Can you believe it?
00:00:02.07\00:00:03.59
Can you build your faith on it?
00:00:05.08\00:00:06.98
The promises of
God's Word are sure.
00:00:08.86\00:00:12.11
They do not fail.
00:00:12.41\00:00:14.96
This book has
stood the test of time.
00:00:17.29\00:00:20.93
Tonight our subject is:
00:00:29.86\00:00:31.81
I'm sure that you have
made decisions in your life
00:00:35.06\00:00:40.01
and which had consequences
the rest of your life.
00:00:40.31\00:00:43.82
What we're looking at tonight
00:00:45.49\00:00:46.70
is that type of thing.
00:00:46.90\00:00:47.99
Very positive, but it's a step
00:00:48.19\00:00:50.58
that can definitely
change your life in a very,
00:00:50.78\00:00:53.98
very marked manner.
00:00:54.18\00:00:56.02
We're very happy and
I'm sure you have enjoyed
00:00:56.33\00:00:58.66
Joe Pearles... the
music he's brought to us.
00:00:58.86\00:01:02.32
He's going to sing for
us a very wonderful song
00:01:02.62\00:01:05.58
that I hope you will
listen to very carefully.
00:01:05.78\00:01:07.74
It's entitled Wasted Years.
00:01:07.94\00:01:10.28
Wasted years,
00:01:23.72\00:01:27.12
wasted years...
00:01:27.32\00:01:30.02
oh how foolish!
00:01:30.32\00:01:35.78
As you wander
00:01:36.90\00:01:40.59
in darkness
00:01:40.79\00:01:43.64
and fear.
00:01:43.84\00:01:47.68
"Turn around,
00:01:50.14\00:01:52.38
turn around... "
00:01:53.14\00:01:55.73
God is calling.
00:01:56.03\00:02:00.68
He's calling you
00:02:00.98\00:02:05.14
from a life of wasted years.
00:02:05.95\00:02:11.56
As you wander along
00:02:14.99\00:02:20.58
on life's pathway,
00:02:20.98\00:02:26.57
have you lived without love
00:02:26.87\00:02:32.71
a life of tears?
00:02:33.01\00:02:38.67
Have you searched for the great
00:02:40.40\00:02:46.21
hidden meaning?
00:02:46.61\00:02:51.49
Or is your life
00:02:51.79\00:02:56.19
filled with long, wasted years?
00:02:56.49\00:03:02.49
Wasted years, wasted years...
00:03:05.22\00:03:11.11
oh how foolish!
00:03:11.52\00:03:17.50
As you wander
00:03:18.28\00:03:22.24
in darkness and fear.
00:03:22.44\00:03:28.35
"Turn around,
00:03:31.48\00:03:34.09
turn around... "
00:03:34.29\00:03:37.21
God is calling.
00:03:37.71\00:03:42.20
He's calling you
00:03:42.50\00:03:46.73
from a life of wasted years.
00:03:47.13\00:03:53.04
He's calling you
00:03:55.01\00:03:59.47
from a life
00:03:59.78\00:04:02.00
of wasted years.
00:04:02.30\00:04:08.22
Heavenly Father,
00:04:23.30\00:04:25.18
tonight as we consider
00:04:26.57\00:04:30.08
one of the steps
that You want us to take,
00:04:31.33\00:04:34.31
one that makes a great
difference in our lives,
00:04:35.94\00:04:38.90
we ask that You will give us
the understanding that we need.
00:04:39.20\00:04:43.21
Pray, Lord,
that our relationship
00:04:43.61\00:04:47.01
with You may be close.
00:04:47.31\00:04:50.17
That each one of
us may desire to come
00:04:50.47\00:04:55.27
to know You in a
very, very special way
00:04:55.38\00:05:00.15
and that each one here
tonight may be blessed.
00:05:00.45\00:05:05.43
For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:05:05.74\00:05:09.57
I'm sure that in your life
00:05:16.77\00:05:19.90
you have sometime taken a step,
00:05:20.20\00:05:25.54
made a decision,
00:05:25.85\00:05:27.05
did something that had
00:05:27.35\00:05:29.45
consequences that have
affected you all of your life.
00:05:29.65\00:05:32.02
At least, I have.
00:05:32.33\00:05:33.83
Those are steps that we
take that are very, very real.
00:05:34.13\00:05:37.50
Let me... let me
tell you a couple
00:05:37.80\00:05:39.61
that maybe will
help you understand.
00:05:39.91\00:05:41.74
Marriage.
00:05:41.94\00:05:43.56
Marriage is a step that you take
00:05:43.86\00:05:46.28
that affects you all your life.
00:05:46.48\00:05:49.55
Right? Very definitely.
00:05:49.85\00:05:52.07
And when we take that
step we make a commitment.
00:05:52.37\00:05:56.11
By the way, that's what
those things called vows are.
00:05:57.16\00:06:00.26
That means we make a commitment.
00:06:00.56\00:06:02.96
I commit my life... and
that has consequences on it...
00:06:03.16\00:06:07.68
what I do. And
surprisingly, folks,
00:06:07.79\00:06:11.23
uh, the cost of the wedding
00:06:11.53\00:06:15.51
has nothing to do with it
or the length of the ceremony.
