.43\00:06:01.33
on to you until I get it.
00:06:01.33\00:06:03.36
You can pray that way.
00:06:03.36\00:06:04.26
Lord, I must be delivered.
00:06:04.26\00:06:05.76
I have to know your will.
00:06:05.76\00:06:06.90
I have to have
your power in my life.
00:06:06.90\00:06:09.40
Jacob showed us
what to do when you fall.
00:06:09.40\00:06:11.46
Instead of running
from God, he ran to God.
00:06:11.46\00:06:14.83
Instead of giving up, he took
hold of God believing that God
00:06:14.83\00:06:17.76
was willing and able to bless.
00:06:17.76\00:06:20.60
Don't let your falls
and failures keep you away
00:06:20.60\00:06:23.46
from God.
00:06:23.46\00:06:23.93
Be like Jacob.
00:06:23.93\00:06:25.03
Knowing he had made mistakes,
he took hold of God and would
00:06:25.03\00:06:27.56
not let go until
God had blessed him.
00:06:27.56\00:06:30.56
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:06:30.56\00:06:32.60
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:06:32.60\00:06:35.46
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
00:06:39.23\00:06:40.96
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:06:40.96\00:06:41.73
What would compel a man to
be so committed to the idea
00:06:41.73\00:06:45.40
of baptism by immersion
that he would give his life
00:06:45.40\00:06:49.10
in defense of his belief.
00:06:49.10\00:06:51.13
Felix Mantz was executed
in the year 1526, drowned
00:06:51.13\00:06:55.23
in Lake Zurich in Switzerland
because he disobeyed the civil
00:06:55.23\00:06:58.96
and religious authorities who
said that only infants should
00:06:58.96\00:07:02.10
be baptized.
00:07:02.10\00:07:03.60
So where was
this man coming from?
00:07:03.60\00:07:05.90
In Mark's account of the
gospel commission, Jesus says,
00:07:05.90\00:07:08.73
"He who believes and is
baptized will be saved."
00:07:08.73\00:07:12.96
Mark 16:16 NKJV.
00:07:12.96\00:07:15.36
Which indicates that
means baptism is for believers.
00:07:15.36\00:07:19.90
Believing as a condition
for baptism is crystal clear
00:07:19.90\00:07:24.36
in the story of Philip
and the Ethiopian eunuch
00:07:24.36\00:07:28.56
found in Acts 8.
00:07:28.56\00:07:31.33
The Ethiopian points at a
creek or pond near the road
00:07:31.33\00:07:34.66
and asks Philip if
he can be baptized.
00:07:34.66\00:07:38.40
"Then Philip said, 'If you
believe with all your heart,
00:07:38.40\00:07:43.93
you may.' And he answered
and said, 'I believe that Jesus
00:07:43.93\00:07:49.36
Christ is the Son of God.'...
00:07:49.36\00:07:52.33
And both Philip and the
eunuch went down to the water,
00:07:52.33\00:07:56.00
and he baptized him."
00:07:56.00\00:07:58.76
Acts 8:37, 38 NKJV.
00:07:58.76\00:08:02.53
There are several more places
in the Bible where people who
00:08:02.53\00:08:04.40
chose to be baptized
were asked to believe.
00:08:04.40\00:08:06.76
It is very clear that a
person must believe he or she
00:08:06.76\00:08:09.70
is a sinner and that Jesus
is his or her Savior before
00:08:09.70\00:08:13.16
baptism should take place.
00:08:13.16\00:08:14.93
Even those who came to
John the Baptist to be baptized
00:08:14.93\00:08:17.50
came "confessing their sins."
00:08:17.50\00:08:19.40
This is what Felix
Mantz and others in the 1520s
00:08:19.40\00:08:22.30
understood.
00:08:22.30\00:08:23.30
Only a person with
conscious self-awareness could
00:08:23.30\00:08:25.60
intelligently see his or
her own sinfulness, experience
00:08:25.60\00:08:29.40
repentance, then believe in
Jesus for salvation from sin
00:08:29.40\00:08:32.73
and be baptized.
00:08:32.73\00:08:34.60
We can see this when the
apostle Peter, in his sermon
00:08:34.60\00:08:37.60
on Pentecost, called for
the people to "Repent ...
