[It Is Written Theme]
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>: It has stood 
the test of time.
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God's book, the Bible;
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still relevant  in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written, 
sharing hope around the globe.
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[sounds of thunder]
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[relaxing melody]
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JB: This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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And you're joining me outside
 the door of the Castle Church
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in Wittenberg,
Germany,  where in the year 1517
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a courageous Christian
 launched a revolution.
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His name was Martin
Luther,  and Martin Luther
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came here and to this
door  nailed his 95 Theses.
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Ninety-five points where he 
believed the ruling church of
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the day had
departed  from the Bible.
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Luther taught that salvation
 came only through faith in
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Jesus, not through
human  tradition or custom
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or human authority.
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Martin Luther's protest
launched  something that would
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revolutionize the world.
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When young Martin went to school
 as a child he was often bullied
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by other students.
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His family was so poor that 
Martin often had to go door to
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door singing, in order to raise
 a little money so that he could
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buy food.
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And his upbringing gave him
a  rather unfortunate picture
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of what God was like.
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He didn't see God as loving
and  compassionate at all,
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but he saw Him as cruel, 
vindictive, harsh, unforgiving,
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and as a stern judge.
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Martin Luther's father
was a  hard-working man.
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He was an honest man and a man
 of strict integrity, which is
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why he was so upset when Martin
 insisted on becoming a priest.
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Hans Luther was well aware
of  the corruption that was so
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rampant in the medieval Church,
 and he definitely did not want
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his son to be a part of it.
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So when Martin 
joined the monastery
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without his father's consent,
 his father was so upset
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that father and son
 were not reconciled
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for another two years.
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And even when they
were,  Hans Luther's opinion
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of the Church
remained  completely unchanged.
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At the age of 18 Martin entered
 the University of Erfurt.
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He was a good student, and he
 was disciplined and diligent.
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It wasn't long before his
grades  were among the highest
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in the student body.
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One day  while in
the library at school
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Martin Luther found a
copy  of a Latin Bible.
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He'd never seen a Bible before.
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In those days  the
common people weren't
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allowed to possess the Bible.
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The only Bibles that existed 
were kept chained to walls and
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monasteries and convents.
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Martin Luther had heard portions
 of the Bible, parts of the New
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Testament Gospels and
parts of  the epistles read
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in worship services.
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But he'd never held
a Bible  in his hands.
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He turned the
sacred pages  with awe,
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and as he read he came to 
realize more and more his true
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sinful condition before God.
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Because he wanted so much to be
 at peace with God, he committed
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himself to the life of a monk.
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He often said he was the 
strictest person in the whole
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monastery when it came to 
obedience to the rules of the
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order he had joined.
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He spent every possible moment
 in the study of Scripture,
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and he fasted and
prayed  frequently.
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Then Luther met a
man  who introduced him
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to the love of Jesus.
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Instead of torturing yourself
on  account of your sins,
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he told him,  throw yourself
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into the Redeemer's arms.
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Love Him who first loved you.
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This messenger of mercy made
a  deep impression on the young
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earnest priest.
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For the first time in his life
 he saw God as a God of love,
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and peace 
flooded into his heart.
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When Martin was ordained, he was
 invited to serve as a professor
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of theology at the
University  here in Wittenberg.
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At first, he was very shy
about  preaching in the pulpit,
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but when he was
finally  convinced to do so,
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his eloquence
captivated  the crowds.
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Many of those who listened were
 convinced that God's special
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blessing was
resting upon  Martin Luther.
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[Ominous drone]
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In Rome, in Italy, is
found  what's known as
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the Holy Staircase, 
or Pilate's Staircase,
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which according to
tradition  Jesus walked on when
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He was leaving the
Roman  judgment hall
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on His way to Calvary.
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The story goes that this 
staircase was transported from
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Jerusalem here to Rome.
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In Martin Luther's time, devout
 men and women seeking the
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approval of God received
an  indulgence for their sins
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by walking up this
staircase  on their knees.
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The same still happens today.
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In fact, the only way
you're  allowed to walk up this
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staircase today 
is on your knees.
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Martin Luther had long dreamed
 of coming to the city of Rome,
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and when it finally became
 possible for him to do so,
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he made the long
journey  on foot,
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staying at various
monasteries  as he traveled.