00:06:15.81\00:06:18.92
I mean, it has nothing...
it's the commitment that's made
00:06:19.22\00:06:22.77
that is what counts in
that marriage relationship.
00:06:22.97\00:06:26.60
And so, we take
that step in marriage
00:06:26.80\00:06:29.16
and it affects us all
the rest of our lives.
00:06:29.37\00:06:32.80
Let me tell you
another step that we take
00:06:33.10\00:06:35.53
that affects us
all of our lives...
00:06:35.84\00:06:38.14
and that's when you
decide to have a child.
00:06:38.44\00:06:41.29
Amen!
00:06:41.60\00:06:43.06
I mean, when that baby
is born your life changes.
00:06:43.36\00:06:48.13
I mean radically.
00:06:48.43\00:06:49.76
I know when my kids came
to that place where they were
00:06:49.96\00:06:52.27
about to have
children I told them:
00:06:52.47\00:06:54.02
"Understand that
from this day on,
00:06:54.22\00:06:56.20
life will no
longer be the same. "
00:06:56.40\00:06:58.88
Definite change takes place.
00:06:59.09\00:07:01.50
Well, there's something in
the Bible that it talks about
00:07:01.80\00:07:04.55
a change that takes place
00:07:04.75\00:07:07.23
and it has to do with a
commitment that you and I make
00:07:07.53\00:07:10.90
and that has to do with our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:07:11.10\00:07:14.90
The Bible
compares it to marriage.
00:07:15.30\00:07:19.16
Did you know that?
00:07:19.46\00:07:20.48
It makes a definite
comparison to marriage.
00:07:20.59\00:07:23.51
Listen to these words:
00:07:23.71\00:07:24.74
So it talks here
about that relationship,
00:07:34.45\00:07:36.97
and it says: "Your
Maker is your husband. "
00:07:37.17\00:07:40.14
That is a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:07:40.44\00:07:44.61
Now, when two people
00:07:44.81\00:07:49.00
enter into a relationship
and they decide to get married,
00:07:49.31\00:07:53.41
it changes the
wife's name, right?
00:07:54.78\00:07:57.95
Well the Bible talks
about that also, and it says:
00:07:58.25\00:08:01.78
So this is talking about
our relationship with the Lord.
00:08:06.38\00:08:09.29
And it says:
00:08:09.49\00:08:10.55
In other words,
you put on Christ.
00:08:19.83\00:08:22.07
That means that
you take His name.
00:08:22.27\00:08:25.46
So that step that
you and I can take
00:08:25.56\00:08:28.99
that will change
your life forever
00:08:29.19\00:08:31.70
is when I take
the step of baptism.
00:08:31.91\00:08:34.26
'Cause baptism is a
public declaration, folks -
00:08:35.40\00:08:40.24
listen carefully to me.
00:08:40.45\00:08:41.58
Baptism is a public declaration
00:08:41.78\00:08:44.44
of my
acceptance of Jesus Christ.
00:08:44.64\00:08:47.49
That's what baptism
is. When I'm baptized,
00:08:47.79\00:08:50.03
I am publicly declaring that
I have accepted Jesus Christ
00:08:50.23\00:08:55.65
as my Savior.
00:08:55.85\00:08:57.76
I have "put on Christ.
" I have taken His name.
00:08:58.06\00:09:02.62
Unfortunately,
as time has passed,
00:09:02.92\00:09:07.17
baptism has been practiced
many, many different ways.
00:09:07.37\00:09:12.83
For instance, there
are some that baptize
00:09:14.32\00:09:17.42
with a pinch of salt.
00:09:17.72\00:09:19.70
That's how they
baptize is a pinch of salt.
00:09:20.00\00:09:22.81
There's another
group that baptize
00:09:23.11\00:09:26.67
with a few drops of oil.
00:09:26.87\00:09:28.41
You'll find that there
are some groups that baptize
00:09:29.99\00:09:33.20
by the laying on of hands.
00:09:33.40\00:09:35.40
All these are different ways
that baptism is practiced today.
00:09:35.70\00:09:39.89
There are some that
practice what is called
00:09:40.19\00:09:42.89
the baptism of desire.
00:09:43.09\00:09:45.00
That means that all
that's required is just the fact
00:09:45.30\00:09:47.77
that you desire to be baptized.
00:09:47.97\00:09:50.01
And there are some
that practice baptism...
00:09:50.31\00:09:52.83
they say the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:09:53.13\00:09:55.93
is all that's necessary.
00:09:56.23\00:09:57.91
If you receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:09:58.11\00:09:59.62
then you don't
need water baptism.
00:09:59.82\00:10:01.53
We'll look at that tonight
and see what the scripture says
00:10:01.73\00:10:03.81
about that. Another group
practices baptism by mail.
00:10:04.01\00:10:07.52
Did you know that?
00:10:07.82\00:10:09.19
Yeah, you can write in and
they will baptize you by mail.
00:10:09.49\00:10:13.01
Send you a
certificate of your baptism.
00:10:13.31\00:10:15.46
OK. Another group
that will baptize by phone.