00:08:37.60\00:08:40.80
and be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ
00:08:40.80\00:08:43.30
for the remission of sins."
00:08:43.30\00:08:44.50
Acts 2:38 NKJV.
00:08:44.50\00:08:46.90
Mantz and Grebel and others
realized babies can't possibly
00:08:46.90\00:08:50.06
believe, they can't confess
their sins, and they cannot
00:08:50.06\00:08:52.56
repent.
00:08:52.56\00:08:53.60
The two teachers
pointed out that Acts 5:14 says,
00:08:53.60\00:08:56.90
"believers were
increasingly added to the Lord"
00:08:56.90\00:09:00.33
and to the church -
not babies who cannot
00:09:00.33\00:09:02.86
consciously believe anything.
00:09:02.86\00:09:05.50
The reformer Ulrich Zwingli
had the dubious challenge
00:09:05.50\00:09:08.43
of defending infant
baptism against overwhelming
00:09:08.43\00:09:11.93
biblical evidence.
00:09:11.93\00:09:12.93
Of course, he could appeal
to custom, tradition and to
00:09:12.93\00:09:16.16
the regular order of society.
00:09:16.16\00:09:17.76
What had normally
seemed right to the masses was
00:09:17.76\00:09:21.43
in his Zwingli's favor.
00:09:21.43\00:09:22.43
Zwingli denounced those
promoting baptism by immersion
00:09:22.43\00:09:25.36
as schismatics, as dividers,
as a threat to the order
00:09:25.36\00:09:29.00
of society.
00:09:29.00\00:09:30.00
He also added a
theological argument that played
00:09:30.00\00:09:33.10
tremendously on the
fear of the common people.
00:09:33.10\00:09:36.70
Not baptizing babies was
wrong and even fatal because,
00:09:36.70\00:09:41.66
well...what if a
baby died without baptism?
00:09:41.66\00:09:45.46
Wouldn't that baby
lose out on eternal life?
00:09:45.46\00:09:48.70
Mantz and others would
point out that the Bible does
00:09:48.70\00:09:50.73
not have a single account
of a baby being baptized.
00:09:50.73\00:09:54.00
Only people old enough to
believe and repent and make
00:09:54.00\00:09:57.06
their own choice were baptized.
00:09:57.06\00:09:59.43
In spite of the fact
that the Bible writers
00:09:59.43\00:10:01.43
didn't have a problem
with babies not being baptized,
00:10:01.43\00:10:04.86
this fear of babies
being lost if they weren't
00:10:04.86\00:10:07.40
was a strong motivator
against believer's baptism.
00:10:07.40\00:10:11.86
So what does the Bible
mandate for babies if it isn't
00:10:11.86\00:10:15.40
appropriate for
them to be baptized?
00:10:15.40\00:10:17.96
It's actually very simple.
00:10:17.96\00:10:19.56
Mary and Joseph took
Baby Jesus to the temple
00:10:19.56\00:10:22.80
to be dedicated.
00:10:22.80\00:10:24.26
Jesus wasn't baptized until He
was an adult many years later.
00:10:24.26\00:10:28.00
There is also an account
in the gospels of mothers
00:10:28.00\00:10:31.43
bringing their little ones
to Jesus so He could bless them.
00:10:31.43\00:10:35.43
Baptism was well known
at that time, but neither
00:10:35.43\00:10:37.53
the mothers nor
Jesus even mention baptism
00:10:37.53\00:10:41.06
for the babies or
the young children.
00:10:41.06\00:10:43.96
God simply parents to dedicate
their children to Him and then
00:10:43.96\00:10:48.36
do their best to help
their children give their lives
00:10:48.36\00:10:52.03
to God as far as they
can understand at each stage
00:10:52.03\00:10:57.66
of growth.
00:10:57.66\00:10:59.46
The Bible teaches that baptism
is only effective if a person
00:10:59.46\00:11:03.30
believes and repents.
00:11:03.30\00:11:05.60
Without belief and repentance,
baptism is simply a form.
00:11:05.60\00:11:11.00
Baptism cannot create
salvation, and baptism doesn't
00:11:11.00\00:11:13.76
earn salvation.