00:05:49.44\00:05:52.85
Once he reached
Italy,  he was shocked
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at the luxury in the
monasteries  in which he stayed:
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the splendid apartments, 
the costly robes of the monks,
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and the sumptuous tables 
at which the clergy feasted.
00:06:02.39\00:06:06.39
He couldn't help 
contrasting this opulence
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with the hardship 
of his own upbringing.
00:06:08.86\00:06:11.50
And he started to feel
confused  and perplexed.
00:06:11.50\00:06:17.21
At last he approached the fabled
 City of the Seven Hills and
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with deep emotion prostrated
himself  on the earth.
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"Holy Rome, I salute
thee,"  he exclaimed.
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He entered the city, visited the
 great churches and listened to
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the tales told by
priests,  bishops and cardinals.
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But soon his heart
became  deeply troubled.
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Everywhere he saw evidence of 
moral depravity, even in houses
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of worship.
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He shuddered at the indecent
 jokes passed around by church
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officials.
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Later, Martin Luther
would say  "If there is a hell,
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Rome is built over it."
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In a moment, Martin Luther 
climbs the Holy Staircase on his
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knees, and history 
will never be the same.
00:07:03.25\00:07:07.56
I'll be right back.
00:07:07.56\00:07:08.72
[Gentle melody]  >:
You are watching the weekly
00:07:09.99\00:07:12.16
It Is Written program
with  Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:07:12.16\00:07:15.00
but did you know that 
there's a daily program, too?
00:07:15.00\00:07:17.77
Every Word is a one-minute 
Bible-based daily devotional
00:07:17.77\00:07:21.40
presented by Pastor John 
Bradshaw and designed especially
00:07:21.40\00:07:24.74
for busy people like you.
00:07:24.74\00:07:26.44
Look for Every Word 
on selected networks,
00:07:26.44\00:07:29.14
or watch it online 
every day on our website,
00:07:29.14\00:07:31.55
ItIsWritten.com.
00:07:31.55\00:07:33.52
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:07:33.52\00:07:35.42
Watch Every Word.
00:07:35.42\00:07:36.75
You'll be glad you did.
00:07:36.75\00:07:39.15
[Rythmic Melody]
00:07:42.59\00:07:45.46
JB: It can seem at times
 as though following Jesus
00:07:49.20\00:07:51.57
can come at great cost.
00:07:51.57\00:07:53.13
But look at what Jesus said
in  Luke 18 verses 29 and 30.
00:07:53.13\00:07:56.77
"There is no one who has left 
house or parents or brothers or
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wife or children for the sake
of  the kingdom of God who shall
00:07:59.67\00:08:02.74
not receive, many times more
in this  present time and in the
00:08:02.74\00:08:06.21
age to come, eternal life."
00:08:06.21\00:08:08.22
Jesus says He'll give you many
 times more than what you were
00:08:08.22\00:08:11.35
ever called to give up
when you  followed Him.
00:08:11.35\00:08:13.29
And on top of that, 
He'll give you everlasting life.
00:08:13.29\00:08:16.36
If you've ever been tempted to
 think of salvation as costing
00:08:16.36\00:08:18.93
you something, keep things
in  perspective by keeping
00:08:18.93\00:08:21.46
your eyes on the prize.
00:08:21.46\00:08:23.30
Salvation cost Jesus something.
00:08:23.30\00:08:26.17
It's the best
deal  we'll ever get.
00:08:26.17\00:08:28.14
If you ever lose anything
to  follow Jesus, He'll make it
00:08:28.14\00:08:30.64
right up to you, with interest.
00:08:30.64\00:08:33.98
I'm John Bradshaw
 for It is Written.
00:08:33.98\00:08:35.94
Let's live today by every word.
00:08:35.94\00:08:38.95
[string ensemble 
with an air of pride]
00:08:42.42\00:08:47.66
JB: This is It Is Written.
00:08:54.43\00:08:56.03
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:08:56.03\00:08:57.20
Thanks for joining me today.
00:08:57.20\00:08:59.10
As a young priest, Martin Luther
 visited the city of Rome and he
00:08:59.10\00:09:03.00
did what so many people do when
 they visit Rome: He ascended
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Pilate's Staircase on his knees.