00:10:15.76\00:10:20.42
Picked up the
paper the other day
00:10:21.81\00:10:23.95
and here was a boy,
lived on the West Coast,
00:10:24.15\00:10:27.10
his grandfather
lived on the East Coast.
00:10:27.30\00:10:29.50
His grandfather was a minister.
00:10:29.80\00:10:31.80
And it says that his grandson
called him up over the pho...
00:10:32.10\00:10:34.92
called him up and he
baptized him over the telephone.
00:10:35.13\00:10:38.03
Is that possible?
00:10:38.33\00:10:39.85
Others baptize by affusion.
00:10:40.15\00:10:44.15
Others that
baptize by sprinkling.
00:10:44.45\00:10:47.20
So you find that there are many.
00:10:47.51\00:10:49.18
Some baptize by triune
immersion... that means
00:10:49.38\00:10:51.88
three times face forward.
00:10:52.08\00:10:53.51
So when we start
talking about baptism,
00:10:53.81\00:10:56.42
there are many, many
different methods of baptism
00:10:56.62\00:11:00.17
that are practiced tonight.
00:11:00.37\00:11:01.61
So what we have to do is
we have to go to God's Word
00:11:01.91\00:11:05.34
and see what the
scripture says about it.
00:11:05.54\00:11:07.67
And it tells us here in the
book of Ephesians 4 and verse 4:
00:11:07.97\00:11:11.54
Now when the scripture
says one baptism, folks,
00:11:22.75\00:11:25.93
it's not talking there about
00:11:26.23\00:11:30.31
should I say the
number of times...
00:11:30.61\00:11:34.46
because tonight
we'll see where some people
00:11:34.77\00:11:36.49
were baptized more than once.
00:11:36.69\00:11:38.20
It's talking about
the manner or the way
00:11:38.50\00:11:41.39
in which a person
should be baptized.
00:11:41.59\00:11:43.68
And tonight we just found
out there were quite a number
00:11:43.98\00:11:46.55
of different ways that
people are baptized today.
00:11:46.75\00:11:50.08
So what we want to do is
we want to go to God's Word
00:11:50.38\00:11:53.42
and we want to see
what the scripture tells us
00:11:53.62\00:11:55.93
about the manner of baptism.
00:11:56.13\00:11:58.64
Now it says very
clearly that John baptized Jesus
00:12:11.28\00:12:14.74
"in Jordan. " That's a very
important phrase right there
00:12:14.94\00:12:18.63
when it says: "in Jordan. "
00:12:18.66\00:12:20.46
So it says that he
baptized Him in Jordan.
00:12:28.21\00:12:32.33
When I lived here in Chicago
00:12:32.63\00:12:35.68
I started to school here.
00:12:35.98\00:12:38.25
We lived over here on the
corner of Harrison and Damen.
00:12:38.55\00:12:42.14
And I'm not
real positive, folks.
00:12:42.44\00:12:44.79
I haven't had a chance
to even drive back there.
00:12:44.99\00:12:47.42
But the school that I
went to - started school in -
00:12:47.72\00:12:51.14
I think was
called Irving School.
00:12:51.44\00:12:54.20
But I remember very distinctly
00:12:54.40\00:12:56.51
that as a boy
when I walked to school
00:12:56.72\00:12:59.14
there was a little
man there. He was a Greek.
00:12:59.44\00:13:01.99
And he had a little cart,
and he pushed this cart around
00:13:02.29\00:13:05.50
the school. And on that
cart he had a waffle iron.
00:13:05.70\00:13:09.19
And he would make
waffles real brown
00:13:09.49\00:13:13.02
and then he would take
them out and he had a brush
00:13:13.22\00:13:16.64
that he had melted
butter. And he would spread
00:13:16.84\00:13:19.01
melted butter on that waffle.
00:13:19.21\00:13:20.69
And then he had a flour sifter,
and he would sift powdered sugar
00:13:21.00\00:13:23.69
on it. And he sold
those waffles to us kids.
00:13:23.89\00:13:26.46
Ruined me. That's the only
way I like waffles to this day.
00:13:26.76\00:13:29.35
See. But on that particular cart
00:13:29.65\00:13:32.46
he also had doughnuts that
he would dip in chocolate syrup.
00:13:32.67\00:13:37.05
And he sold those to us.
00:13:37.35\00:13:38.99
And we, as
children, liked to talk to him
00:13:39.29\00:13:42.22
because he had a very
thick Greek brogue, and we
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.00
thought it
sounded kind of funny.
00:13:45.20\00:13:46.71
And so we like to talk to him.
00:13:47.01\00:13:48.49
And we would ask him what
he did with that doughnut,
00:13:48.79\00:13:50.85
and he would tell
us he "baptizo" -ed it.
00:13:51.05\00:13:53.96
That's what he would tell us.
00:13:54.26\00:13:55.76
You see,
baptism is a Greek word.
00:13:56.06\00:13:59.07
That's what the
word baptism means.
00:14:08.23\00:14:10.67
So when it says John
baptized Jesus in Jordan
00:14:10.97\00:14:15.60
it means he put
Him under the water.