00:11:13.76\00:11:15.26
Without belief,
baptism is meaningless.
00:11:15.26\00:11:19.40
But when somebody believes
and understands, baptism
00:11:19.40\00:11:23.50
has great meaning.
00:11:23.50\00:11:25.83
So where did
infant baptism come from?
00:11:25.83\00:11:29.23
It was fear of babies
and young children dying
00:11:29.23\00:11:31.90
and losing eternal life
that brought infant baptism
00:11:31.90\00:11:34.50
into the early
church in the first place.
00:11:34.50\00:11:36.83
I remember my own father
urging one of my brothers
00:11:36.83\00:11:39.16
to make sure that my brother's
new daughter was baptized -
00:11:39.16\00:11:41.96
well, christened actually
- because my dad believed
00:11:41.96\00:11:45.23
that if she wasn't -
and if something tragic were
00:11:45.23\00:11:47.60
to happen - then his
granddaughter wouldn't go
00:11:47.60\00:11:50.60
to heaven.
00:11:50.60\00:11:51.90
Now the first clear reference
to infant baptism was written
00:11:51.90\00:11:54.43
by an early church writer
named Tertullian, who wrote
00:11:54.43\00:11:57.33
around AD 200 -
and he was against it.
00:11:57.33\00:12:01.20
Not long after,
Origen, the famous teacher from
00:12:01.20\00:12:03.63
Alexandria, wrote
that "Infants are baptized
00:12:03.63\00:12:06.46
for the forgiveness of sins."
00:12:06.46\00:12:08.50
According to the historian,
Adolph Harnack, Origen
00:12:08.50\00:12:11.23
believed that sins could
be committed in a former life,
00:12:11.23\00:12:14.56
necessitating infant
baptism for forgiveness of sins.
00:12:14.56\00:12:18.30
Origen also claimed
"The church had from
00:12:18.30\00:12:20.96
the apostles a tradition to
give baptism even to infants."
00:12:20.96\00:12:24.83
Of course he gave no
evidence for those claims
00:12:24.83\00:12:27.70
from the Bible...
00:12:27.70\00:12:29.03
because there isn't any.
00:12:29.03\00:12:30.03
There IS evidence that
infant baptism became common in
00:12:30.03\00:12:33.70
the region of Carthage in
North Africa between 250 AD
00:12:33.70\00:12:36.93
and early in the 5th Century.
00:12:36.93\00:12:39.96
Cyprian, the bishop of
Carthage from 249-258 AD,
00:12:39.96\00:12:44.33
decided baptism
should be carried out as soon
00:12:44.33\00:12:47.46
as a baby is born.
00:12:47.46\00:12:49.53
There were 66 bishops of North
Africa present when he made
00:12:49.53\00:12:52.56
that decision and there's
no record that a single one
00:12:52.56\00:12:55.26
of them objected.
00:12:55.26\00:12:56.80
Augustine, also a bishop in
North Africa, wrote in favor
00:12:56.80\00:12:59.90
of infant baptism several times.
00:12:59.90\00:13:02.60
In about 400 AD,
Augustine expressed the fear
00:13:02.60\00:13:05.46
of the people.
00:13:05.46\00:13:06.46
He said that an infant who dies
before being baptized cannot
00:13:06.46\00:13:10.00
"obtain remission of
original sin," that they could
00:13:10.00\00:13:14.00
"not possibly be
vivified in Christ."
00:13:14.00\00:13:17.86
In other words, he said,
without baptism a baby who
00:13:17.86\00:13:20.73
dies is lost.
00:13:20.73\00:13:23.40
And the Sixteenth Council
of Carthage in AD 418 decreed,
00:13:23.40\00:13:27.20
"If any man says that newborn
children need not be baptized
00:13:27.20\00:13:32.36
...let him be anathema,"
or, let him be damned forever.
00:13:32.36\00:13:37.53
The writings of early
church leaders up to AD 500 make
00:13:37.53\00:13:40.36
it clear that baptism
by immersion was the norm
00:13:40.36\00:13:42.80
throughout Christendom.