00:09:06.94\00:09:10.35
But as he did so, he felt as 
though he heard a voice speaking
00:09:10.35\00:09:15.32
loudly to his heart.
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The voice quoted the prophet
 Habakkuk and the Apostle Paul
00:09:17.25\00:09:20.46
and said,  "The just
shall live by faith."
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Luther realized that manmade 
requirements wouldn't give him
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peace with God and that they
 wouldn't make him righteous.
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It was obvious to Luther that
 these things hadn't made other
00:09:32.43\00:09:35.14
people righteous.
00:09:35.14\00:09:36.64
Luther got off of
his knees  and fled,
00:09:36.64\00:09:39.74
and he never did penance again.
00:09:39.74\00:09:42.98
Martin soon returned to
 Wittenberg and obtained
00:09:43.81\00:09:46.88
a doctor of divinity degree.
00:09:46.88\00:09:49.08
He was now able to preach the
 Word of God like never before.
00:09:49.08\00:09:52.65
His former shyness was gone, 
and he preached from the pulpit
00:09:52.65\00:09:56.99
with increasing power.
00:09:56.99\00:10:00.70
Luther taught people of the 
dangers of exalting human ideas
00:10:00.70\00:10:04.73
above the Word of God.
00:10:04.73\00:10:06.60
He taught against the theories 
of the scholars and philosophers
00:10:06.60\00:10:11.07
and theologians who so
often  clouded the Word of God
00:10:11.07\00:10:15.11
in a fog of confusion.
00:10:15.11\00:10:17.31
The crowds hung on his words.
00:10:17.31\00:10:20.08
The assurance 
of a Savior's love,
00:10:20.08\00:10:22.05
the offer of pardon 
and peace filled thousands
00:10:22.05\00:10:24.82
of hearts with hope.
00:10:24.82\00:10:26.02
In Wittenberg, a torch was 
ignited whose brilliance would
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illuminate the world.
00:10:29.92\00:10:33.83
It was at this time that
 Pope Leo X drew up plans
00:10:35.10\00:10:38.80
for the construction 
of St. Peter's Basilica.
00:10:38.80\00:10:42.30
Catholic tradition says this
 enormous church is built over
00:10:42.30\00:10:45.07
the grave of Saint Peter.
00:10:45.07\00:10:47.38
But who could afford to
build a  church this grand?
00:10:47.38\00:10:51.95
In order to raise funds for this
 project, Rome offered the sale
00:10:51.95\00:10:55.85
of indulgences: basically,
 the forgiveness of sin.
00:10:55.85\00:10:59.92
Even though Rome says today that
 indulgences, which are still
00:10:59.92\00:11:02.92
very much a part of
 the Vatican system,
00:11:02.92\00:11:05.16
do not buy forgiveness of sin,
 they say indulgences relieve
00:11:05.16\00:11:09.56
the temporal punishment 
that comes as a result of sin.
00:11:09.56\00:11:13.77
Back in Luther's day 
there was no question:
00:11:13.77\00:11:16.30
forgiveness was for sale.
00:11:16.30\00:11:19.21
Do you think this was an 
effective way of raising money
00:11:19.21\00:11:21.11
for the church?
00:11:21.11\00:11:22.34
Oh yes, it was.
00:11:22.34\00:11:24.21
Who wouldn't give the church a
 little money if it meant you'd
00:11:24.21\00:11:26.35
be forgiven, just like that.
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.18
But this totally
unbiblical  practice ended up
00:11:29.18\00:11:32.02
backfiring on the church.
00:11:32.02\00:11:34.99
A man by the name of Tetzel was
 appointed as an agent of the
00:11:35.16\00:11:38.36
church to sell indulgences
 on behalf of the church.
00:11:38.36\00:11:42.63
Now, Tetzel was no choirboy; 
he had been convicted of fraud
00:11:42.63\00:11:45.60
and embezzlement and, they
say,  immorality, but the church
00:11:45.60\00:11:48.67
had pardoned him  for
all of those offenses.
00:11:48.67\00:11:51.71
Tetzel would go into town
and he  would invent tall tales,
00:11:51.71\00:11:55.54
playing upon the superstition
and the  ignorance of the
00:11:55.54\00:11:58.68
people, almost guaranteeing that
he would be  able to sell these
00:11:58.68\00:12:01.42
indulgences so people
would be freed  of their sin.