00:14:15.80\00:14:18.33
That's what it means:
He put Him, immersed Him
00:14:18.63\00:14:20.83
under the water. That's what
the word baptism represents.
00:14:21.03\00:14:25.13
That's what it means. It
has a very definite meaning.
00:14:25.16\00:14:28.47
It means a great deal.
00:14:28.77\00:14:30.84
We're going to take
a look at that meaning.
00:14:31.14\00:14:32.96
Now it says that John
was baptizing in Aenon
00:14:45.38\00:14:49.61
near Salim,
because of what reason?
00:14:49.81\00:14:52.50
"Much water. " Now if you
want to underline in your Bible
00:14:52.80\00:14:56.27
underline those
words "much water, "
00:14:56.47\00:14:59.22
because it says
baptism requires much water.
00:14:59.42\00:15:03.66
That's what it requires.
00:15:03.96\00:15:05.35
You see when I was a
child and went to church
00:15:05.65\00:15:08.60
we used to sing a hymn
called Roll, Jordan, Roll.
00:15:08.80\00:15:12.88
And so when I grew up I
thought the Jordan River
00:15:13.18\00:15:16.22
was a great big river.
00:15:16.42\00:15:18.39
Well, when I went over to
Israel I learned different.
00:15:18.69\00:15:22.59
I found the Jordan River is
kind of like the Rio Grande.
00:15:22.89\00:15:27.04
You can step across it
in certain places, you see.
00:15:27.24\00:15:30.14
John was baptizing in Aenon
00:15:30.45\00:15:33.64
because there
was much water there.
00:15:33.84\00:15:37.01
Baptism requires much water.
00:15:37.21\00:15:40.52
That's what the
scripture tells us.
00:15:40.82\00:15:41.97
Acts 8 verse 35...
00:15:44.41\00:15:46.49
this is probably one
of the clearest scriptures
00:15:46.79\00:15:49.33
in all the Bible concerning
baptism and how it takes place.
00:15:49.53\00:15:53.30
And it says:
00:15:53.50\00:15:54.52
Philip has caught this eunuch...
00:16:05.04\00:16:07.25
This eunuch, by the
way, is the treasurer
00:16:07.45\00:16:10.58
of the country of Ethiopia.
00:16:10.78\00:16:12.43
He's been up to
Jerusalem to worship
00:16:12.73\00:16:14.93
because he is a believer in God.
00:16:15.23\00:16:17.38
And he's on his way back,
00:16:17.59\00:16:19.42
and the Lord has told
Philip "go catch him. "
00:16:19.62\00:16:22.96
And Philip has
gone and caught him, and
00:16:23.26\00:16:25.91
the eunuch has invited
him to ride in his chariot.
00:16:26.11\00:16:29.68
And this eunuch was reading
00:16:29.88\00:16:33.15
Isaiah 51, 52, 53 about Jesus,
00:16:33.35\00:16:38.33
and Philip
explained that to him.
00:16:38.53\00:16:41.27
So now as they're
driving down the road...
00:16:41.57\00:16:43.93
watch what
begins to happen here.
00:16:44.23\00:16:46.40
Now I want to ask you something:
this water they found,
00:16:58.99\00:17:01.41
was this a puddle?
00:17:01.61\00:17:03.51
No, couldn't be a puddle
because baptism requires what?
00:17:03.82\00:17:07.35
Much water.
00:17:07.46\00:17:08.83
So they got to
some water. He said:
00:17:09.13\00:17:11.14
"why can't I be baptized? "
00:17:11.34\00:17:13.33
Oh dear friend, tonight,
00:17:27.90\00:17:30.37
if you believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God
00:17:30.57\00:17:37.00
and you haven't been baptized,
00:17:38.19\00:17:40.57
then you should step out
in faith and be baptized.
00:17:40.77\00:17:45.78
As he said to him: "I
believe that Jesus Christ
00:17:46.08\00:17:49.22
is the Son of God. "
00:17:49.42\00:17:50.67
Watch what takes place here:
00:17:50.88\00:17:52.84
Who went down into the water?
00:18:01.77\00:18:03.44
Philip and the eunuch
both went down into the water.
00:18:04.49\00:18:08.62
Philip didn't stand on the shore
00:18:08.92\00:18:10.62
and the eunuch get in the water
00:18:10.82\00:18:13.06
or the eunuch
didn't stay on the shore
00:18:13.26\00:18:14.78
and Philip get in the water.
00:18:14.98\00:18:16.01
They both went
down into the water
00:18:16.21\00:18:18.25
and he baptized him. That
meant put him under the water.
00:18:18.45\00:18:23.80
That's what it means...
put him under the water.
00:18:24.10\00:18:26.34
Watch:
00:18:26.54\00:18:27.54
So it says here
that he baptized him.
00:18:34.01\00:18:36.68
They came up out of the water.
00:18:36.88\00:18:38.46
That's exactly how baptism
is to take place, friends.
00:18:38.66\00:18:42.72
The Bible is very, very clear.
00:18:42.92\00:18:45.51
Well you see, does it
really make any difference?
00:18:51.09\00:18:56.38
I have people tell me: "Oh,
it doesn't make any difference.