00:13:42.80\00:13:44.70
Even in the Middle Ages,
the renowned Roman Catholic
00:13:44.70\00:13:47.20
theologian Thomas Aquinas,
who allowed for sprinkling,
00:13:47.20\00:13:50.73
wrote in the 13th Century
that "the safer way to baptize"
00:13:50.73\00:13:54.46
was "by immersion,
because that is the most common
00:13:54.46\00:13:58.36
custom."
00:13:58.36\00:13:59.73
Sprinkling first came
into common use in France,
00:13:59.73\00:14:02.90
then in the German
regions, including Austria
00:14:02.90\00:14:05.10
and part of Switzerland.
00:14:05.10\00:14:06.96
Historians tell us that some
groups such as the Albigenses,
00:14:06.96\00:14:10.03
and the Waldensians opposed
the practice in the Middle
00:14:10.03\00:14:13.20
Ages, but as a result
they faced severe persecution.
00:14:13.20\00:14:19.13
Baptism was never by sprinkling
in Scotland "until after
00:14:19.13\00:14:22.76
the Reformation,
about the year 1550."
00:14:22.76\00:14:26.76
It wasn't until the Protestant
Reformation that baptism
00:14:26.76\00:14:29.20
by immersion became
more widespread - but it did
00:14:29.20\00:14:32.43
so at a terrible cost.
00:14:32.43\00:14:33.73
Felix Mantz was just the first
martyr of thousands of martyrs
00:14:33.73\00:14:38.03
that would
follow in his footsteps.
00:14:38.03\00:14:40.03
The sad fact of
history is that both Protestant
00:14:40.03\00:14:42.70
and Catholic authorities
hunted down and tried to wipe
00:14:42.70\00:14:46.13
out the Anabaptists
- the group that Mantz
00:14:46.13\00:14:48.73
was aligned with, a
group who practiced baptism
00:14:48.73\00:14:52.36
by immersion.
00:14:52.36\00:14:54.06
The late Cardinal Gibbons
wrote in his book Faith of our
00:14:54.06\00:14:56.93
Fathers, "For several centuries
after the establishment
00:14:56.93\00:15:00.30
of Christianity,
Baptism was usually conferred
00:15:00.30\00:15:03.40
by immersion; but since the
twelfth century the practice
00:15:03.40\00:15:07.90
of baptizing by infusion
has prevailed in the Catholic
00:15:07.90\00:15:10.63
Church, as this
manner is attended with less
00:15:10.63\00:15:13.63
inconvenience than
Baptism by immersion."
00:15:13.63\00:15:18.00
Convenience.
00:15:18.00\00:15:19.00
But there's a better reason
than that for Christians to do
00:15:19.00\00:15:21.83
what they do - and that would
be love for God, and respect
00:15:21.83\00:15:26.36
for His word.
00:15:26.36\00:15:27.36
Not convenience!
00:15:27.36\00:15:29.63
Most people are aware
that not all Christians baptize
00:15:29.63\00:15:32.20
the same way.
00:15:32.20\00:15:33.40
So, is there a right way
and a wrong way to baptize?
00:15:33.40\00:15:37.56
Or does it even matter?
00:15:37.56\00:15:39.36
Those
associated with Felix Mantz
00:15:39.36\00:15:41.36
and Conrad Grebel
performed baptisms using
00:15:41.36\00:15:44.20
a bucket and pouring a
small amount of water on
00:15:44.20\00:15:47.60
the candidates' heads.
00:15:47.60\00:15:49.40
Many churches today baptize by
sprinkling or pouring a little
00:15:49.40\00:15:52.20
water on a person's head.
00:15:52.20\00:15:53.56
But other churches
baptize by complete immersion -
00:15:53.56\00:15:56.16
by submerging a person
entirely under water: sometimes
00:15:56.16\00:15:59.76
in a baptistery in a church,
or maybe, maybe in a river
00:15:59.76\00:16:02.46
or a lake, or the ocean.
00:16:02.46\00:16:04.60
How does the Bible shed
light on the proper method
00:16:04.60\00:16:07.96
of baptism?
00:16:07.96\00:16:09.30
That's just ahead.
00:16:09.30\00:16:11.30
Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect
00:16:13.60\00:16:16.23
of Christian stewardship.