00:12:01.42\00:12:04.19
Before he would get to
town  a messenger would go
00:12:04.19\00:12:06.49
before him and declare 
at the gates of the city,
00:12:06.49\00:12:08.92
"The grace of God and 
the Holy Father is upon you."
00:12:08.92\00:12:13.73
Tetzel would even make a sales
 pitch inside churches, a lot
00:12:13.76\00:12:17.47
like those people, those money
 changers Jesus threw out of the
00:12:17.47\00:12:20.40
temple in Jerusalem.
00:12:20.40\00:12:23.04
The Bible gives an explicit 
example of somebody who tries to
00:12:23.04\00:12:26.54
buy God's favor with money.
00:12:26.54\00:12:28.94
The man's name was Simon.
00:12:28.94\00:12:31.28
He saw Peter and the other 
apostles laying hands on people.
00:12:31.28\00:12:34.92
Those people were healed
of  physical illnesses and
00:12:34.92\00:12:37.92
they received the
gift  of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:37.92\00:12:40.42
Simon wanted that
power  for himself.
00:12:40.42\00:12:43.76
The book of Acts
tells us  what happened.
00:12:43.76\00:12:46.96
"Now when Simon saw that through
 the laying on of the apostles'
00:12:46.96\00:12:49.96
hands the Holy Spirit was given,
 he offered them money, saying,
00:12:49.96\00:12:54.50
'Give me this power also, that
 anyone on whom I lay hands may
00:12:54.50\00:12:58.27
receive the Holy Spirit.'"
 But Peter said to him,
00:12:58.27\00:13:02.58
"Your money perish with
you,  because you thought
00:13:02.58\00:13:05.21
that the gift of God 
could be purchased with money."
00:13:05.21\00:13:08.22
Acts 8, 18 through 20.
00:13:08.22\00:13:11.49
I think most people today would
 find it hard to imagine that
00:13:11.62\00:13:14.39
there was a time people
believed  that they could buy
00:13:14.39\00:13:17.33
forgiveness of sin.
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.23
But in Martin Luther's
day,  the people were almost
00:13:19.23\00:13:21.36
completely ignorant
about  what the Bible said.
00:13:21.36\00:13:24.53
All they had to base their 
belief on was what they were
00:13:24.53\00:13:27.44
told by the priests, who knew
 little more about the Bible
00:13:27.44\00:13:30.44
than they did.
00:13:30.44\00:13:31.91
It truly was a case of 
the blind leading the blind.
00:13:31.91\00:13:35.94
But it's
interesting  that indulgences
00:13:35.94\00:13:38.38
are still offered today.
00:13:38.38\00:13:40.72
In the year 2009, 500 years 
after Tetzel, the New York Times
00:13:40.72\00:13:46.15
reported this: 
"In recent months,
00:13:46.15\00:13:50.06
diocese around the world 
have been offering Catholics a
00:13:50.06\00:13:52.86
spiritual benefit that
fell out  of favor decades ago:
00:13:52.86\00:13:57.27
the indulgence.
00:13:57.27\00:13:58.67
A sort of amnesty from 
punishment in the afterlife,
00:13:58.67\00:14:01.94
and reminding them of  the
church's clout in mitigating
00:14:01.94\00:14:05.34
the wages of sin."
00:14:05.34\00:14:07.61
The fact that many Catholics 
under 50 have never sought one,
00:14:07.61\00:14:11.35
and never heard of indulgences
 except in high school European
00:14:11.35\00:14:14.12
history, Martin Luther denounced
 the selling of them in 1517
00:14:14.12\00:14:18.12
while igniting the 
Protestant Reformation, simply
00:14:18.12\00:14:20.89
makes their reintroduction 
more urgent among church leaders
00:14:20.89\00:14:24.56
bent on restoring
fading  traditions of penance
00:14:24.56\00:14:28.40
in what they see as a
 self-satisfied world.
00:14:28.40\00:14:32.73
The Word of God that brought 
life and hope into the heart of
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.87
Martin Luther still declares,
in  Romans 1, verse 17, that
00:14:35.87\00:14:40.44
the just shall live by faith.