00:18:57.73\00:19:00.22
It really doesn't
make any difference
00:19:00.42\00:19:03.78
how you're baptized. "
00:19:03.98\00:19:05.68
Well, let's see what the
scripture says about that.
00:19:05.98\00:19:07.98
That's... this
is Paul preaching...
00:19:13.11\00:19:15.50
"even if we, " he's
talking about the apostles,
00:19:15.80\00:19:19.39
Do you understand, dear friend?
00:19:31.04\00:19:33.11
If I stand up here
from night after night
00:19:33.31\00:19:35.81
and I preach to you anything
other than what this book says,
00:19:36.02\00:19:39.88
what?
00:19:40.08\00:19:41.63
"Let him be accursed, " it says.
00:19:41.83\00:19:44.79
In other words, as I have
told you from night to night
00:19:44.99\00:19:48.39
you must build your
belief on this book...
00:19:48.60\00:19:51.81
on the Word of God.
You must stand there.
00:19:52.11\00:19:54.43
You cannot stand
on what man says.
00:19:54.63\00:19:57.76
You can't stand upon
what somebody's idea is.
00:19:58.06\00:20:02.18
You've got to
stand on the Word of God.
00:20:02.29\00:20:05.63
You've got to look at
it; you've got to study it;
00:20:05.93\00:20:08.11
you've got to get into and find
out what it's talking about.
00:20:08.31\00:20:11.26
And as you read it, then
you must follow it by faith.
00:20:11.56\00:20:15.79
So you and I must
follow what the scripture says.
00:20:16.10\00:20:20.24
Sure, you may
have been baptized...
00:20:20.54\00:20:25.91
some other way than
the scripture teaches.
00:20:26.21\00:20:29.97
But when you
understand what God's Word says,
00:20:31.19\00:20:35.37
then by faith
you need to follow.
00:20:35.67\00:20:38.66
That's simply what it tells us.
00:20:38.96\00:20:41.17
What happened? How come we've
got so many different things
00:20:42.29\00:20:46.23
being taught about baptism?
00:20:46.43\00:20:47.88
You're looking at the
Leaning Tower of Pisa.
00:20:48.28\00:20:51.87
If you ever go to Italy
and have the opportunity
00:20:52.17\00:20:58.13
to go out and visit the
Leaning Tower of Pisa...
00:20:58.34\00:21:00.43
And by the way, did you know
they're straightening it up?
00:21:00.63\00:21:03.42
I read other day that they had
straightened it 1/16 of an inch.
00:21:03.62\00:21:09.49
Don't know how long it's going
to take them to get it straight,
00:21:11.25\00:21:13.61
but they're trying nonetheless.
00:21:13.81\00:21:15.48
But if you ever
go there, friends,
00:21:15.68\00:21:17.88
don't miss this building
00:21:18.08\00:21:21.81
right beside the Tower of Pisa.
00:21:22.01\00:21:25.03
You know what this is?
00:21:25.33\00:21:27.83
This is a baptistry.
00:21:28.13\00:21:30.44
It's a baptistry that dates back
00:21:32.15\00:21:34.11
way, way back in
history past 800 AD.
00:21:34.32\00:21:38.70
There is not a
fount in that church.
00:21:40.13\00:21:44.08
There is a pool for a
person to be immersed.
00:21:45.25\00:21:51.20
This is not just a little thing.
00:21:51.50\00:21:53.97
Kind of hard to get in
sometimes and see these...
00:21:54.28\00:21:57.18
but if you're persistent you
can get in and you can see them.
00:21:57.48\00:22:01.26
There are many... I
shouldn't say many...
00:22:01.36\00:22:03.64
there's a lot...
there's a lot of baptistries.
00:22:03.74\00:22:07.35
Not founts, folks. Baptistries
where they immersed people
00:22:07.55\00:22:11.78
in the city of Rome.
00:22:11.88\00:22:14.01
You're looking at one here.
00:22:14.31\00:22:16.72
You see the
church... the church baptized
00:22:17.22\00:22:23.17
by immersion until 1100 AD.
00:22:23.37\00:22:29.27
Listen, here's a
historical statement:
00:22:29.58\00:22:33.09
I mean, not until 1300 AD
00:22:47.65\00:22:50.86
did they finally
accept sprinkling and pouring
00:22:51.06\00:22:55.18
as equal with immersion.
00:22:55.38\00:22:57.05
What caused the change?
00:22:58.32\00:23:00.55
What... what
brought about this change?
00:23:00.85\00:23:03.39
Well, there's a scripture...
00:23:03.59\00:23:07.05
found in John 3:5 that says:
00:23:07.25\00:23:09.62
Now there are many
honest, sincere people
00:23:19.69\00:23:23.86
who took that scripture to mean
00:23:24.06\00:23:26.73
that when it spoke of water
that was referring to baptism...
00:23:27.03\00:23:30.93
and I believe it is.
00:23:31.13\00:23:32.64
And they said: "Well, if
a person can't get into the
00:23:32.94\00:23:36.26
kingdom of heaven
unless he's been baptized,
00:23:36.46\00:23:38.57
what's going to
happen to my little baby
00:23:38.77\00:23:42.49
if my baby dies
before it's old enough?