00:16:16.23\00:16:17.83
For this reason, It Is Written
is pleased to offer free planned
00:16:17.83\00:16:21.13
giving and estate services.
00:16:21.13\00:16:22.86
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:16:22.86\00:16:27.86
1.800.992.2219.
00:16:27.86\00:16:29.56
Call today or visit our special
website, www.hislegacy.com.
00:16:29.56\00:16:39.30
It Is Written is dedicated
to sharing the gospel around
00:16:41.76\00:16:44.63
the world.
00:16:44.63\00:16:45.20
To discover more about
It Is Written, I invite you
00:16:45.20\00:16:47.43
to visit our
website, itiswritten.com
00:16:47.43\00:16:50.00
and browse the dozens of
pages that describe what we do
00:16:50.00\00:16:53.46
and how we do it.
00:16:53.46\00:16:54.46
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:16:54.46\00:16:56.70
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:16:56.70\00:17:01.20
What does the Bible say
about the way a person should be
00:17:01.20\00:17:04.03
baptized?Here's what we
know about Jesus' baptism.
00:17:04.03\00:17:07.46
It says this in Matthew 3:16,
"When he had been baptized,
00:17:07.46\00:17:12.90
Jesus came up
immediately from the water."
00:17:12.90\00:17:18.40
He "came up."
00:17:18.40\00:17:21.33
Now that sounds like He
had been immersed, doesn't it?
00:17:21.33\00:17:24.93
One comes up
after being down under.
00:17:24.93\00:17:28.90
So Jesus was baptized by
immersion in the Jordan River
00:17:28.90\00:17:32.56
by John the Baptist.
00:17:32.56\00:17:34.60
Philip baptized the Ethiopian
eunuch by immersion, as well.
00:17:34.60\00:17:37.90
Notice the
wording in Acts 8:38 & 39.
00:17:37.90\00:17:41.40
"And both Philip and
the eunuch went down into
00:17:41.40\00:17:46.60
the water, and he baptized him.
00:17:46.60\00:17:50.36
Now when they came up
out of the water, the Spirit
00:17:50.36\00:17:53.36
of the Lord caught Philip away."
00:17:53.36\00:17:55.36
Acts 8:38, 39 NKJV
"Down into the water;"
00:17:55.36\00:17:58.10
"up out of the water."
00:17:58.10\00:18:01.20
That's
immersion, without a doubt.
00:18:01.20\00:18:03.20
As a matter of fact, the
Greek word for baptize, baptizo,
00:18:03.20\00:18:06.36
means "to immerse."
00:18:06.36\00:18:08.00
John the Baptist's name
meant "John the Immerser."
00:18:08.00\00:18:12.00
Clearly, baptisms in the
New Testament were by immersion.
00:18:12.00\00:18:15.50
A fascinating study has been
done on the baptisteries found
00:18:15.50\00:18:19.36
in the ancient ruins
of Christian churches
00:18:19.36\00:18:21.63
and in the
basilicas and cathedrals
00:18:21.63\00:18:23.80
of the Middle Ages.
00:18:23.80\00:18:25.13
Among the ancient
ruins, stone-laid baptisteries
00:18:25.13\00:18:27.73
were found.
00:18:27.73\00:18:28.73
Some even have steps
going down into them, allowing
00:18:28.73\00:18:31.76
individuals to walk
down into the water.
00:18:31.76\00:18:35.53
All of them were large
enough for people to get in to
00:18:35.53\00:18:38.00
and to be baptized by immersion.
00:18:38.00\00:18:41.10
Baptisteries carved from
huge blocks of marble or built
00:18:41.10\00:18:44.40
into the floor can be found
in basilicas and cathedrals
00:18:44.40\00:18:47.20
in many places in Europe.
00:18:47.20\00:18:48.53
In many locations large
baptisteries have since been
00:18:48.53\00:18:51.63
filled in, with a font for
pouring built over the spot
00:18:51.63\00:18:54.70
where the baptistery used to be.
00:18:54.70\00:18:57.03
Perhaps the most interesting
adaptation of a baptistery
00:18:57.03\00:18:59.90
is the one found in the
Basilica of St. Peters in Rome.