00:14:40.44\00:14:43.11
Only God can forgive sins, 
and He doesn't offer indulgences
00:14:43.11\00:14:47.32
for sale.
00:14:47.32\00:14:48.22
His gifts are to be
received,  as Isaiah said,
00:14:48.22\00:14:50.89
in Isaiah 55, verse 1, 
"Without money and without
00:14:50.89\00:14:54.46
price, forgiveness
comes  directly from the God
00:14:54.46\00:14:58.16
of heaven."
00:14:58.16\00:14:59.06
It's available to anybody
who  confesses and forsakes
00:14:59.06\00:15:02.43
their sins.
00:15:02.43\00:15:03.97
It's as simple as that.
00:15:03.97\00:15:05.57
Listen to what the
Bible  says about it:
00:15:05.57\00:15:08.37
"If my people, who are 
called by my name, will humble
00:15:08.57\00:15:11.64
themselves and pray and seek my 
face, and turn from their wicked
00:15:11.64\00:15:16.75
ways, then will I hear from 
heaven and will forgive their
00:15:16.75\00:15:21.08
sin and heal their land."
00:15:21.08\00:15:23.55
Second Chronicles 7:14.
00:15:23.72\00:15:26.52
"He who covers his sin will not
 prosper, but whoever confesses
00:15:26.52\00:15:30.69
and forsakes them
 will have mercy."
00:15:30.69\00:15:33.60
Proverbs 28:13.
00:15:33.60\00:15:36.13
"Let the wicked forsake his
way  and the unrighteous man
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.83
his thoughts.
00:15:39.83\00:15:41.24
Let him return to the Lord, 
and he will have mercy on him.
00:15:41.24\00:15:45.24
And to our God,  for he
will abundantly pardon."
00:15:45.24\00:15:50.45
Luther was not about to
let the  sale of indulgences go
00:15:50.45\00:15:53.28
unchallenged, and his challenge
 to the church would reverberate
00:15:53.28\00:15:57.02
around the world.
00:15:57.02\00:15:58.72
? Give me the Bible, ?  ?
star of gladness gleaming, ?
00:15:58.75\00:16:03.66
? To cheer the wand'rer ? 
? lone and tempest tossed; ?
00:16:03.66\00:16:08.70
? No storm can hide that ? 
? peaceful radiance beaming, ?
00:16:08.70\00:16:13.80
? Since Jesus came to ? 
? seek and save the lost. ?
00:16:13.80\00:16:19.01
? Give me the Bible, ? 
? holy message shining; ?
00:16:19.01\00:16:24.08
? Thy light shall guide
me ?  ? in the narrow way; ?
00:16:24.08\00:16:28.82
? Precept and promise, ? 
? law and love combining, ?
00:16:28.82\00:16:33.66
? Till night shall
vanish ?  ? in eternal day. ?
00:16:33.66\00:16:40.20
? Give me the Bible, ?  ?
when my heart is broken, ?
00:16:40.20\00:16:45.13
? When sin and grief have ? 
? filled my soul with fear; ?
00:16:45.13\00:16:50.27
? Give me the precious ? 
? words by Jesus spoken, ?
00:16:50.27\00:16:55.08
? Hold up faith's lamp to
?  ? show my Savior near. ?
00:16:55.08\00:17:00.22
? Give me the Bible, ? 
? holy message shining; ?
00:17:00.22\00:17:05.39
? Thy light shall guide
me ?  ? in the narrow way; ?
00:17:05.39\00:17:10.23
? Precept and promise, ? 
? law and love combining, ?
00:17:10.23\00:17:15.23
? Till night shall
vanish ?  ? in eternal day. ?
00:17:15.23\00:17:22.10
? Give me the Bible, ? 
? all my steps enlighten, ?
00:17:22.10\00:17:26.94
? Teach me the danger ? 
? of these realms below; ?
00:17:26.94\00:17:31.95
? That lamp of safety ? 
?o'er the gloom shall brighten,?
00:17:31.95\00:17:37.02
? That light alone the ? 
? path of peace can show. ?
00:17:37.02\00:17:42.79
? Give me the Bible, ? 
? holy message shining; ?
00:17:42.79\00:17:47.66
? Thy light shall guide
me ?  ? in the narrow way; ?
00:17:47.66\00:17:52.43
? Precept and promise, ? 