00:23:42.69\00:23:46.74
Or it's never been baptized...
What's going to happen to it?
00:23:47.04\00:23:50.00
Will it be lost?
00:23:50.20\00:23:51.47
And so many
sincere, honest people
00:23:51.70\00:23:55.66
out of a desire to make
sure their child wasn't lost
00:23:55.96\00:23:59.64
began to have them baptized.
And they started sprinkling
00:23:59.84\00:24:04.33
to care for this problem.
00:24:04.63\00:24:06.75
That's what they did.
00:24:08.06\00:24:09.44
And there's probably some
of you here who by your parents
00:24:09.64\00:24:13.61
were taken as a babe in
arms and were sprinkled.
00:24:13.81\00:24:17.54
And let me say, your parents
were doing what they believed
00:24:17.84\00:24:22.40
was right. And God,
in His kindness, I'm sure
00:24:22.50\00:24:26.69
recognized that.
00:24:26.89\00:24:28.40
But you, now... you
00:24:28.91\00:24:33.09
must look at it
in light of scripture
00:24:33.29\00:24:35.74
and you must consider
what the scripture says
00:24:36.05\00:24:39.82
and follow what it says.
00:24:40.12\00:24:42.50
What about that child?
00:24:42.80\00:24:44.53
If it is not
baptized, is it lost?
00:24:44.83\00:24:49.30
Well I want you to
listen to the scripture.
00:24:49.60\00:24:52.44
You remember, Jesus is
walking down the banks of the
00:24:52.95\00:24:56.05
Jordan River. He's
coming, He's approaching John
00:24:56.26\00:25:00.05
and He asks John to baptize Him.
00:25:00.35\00:25:04.27
It says:
00:25:04.57\00:25:06.43
Now He's asked
John to baptize Him.
00:25:18.46\00:25:20.61
And when He asked John
to baptize Him, John said:
00:25:20.91\00:25:23.47
"I'm not even
worthy to untie Your shoes
00:25:23.77\00:25:26.22
let alone baptize You. "
00:25:26.42\00:25:28.01
And Jesus said: "John,
00:25:28.31\00:25:30.32
suffer it to be so to
fulfill all righteousness. "
00:25:30.73\00:25:36.71
What was He talking about?
00:25:38.60\00:25:40.23
Did Jesus need to be baptized?
00:25:40.63\00:25:43.34
Did Jesus need to
have His sins washed away?
00:25:43.64\00:25:47.86
Hmmm?
00:25:48.16\00:25:50.24
No, He never sinned.
00:25:50.54\00:25:51.84
You say: "Well, He was
baptized as an example. "
00:25:52.14\00:25:55.21
Well, wasn't the
example of the disciples enough?
00:25:55.51\00:25:58.67
What did Jesus mean
when He said: "John,
00:25:58.97\00:26:02.32
"suffer it to be so to
fulfill all righteousness? "
00:26:02.62\00:26:07.43
What He's talking about is
that there are certain people
00:26:07.73\00:26:11.24
like the thief on the cross
00:26:12.81\00:26:15.16
that never had the
opportunity to be baptized.
00:26:15.46\00:26:19.84
He said: "John, I need
to be baptized for him.
00:26:20.14\00:26:23.86
For that boy out there in
the foxhole that gave his heart
00:26:25.30\00:26:29.51
to the Lord Jesus Christ
and never made it back home,
00:26:29.71\00:26:32.70
was never baptized, "
00:26:32.80\00:26:34.24
Jesus said, "John, I
need to be baptized for him. "
00:26:34.44\00:26:37.06
"For that child, that baby,
00:26:37.36\00:26:41.64
who never reaches the
age of accountability. "
00:26:41.84\00:26:45.20
Jesus said: "John, I need to
be baptized for that child. "
00:26:45.50\00:26:49.84
Let me tell you something...
that baby is perfectly safe
00:26:50.14\00:26:54.78
in the arms of Jesus
Christ. You don't have to worry.
00:26:54.98\00:26:59.39
You see, the Bible says
that you and I are to be
00:26:59.79\00:27:04.48
old enough to
understand what we're doing
00:27:04.68\00:27:07.60
when we're baptized because
it is a public declaration
00:27:07.80\00:27:12.66
of my
acceptance of Jesus Christ.
00:27:12.86\00:27:15.30
See, that's what it is.
It's a public declaration
00:27:16.81\00:27:19.82
that I have
accepted Jesus Christ,
00:27:19.92\00:27:21.46
so I need to be old
enough to know what I'm doing.
00:27:21.66\00:27:24.64
There are some
people that say: "Well,
00:27:26.61\00:27:28.69
if you receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit -
00:27:28.89\00:27:32.01
and by the way, you need
to receive the baptism of the
00:27:32.61\00:27:36.83
Holy Spirit. If you
haven't, then keep coming...
00:27:36.93\00:27:41.83
because we're
going to talk about it.
00:27:42.13\00:27:43.54
But - you need to receive it
- but it doesn't take the place
00:27:43.84\00:27:47.69
of water baptism, friends.