00:18:59.90\00:19:03.46
An ornate bronze baptismal
font holds a small amount
00:19:03.46\00:19:08.16
of water in the front
part, but the whole thing stands
00:19:08.16\00:19:11.36
in a large
depression in the floor.
00:19:11.36\00:19:14.20
That large depression
indicates an earlier form
00:19:14.20\00:19:16.86
of baptism was performed there.
00:19:16.86\00:19:18.56
Records reveal that Benedictus
XIII, elected the Pope
00:19:18.56\00:19:22.83
in 1724, anxious to
conform to the ancient rite
00:19:22.83\00:19:26.96
of administering
baptism by immersion "ordered
00:19:26.96\00:19:29.43
the construction ...
00:19:29.43\00:19:32.60
forming a large basin."
00:19:32.60\00:19:33.60
And this was after thousands
of Anabaptists perished
00:19:33.60\00:19:35.73
for practicing
believer's baptism by immersion.
00:19:35.73\00:19:38.06
Of course, succeeding
popes didn't agree with Pope
00:19:38.06\00:19:41.13
Benedictus XIII, and
soon the depression was filled
00:19:41.13\00:19:44.90
in by the baptismal
font that can now be seen
00:19:44.90\00:19:46.90
in St Peter's today.
00:19:46.90\00:19:48.43
Well, does the form
of baptism really matter?
00:19:48.43\00:19:51.76
If you want to be true
to the Bible, you've got
00:19:51.76\00:19:55.73
to believe that it does.
00:19:55.73\00:19:56.80
But why does the Bible
teach baptism by immersion?
00:19:56.80\00:20:00.63
Since the word baptize in
the Greek means "to immerse,"
00:20:00.63\00:20:04.06
has a person been baptized
if they were not immersed?
00:20:04.06\00:20:07.13
What does it really
mean to be baptized?
00:20:07.13\00:20:11.16
Baptism has been
understood as a way to join
00:20:11.16\00:20:13.36
with the Christian
church as a follower of Christ -
00:20:13.36\00:20:15.73
which is a very Biblical idea.
00:20:15.73\00:20:17.90
In Acts chapter 2, 3000 people
were baptized and they were
00:20:17.90\00:20:22.03
"added to the
church" (which you see that
00:20:22.03\00:20:24.03
in verse 47).
00:20:24.03\00:20:25.36
And in Romans 6, Paul says
that people who are baptized
00:20:25.36\00:20:29.90
are baptized into
the death of Christ.
00:20:29.90\00:20:34.00
And then just as Christ
was raised up from the dead,
00:20:34.00\00:20:36.86
we begin to walk in a new life.
00:20:36.86\00:20:39.50
Listen to this.
00:20:39.50\00:20:40.50
"Do you not know that as
many of us as were baptized
00:20:40.50\00:20:45.03
into Christ Jesus were
baptized into His death?
00:20:45.03\00:20:49.80
Therefore we were
buried with Him through baptism
00:20:49.80\00:20:52.30
into death, that just as Christ
was raised from the dead by
00:20:52.30\00:20:56.16
the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness
00:20:56.16\00:21:01.63
of life."
00:21:01.63\00:21:02.83
Romans 6:3, 4 NKJV.
00:21:02.83\00:21:05.93
So what exactly does Paul mean?
00:21:05.93\00:21:07.93
He explains.
00:21:07.93\00:21:10.03
"For if we have been
united together in the likeness
00:21:10.03\00:21:12.26
of His death, certainly we
also shall be in the likeness
00:21:12.26\00:21:16.63
of His resurrection,
knowing this, that our old man
00:21:16.63\00:21:20.63
was crucified with Him,
that the body of sin might
00:21:20.63\00:21:24.20
be done away with,
that we should no longer
00:21:24.20\00:21:27.03
be slaves of sin.
00:21:27.03\00:21:29.50
For he who has died
has been freed from sin."
00:21:29.50\00:21:32.76
Romans 6:5-7 NKJV.
00:21:32.76\00:21:35.83
Paul is saying that baptism
represents the death of our
00:21:35.83\00:21:39.50
old nature of
sin and selfishness,
00:21:39.50\00:21:42.06
and a transformation
to a new life in Christ.