? law and love combining, ?
00:17:52.43\00:17:57.57
? Till night shall
vanish ?  ? in eternal day. ?
00:17:57.57\00:18:07.22
[Triumphant melody] 
JB: "Babylon Rising" is a
00:18:09.98\00:18:12.72
dynamic book that I've written,
 describing the significance of
00:18:12.72\00:18:14.66
Babylon in Bible prophecy,
 and I want you to have it.
00:18:14.66\00:18:18.09
Right now this
powerful book  is available free
00:18:18.09\00:18:20.50
from It Is Written.
00:18:20.50\00:18:21.63
Just call 1 (800)
253-3000,  ask for the book
00:18:21.63\00:18:26.27
"Babylon Rising."
00:18:26.27\00:18:27.70
Or write to It Is
Written at  PO Box 6,
00:18:27.70\00:18:30.77
Chattanooga, TN 37401, 
and we'll mail a copy to your
00:18:30.77\00:18:34.91
address in North America.
00:18:34.91\00:18:37.11
For even faster access, you
can  download a free electronic
00:18:37.11\00:18:40.65
version of this book "Babylon
 Rising" from our website.
00:18:40.65\00:18:43.92
"Babylon Rising" is
also a  four-part seminar
00:18:43.92\00:18:46.89
that I have presented, 
that you can get on video.
00:18:46.89\00:18:49.19
For details please visit
our  website, ItIsWritten.com
00:18:49.19\00:18:52.99
and discover more 
about "Babylon Rising"
00:18:52.99\00:18:55.36
and other
inspirational  resources.
00:18:55.36\00:18:57.77
It Is Written is a faith-based
 outreach made possible
00:18:57.77\00:19:00.57
by viewer like you.
00:19:00.57\00:19:01.97
Thank you for your
continued  support.
00:19:01.97\00:19:03.84
Call us, 1 (800) 253-3000; 
visit us at ItIsWritten.com.
00:19:03.84\00:19:11.05
[pensive melody]
00:19:13.25\00:19:18.95
JB: People in Martin 
Luther's church here in
00:19:21.39\00:19:23.49
Wittenberg began coming to their
 pastor, asking to be forgiven
00:19:23.49\00:19:26.80
for their sins, because they had
 bought indulgences from Tetzel.
00:19:26.80\00:19:31.17
Luther was appalled, and what
 really horrified him is that
00:19:31.17\00:19:34.47
most of these people weren't the
 least bit sorry for their sins
00:19:34.47\00:19:37.94
and had no intention 
of changing their lives.
00:19:37.94\00:19:40.81
Luther saw like never before
 that only true repentance,
00:19:40.81\00:19:44.51
true sorrow for sin, 
can bring God's forgiveness
00:19:44.51\00:19:47.32
into a person's life.
00:19:47.32\00:19:49.48
He spoke more strongly
than ever  that human traditions
00:19:49.48\00:19:52.72
could never take the place
of  conversion and that what God
00:19:52.72\00:19:56.02
wants to see is a transformed
 heart, which can only be
00:19:56.02\00:19:59.76
achieved by the grace of God.
00:19:59.76\00:20:03.26
The Wittenberg church was a
 popular place because it had
00:20:05.10\00:20:07.60
many holy relics 
that people came to see.
00:20:07.60\00:20:11.11
Among these relics were vials 
which supposedly contained milk
00:20:11.11\00:20:14.81
from the Virgin Mary,
 straw from the manger
00:20:14.81\00:20:18.28
where Jesus lay;  even the body
00:20:18.28\00:20:20.85
purportedly belonging to 
one of the babies killed in
00:20:20.85\00:20:23.49
Bethlehem by King Herod.
00:20:23.49\00:20:26.29
Many had the idea that just 
coming to see these relics was
00:20:26.29\00:20:29.42
enough to get
their sins  forgiven.
00:20:29.42\00:20:33.16
But as All Saints Day approached
 in the autumn of 1517,
00:20:33.16\00:20:37.30
Luther realized 
he had an opportunity
00:20:37.30\00:20:39.23
to make clear to the people
the  correct method of receiving
00:20:39.23\00:20:43.04
pardon and forgiveness from God.