00:27:47.79\00:27:49.75
You can receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:27:49.85\00:27:52.34
but that doesn't
mean you're released
00:27:52.54\00:27:53.99
from receiving water
baptism. I want you to listen:
00:27:54.19\00:27:57.03
Peter's preaching. While
he's preaching, the Holy Spirit
00:28:07.00\00:28:10.26
falls on these
people. Now watch:
00:28:10.46\00:28:12.49
This was Jewish believers...
00:28:16.24\00:28:18.01
They said: "We
never saw this before...
00:28:29.78\00:28:32.84
Here the Holy Spirit has been
poured out on these Gentiles. "
00:28:33.04\00:28:36.71
OK.
00:28:37.01\00:28:39.02
He said: "No, we can't
forbid them from being baptized.
00:28:57.69\00:29:01.52
They've received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit...
00:29:01.82\00:29:03.83
they need to
receive water baptism. "
00:29:04.03\00:29:06.54
So dear friends, this evening
00:29:06.74\00:29:08.61
if you have never
received water baptism
00:29:08.81\00:29:13.33
and you've given
your heart to Jesus Christ
00:29:13.63\00:29:16.33
and you even have evidence of
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:29:16.53\00:29:19.35
and you haven't
been baptized by water,
00:29:19.65\00:29:22.11
the scripture says
that you should be.
00:29:22.31\00:29:24.20
Not to forbid them from
being baptized by water.
00:29:24.50\00:29:30.05
Also...
00:29:30.72\00:29:32.13
and they were baptized.
00:29:36.07\00:29:37.31
There are cases in scripture
00:29:39.63\00:29:42.52
where people were
baptized more than once.
00:29:42.82\00:29:45.71
OK. Paul has made his way
up to the coast of Ephesus
00:29:46.79\00:29:52.56
and there he has
found some believers.
00:29:52.76\00:29:55.25
It says this about it:
00:29:55.55\00:29:57.17
So these are
believers. These are followers.
00:30:07.89\00:30:10.47
They're disciples, all right?
00:30:10.77\00:30:12.74
They said... he said:
"Did you receive the baptism
00:30:19.71\00:30:22.09
of the Holy Spirit
when you believed? "
00:30:22.29\00:30:23.65
They said: "What are
you talking about, Paul?
00:30:30.90\00:30:33.82
We don't know
anything about any Holy Spirit.
00:30:34.12\00:30:37.73
Who... What are... what
are you talking about? "
00:30:37.93\00:30:39.50
Paul gets very, very
serious with them. Watch:
00:30:39.80\00:30:43.12
He said: "Who baptized
you if you don't know anything
00:30:50.00\00:30:52.69
about the Holy Spirit? "
00:30:52.90\00:30:54.20
They had been
baptized by John the Baptist.
00:30:57.18\00:31:00.09
OK. This was before Pentecost.
00:31:00.39\00:31:03.48
This was before the
Holy Spirit had fallen,
00:31:03.78\00:31:05.81
so John wasn't aware of
what was involved there.
00:31:06.11\00:31:09.04
And so it says:
00:31:09.34\00:31:10.71
He said: "He
told you to repent. "
00:31:16.17\00:31:17.79
That was on Jesus Christ.
00:31:22.22\00:31:23.82
He said: "What John
preached was right; it was true.
00:31:27.36\00:31:30.81
No question about it. "
00:31:31.01\00:31:32.38
So when they had learned that
00:31:40.65\00:31:42.40
and they realized that they
didn't know anything about it
00:31:42.60\00:31:45.13
and he taught them,
then they were baptized
00:31:45.33\00:31:48.14
a second time. There are times
00:31:48.34\00:31:50.77
when people need
to be baptized again.
00:31:50.97\00:31:54.14
Let me share
with you some times.
00:31:54.54\00:31:56.98
If you have
been taught different
00:31:57.28\00:32:01.47
than the Bible teaches.
00:32:01.67\00:32:03.89
I don't mean... you know, none
of us understand it perfectly.
00:32:05.12\00:32:08.72
Don't misunderstand me.
00:32:08.92\00:32:10.25
But I'm saying that if you
- you know - accepted Christ
00:32:10.35\00:32:14.39
and you just didn't understand
what the scripture is teaching
00:32:14.59\00:32:18.18
and all of a sudden
like those people in Ephesus
00:32:18.38\00:32:20.83
your mind is clear and
it's opened up and you see
00:32:21.03\00:32:24.42
the Word of God like
you've never seen before
00:32:24.62\00:32:26.66
and you're committing
your heart to Jesus Christ,
00:32:26.86\00:32:28.95
you probably
need to be baptized.
00:32:29.25\00:32:31.31
Secondly, if you
were baptized as a babe...
00:32:31.61\00:32:35.96
you didn't know
what you were doing.
00:32:36.16\00:32:38.94
Your parents had you baptized.
00:32:39.24\00:32:42.14
There was no
commitment on your part
00:32:42.44\00:32:44.87
and as a babe you were baptized,
00:32:45.17\00:32:47.63
then you probably
need to be baptized again.
00:32:47.93\00:32:50.47
Also, if you didn't
know what you were doing...
00:32:52.07\00:32:56.02
like in my case.