00:21:42.06\00:21:45.30
In verse 6, He describes
the death of our old nature
00:21:45.30\00:21:47.83
as "our old man" who
"was crucified with Him."
00:21:47.83\00:21:52.70
What part of baptism
represents being crucified
00:21:52.70\00:21:54.83
with Christ; the
death to sin and self?
00:21:54.83\00:21:57.93
Well, that would
be GOING UNDER WATER.
00:21:57.93\00:22:00.53
Paul calls it "being
buried with Him through baptism
00:22:00.53\00:22:04.10
into death" in Romans 6:4.
00:22:04.10\00:22:06.36
What part of baptism
represents being resurrected
00:22:06.36\00:22:09.60
like Christ; changed
to a new life in Christ?
00:22:09.60\00:22:13.10
That would be
COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER.
00:22:13.10\00:22:16.30
So baptism is a symbol
of change from spiritual
00:22:16.30\00:22:21.10
deadness-sin in
control of the life-to a new
00:22:21.10\00:22:25.53
spiritual life.
00:22:25.53\00:22:26.63
That is why
baptism means "to immerse."
00:22:26.63\00:22:29.50
Only immersion can symbolize
the change that comes through
00:22:29.50\00:22:32.10
true conversion.
00:22:32.10\00:22:34.00
Jesus described true baptism
as being born all over again.
00:22:34.00\00:22:37.40
He said these words
to Nicodemus in John 3.
00:22:37.40\00:22:42.16
"Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot
00:22:42.16\00:22:46.40
enter into the kingdom of God."
00:22:46.40\00:22:48.60
John 3:5 KJV.
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.96
Sprinkling or pouring simply
cannot symbolize the dramatic
00:22:50.96\00:22:54.80
transformation Christ brings
about in our lives through
00:22:54.80\00:22:57.76
the Holy Spirit.
00:22:57.76\00:22:59.53
You see, God is in the
business of transforming people.
00:22:59.53\00:23:03.46
Like the prodigal son in
the parable, those who are lost
00:23:03.46\00:23:06.93
become found, and those
who are dead are made alive.
00:23:06.93\00:23:11.80
And if you've given your life
to Jesus Christ, He calls you
00:23:11.80\00:23:15.40
to demonstrate that through
baptism: a person goes down
00:23:15.40\00:23:19.00
into what essentially is a
watery grave - and when you
00:23:19.00\00:23:23.06
come out of that water to
walk in newness of life...
00:23:23.06\00:23:26.13
that's then
you're really living!
00:23:26.13\00:23:29.86
[music]
00:23:33.23\00:23:35.23
Perhaps our program
today has touched your heart
00:24:01.90\00:24:03.96
and impressed you with
a personal need for deeper
00:24:03.96\00:24:05.90
Bible Study.
00:24:05.90\00:24:07.66
If you desire to listen to
God and follow where he leads,
00:24:07.66\00:24:10.93
we've got a wonderful
resource that can help you do
00:24:10.93\00:24:13.26
that in a systematic way.
00:24:13.26\00:24:14.96
The Discover Bible Guides.
00:24:14.96\00:24:17.20
These study guides will
take you through the essential
00:24:17.20\00:24:19.03
truths taught in Scripture.
00:24:19.03\00:24:20.13
They give you the big
picture, showing how it all fits
00:24:20.13\00:24:23.60
together.
00:24:23.60\00:24:24.60
The Discover Bible Guides
are a wonderful way for you
00:24:24.60\00:24:27.33
to become grounded in the
Word of God and to see how Jesus
00:24:27.33\00:24:30.63
Christ relates to all
the areas of our lives.
00:24:30.63\00:24:34.10
Please call or write us
and the Discover Bible Guides
00:24:34.10\00:24:36.93
will be on their way to you.
00:24:36.93\00:24:39.40
If you live in North America,
we'll mail these Bible Guides
00:24:39.40\00:24:41.60
free of charge.
00:24:41.60\00:24:42.63
Or for easier and immediate
access from anywhere around
00:24:42.63\00:24:45.73
the world, you can get
these wonderful Bible lessons
00:24:45.73\00:24:48.63
on our website, itiswritten.com.
00:24:48.63\00:24:52.43
Request the Discover Bible
Guides by calling our toll-free
00:24:52.43\00:24:56.06
number, 1.800.253.3000.