00:20:43.04\00:20:46.47
He wrote up a list of 95 points
 where he felt his church had
00:20:46.47\00:20:49.68
departed from the
truths  of the Bible.
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.95
These became known as Martin
 Luther's 95 Theses, and he
00:20:51.95\00:20:55.25
nailed them to the
doors  of this very church.
00:20:55.25\00:20:59.39
October 31 is considered
 by many to be Halloween.
00:20:59.39\00:21:03.96
And it's fair to say that 
through the sale of indulgences
00:21:03.96\00:21:06.59
and the viewing of supposedly
 sacred relics as a means for
00:21:06.59\00:21:10.00
obtaining pardon and favor
with  God, the people were being
00:21:10.00\00:21:13.07
tricked and not treated.
00:21:13.07\00:21:15.90
Martin Luther believed
that  the deception had to end.
00:21:15.90\00:21:19.07
[light melody]
00:21:19.07\00:21:22.81
JB: Luther's teaching 
soon spread throughout Germany
00:21:26.18\00:21:28.62
and copies of his writings were
 quickly circulated around other
00:21:28.62\00:21:31.12
countries in Europe.
00:21:31.12\00:21:33.02
Barriers began to
fall  in the minds of many.
00:21:33.02\00:21:36.42
Eyes that for so long had been
 focused on manmade rights and
00:21:36.42\00:21:39.89
traditions were now opened to 
see that great truth declared in
00:21:39.89\00:21:43.80
the New Testament, that there
is  one God and one Mediator
00:21:43.80\00:21:47.84
between God and man,
 the man Christ Jesus.
00:21:47.84\00:21:51.41
And people began to understand
 that salvation came by faith
00:21:51.41\00:21:55.11
alone through grace alone.
00:21:55.11\00:22:00.32
But not everybody was happy to
 accept Martin Luther's message
00:22:02.05\00:22:05.35
about faith and
forgiveness  from the Bible.
00:22:05.35\00:22:08.62
People had for so long been
 accustomed to looking to the
00:22:08.62\00:22:11.33
church for forgiveness that they
 had a hard time adapting to
00:22:11.33\00:22:14.86
what Martin Luther was saying.
00:22:14.86\00:22:17.27
High officials in the church
 were furious that there was a
00:22:17.27\00:22:20.87
young monk who dared to stand 
alone and teach contrary to the
00:22:20.87\00:22:25.37
teachings of the church.
00:22:25.37\00:22:27.58
Before too long Martin
Luther  was summoned to Augsburg
00:22:27.58\00:22:30.85
to appear before a papal
 representative on charges
00:22:30.85\00:22:34.98
of heresy.
00:22:34.98\00:22:36.45
Again and again it was
demanded  that Luther retract
00:22:36.45\00:22:39.05
his positions.
00:22:39.05\00:22:40.62
But Luther
demanded,  every single time,
00:22:40.62\00:22:43.19
that he be shown 
from the Bible where his
00:22:43.19\00:22:45.39
positions were wrong.
00:22:45.39\00:22:47.00
And because there was no 
biblical evidence that Luther
00:22:47.00\00:22:49.50
was wrong, 
Luther stood his ground.
00:22:49.50\00:22:52.73
[Tense Melody]
00:22:52.97\00:22:57.57
JB: Finally, Pope Leo X 
issued the order excommunicating
00:22:58.11\00:23:02.38
Martin Luther from the
Roman  Catholic Church.
00:23:02.38\00:23:05.58
The reformer was
denounced  as cursed by heaven
00:23:05.58\00:23:08.85
and cast out of the church,
 and all who embraced his
00:23:08.85\00:23:12.55
teachings were
threatened  with the same.
00:23:12.55\00:23:15.09
The great struggle for the
soul  of Christendom commenced.
00:23:15.09\00:23:19.26
The Protestant
Reformation  had begun.
00:23:19.26\00:23:24.20
It was from Wittenberg that 
Luther left to appear before the
00:23:24.20\00:23:27.00
Diet of Worms.
00:23:27.00\00:23:28.74
And it was here in Wittenberg
 that Luther preached so
00:23:28.74\00:23:31.34
powerfully, studied the 
Scriptures with so many, and
00:23:31.34\00:23:35.11
taught the Word of God
 as the basis of faith.