00:24:56.06\00:24:58.23
Call right now and tell us
the name of today's free offer,
00:24:58.23\00:25:03.26
the Discover Bible Guides.
00:25:03.26\00:25:05.36
You can also request
today's offer by writing
00:25:05.36\00:25:07.56
to It Is Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California,
00:25:07.56\00:25:12.10
91359.
00:25:12.10\00:25:14.13
Thank you for your letters
and for your continued support.
00:25:14.13\00:25:17.13
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:25:17.13\00:25:21.80
address is itiswritten.com.
00:25:21.80\00:25:26.00
Today, we have been
talking about baptism.
00:25:26.00\00:25:28.00
What the Bible
teaches about being baptized
00:25:28.00\00:25:30.23
by immersion.
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.23
And the reason that is
so powerfully important
00:25:31.23\00:25:33.80
is because baptism by
immersion represents a life
00:25:33.80\00:25:37.20
that is being given fully
and completely to Jesus Christ.
00:25:37.20\00:25:40.63
When a person is
baptized by immersion,
00:25:40.63\00:25:42.76
they are signifying something.
00:25:42.76\00:25:43.76
My life is given to Jesus
and I have come up out of that
00:25:43.76\00:25:46.96
water and I am now
walking in newness of life.
00:25:46.96\00:25:50.60
Have you made that
decision to be baptized?
00:25:50.60\00:25:54.10
And if you haven't,
what are you waiting for?
00:25:54.10\00:25:57.30
Perhaps now is the time
for you to make a decision
00:25:57.30\00:25:59.30
that says: "Jesus,
I'm giving you my life.
00:25:59.30\00:26:03.06
Jesus, I'm serious about it.
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.20
I want to enter into
that commitment ceremony
00:26:05.20\00:26:07.93
with you.
00:26:07.93\00:26:08.93
I'd like to be baptized,
have my sins washed away,
00:26:08.93\00:26:12.83
buried in that watery grave.
00:26:12.83\00:26:15.50
I want to walk
in newness of life."
00:26:15.50\00:26:18.40
To learn more about
this, visit out website
00:26:18.40\00:26:20.73
itiswritten.com.
00:26:20.73\00:26:26.00
You'll find information
there that will help you
00:26:26.00\00:26:28.00
in your journey with Jesus.
00:26:28.00\00:26:29.03
And I want to
encourage you today not to wait,
00:26:29.03\00:26:30.96
but to make that decision
that sees you follow Jesus'
00:26:30.96\00:26:33.10
example of being
baptized by immersion.
00:26:33.10\00:26:35.80
Let me pray with you about that.
00:26:35.80\00:26:39.33
[Music] Our Father
in heaven, we thank
00:26:39.33\00:26:42.33
you today for the wonderful
gift, really, it's a gift
00:26:42.33\00:26:43.56
of baptism by immersion, which
is all to do with that great
00:26:43.56\00:26:46.60
gift of salvation
that you gave to us.
00:26:46.60\00:26:50.30
I know that now there are people
who are making a decision.
00:26:50.30\00:26:53.30
It's time for me to be baptized.
00:26:53.30\00:26:55.30
I should not be
waiting any longer.
00:26:55.30\00:26:57.30
I need to do what Jesus
has asked me to do and I need
00:26:57.30\00:26:59.90
to give Him my
heart and my life.
00:26:59.90\00:27:02.43
So that that heart now,
Lord, and make it yours.
00:27:02.43\00:27:05.16
Father, I pray that
you would lead all of us,
00:27:05.16\00:27:08.16
those who need to be baptized,
to be baptized and those who
00:27:08.16\00:27:11.46
have been, to recommit
their lives to you right now,
00:27:11.46\00:27:14.40
to walk with Jesus
living his life in us.
00:27:14.40\00:27:20.96
We thank you today and we
pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:27:20.96\00:27:29.33
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:46.03\00:27:47.53
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:47.53\00:27:50.00
Until then, remember: It
is written: Man shall not
00:27:50.00\00:27:54.36
live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceeds
00:27:54.36\00:27:58.06
from the mouth of God.
00:27:58.06\00:28:04.86