00:23:35.11\00:23:40.28
Martin Luther was truly a
light  that shone in darkness.
00:23:41.72\00:23:45.42
What happened here in
Wittenberg  changed the world.
00:23:45.42\00:23:48.66
People were introduced to a 
Savior who forgave sin freely
00:23:48.66\00:23:52.83
and to a God who could be known
 personally on the basis of what
00:23:52.83\00:23:55.96
He had revealed about
Himself  in the Bible.
00:23:55.96\00:24:00.14
Walking the streets of 
Wittenberg today, it isn't hard
00:24:04.21\00:24:07.24
to imagine Martin Luther boldly
 striding to the doors that hung
00:24:07.24\00:24:10.75
here at the Castle Church
 and nailing to those doors
00:24:10.75\00:24:13.48
his 95 Theses.
00:24:13.48\00:24:15.85
It isn't likely that Luther 
intended to pick a fight with
00:24:15.85\00:24:18.45
his church, but by the time his
 work was done, people had the
00:24:18.45\00:24:21.52
Bible in their hands, 
truth burning in their hearts,
00:24:21.52\00:24:25.46
and light and not darkness
 shining on their pathway.
00:24:25.46\00:24:29.76
? [happy theme] ?
00:24:29.76\00:24:32.30
? Marvelous, infinite,
?  ? matchless grace, ?
00:24:43.51\00:24:50.55
? freely bestowed ? 
? on all who believe! ?
00:24:50.55\00:24:56.73
? You that are longing
?  ? to see his face, ?
00:24:56.73\00:25:02.53
? will you this moment
?  ? his grace receive? ?
00:25:02.53\00:25:09.57
? Grace, grace, God's grace,
?  ? grace that will pardon ?
00:25:09.80\00:25:18.71
? and cleanse within; ?  ?
grace, grace, God's grace, ?
00:25:18.71\00:25:28.26
? grace that is greater
?  ? than all our sin! ?
00:25:28.26\00:25:36.23
? grace that is greater
?  ? than all our sin! ?
00:25:37.70\00:25:51.58
JB: In a distant corner of 
Germany, 500 years ago, Luther
00:26:10.37\00:26:13.84
saw to it that light
began to  shine in this world.
00:26:13.84\00:26:17.71
My prayer for you is that that
 light will shine in your heart.
00:26:17.71\00:26:21.61
Let's pray together.
00:26:21.61\00:26:22.94
Our father in heaven, one life,
 one individual who changed
00:26:22.94\00:26:29.18
the world under the
influence  of Your Holy Spirit.
00:26:29.18\00:26:32.95
Though not a perfect
man,  undoubtedly, Lord,
00:26:32.95\00:26:36.42
You used Martin
Luther  in magnificent ways.
00:26:36.42\00:26:40.16
And to anyone willing to receive
 the gift, the Bible is given
00:26:40.16\00:26:44.17
today as the sole rule of faith
 and practice for the believer
00:26:44.17\00:26:49.17
in Jesus.
00:26:49.17\00:26:50.77
Father, thank You for
the  freedom to know You,
00:26:50.77\00:26:53.34
the freedom to worship You, 
the freedom to read the Bible--
00:26:53.34\00:26:57.38
a freedom that not 
everybody in this world has.
00:26:57.38\00:27:00.82
Thank You for the great work of
 those men and women of God who
00:27:00.82\00:27:03.92
have gone before us.
00:27:03.92\00:27:06.05
May we not waste the great 
privileges that have been handed
00:27:06.05\00:27:10.39
to us as a legacy of
their  faithfulness to You.
00:27:10.39\00:27:14.60
Bless us as we know
You,  cling to You, and read
00:27:14.60\00:27:18.27
and study Your Word, 
I pray in Jesus' name.
00:27:18.27\00:27:22.07
Amen.
00:27:22.07\00:27:27.61
[music]
00:27:30.91\00:27:35.28
JB: Thanks for
joining  me today.
00:27:39.55\00:27:40.92
I look forward to
seeing you  again next time.
00:27:40.92\00:27:42.49
Until then,
remember:  It is written,
00:27:42.49\00:27:45.79
man shall not
live  by bread alone
00:27:45.79\00:27:48.63
but by every word that
proceeds  from the mouth of God.
00:27:48.63\00:27:53.80