00:32:56.33\00:32:58.40
See I was just a small
boy when I was baptized first.
00:32:58.70\00:33:03.90
I didn't know what I was doing.
00:33:04.20\00:33:06.03
They just gathered all the kids
up in church and baptized us.
00:33:06.33\00:33:09.98
Didn't... didn't
tell me anything.
00:33:10.28\00:33:12.35
Didn't... didn't say anything
to me about my relationship
00:33:12.55\00:33:15.13
with Jesus Christ.
00:33:15.23\00:33:16.32
They just gathered all
of us up and baptized us.
00:33:16.52\00:33:18.71
And so when I got older
00:33:19.02\00:33:21.39
and I gave my
heart to Jesus Christ,
00:33:21.69\00:33:24.35
I said: "Oh, no.
I've got to be baptized. "
00:33:24.55\00:33:28.39
This is a commitment of
my life to Jesus Christ.
00:33:28.69\00:33:33.70
Had to be baptized again.
00:33:34.00\00:33:35.88
And if you're
coming back to Christ.
00:33:36.18\00:33:39.45
Now let me explain
what I'm saying here, folks.
00:33:39.75\00:33:42.11
I'm not talking about
if you stumped your toe.
00:33:42.41\00:33:45.71
That's not what
I'm talking about.
00:33:46.01\00:33:47.48
I'm not talking about if
the devil has breathed down your
00:33:47.68\00:33:50.15
neck and tempted you
and you did something
00:33:50.35\00:33:52.98
you shouldn't have done. That's
not what I'm talking about.
00:33:53.18\00:33:55.26
I'm talking about if you gave
your heart to the Lord Jesus
00:33:55.56\00:34:00.04
Christ, were
baptized, you followed Him,
00:34:00.24\00:34:02.54
and then you left Him.
00:34:02.74\00:34:04.46
And you've gone out and you've
lived contrary to the Lord
00:34:04.56\00:34:08.02
for a number of years,
you've gone the other way,
00:34:08.22\00:34:10.47
and you're coming back
00:34:10.67\00:34:13.02
and you're committing
your life to the Lord anew,
00:34:13.32\00:34:16.74
you probably
should be baptized again.
00:34:16.94\00:34:19.38
It's like marriage.
00:34:19.58\00:34:20.86
There's a couple.
00:34:21.16\00:34:22.19
They fall in love.
00:34:22.39\00:34:23.82
They get married.
00:34:24.02\00:34:25.29
They live together for a while
00:34:25.59\00:34:27.46
but they can't seem
to get things worked out
00:34:27.77\00:34:30.12
and finally they separate.
00:34:30.32\00:34:32.19
Get a divorce; go
their separate ways.
00:34:32.49\00:34:34.50
A number of years pass,
00:34:34.80\00:34:36.80
and they being to
see one another again.
00:34:37.10\00:34:39.24
And they fall in love again
00:34:39.54\00:34:41.21
and they decide they
want to live together again..
00:34:41.41\00:34:43.36
they need to be what? Married.
00:34:43.56\00:34:46.23
OK. Same thing.
00:34:46.43\00:34:47.52
It's a commitment of
my life to Jesus Christ.
00:34:47.82\00:34:50.97
So there are times when people
need to be baptized again.
00:34:51.17\00:34:56.28
When should they be baptized?
00:35:00.32\00:35:02.58
Well, let's see if
the scripture will help us
00:35:02.78\00:35:04.71
understand when a
person should be baptized.
00:35:04.91\00:35:07.16
In other words, that
person needs to be taught.
00:35:14.86\00:35:18.11
These people gladly
received the Word of God
00:35:18.41\00:35:21.28
and they were baptized.
00:35:21.48\00:35:23.13
Now, let me clarify something.
00:35:23.44\00:35:25.85
That doesn't take a long time.
00:35:26.15\00:35:29.37
Just doesn't take a long time.
00:35:30.69\00:35:32.65
When I first
went in the ministry -
00:35:32.95\00:35:35.35
a young minister - oh, I thought
you had to study with somebody
00:35:35.55\00:35:39.93
for six months or a year
before you baptized them.
00:35:40.13\00:35:42.69
I can remember I was preaching
00:35:42.99\00:35:45.22
and this old gentleman
came in and had a seat.
00:35:45.42\00:35:50.24
I had never seen him before.
00:35:50.38\00:35:51.84
And when the sermon was
over I was standing at the door
00:35:52.14\00:35:55.93
shaking people's
hands as... coming out.
00:35:56.13\00:35:58.16
And I shook his hand and
spoke to him, got his name,
00:35:58.36\00:36:01.10
and I said: "Appreciate
you being here very much. "
00:36:01.30\00:36:04.19
He said: "Oh, I enjoyed it. "
00:36:04.22\00:36:05.27
I said: "Would you mind
if I came by to visit you
00:36:05.47\00:36:08.28
this week? " He
said: "Oh, no, I'd love
00:36:08.48\00:36:09.95
to have you come visit me. "
00:36:10.15\00:36:11.17
So I went out to
see the old gentleman.
00:36:11.37\00:36:13.22
And got out there and we visited
00:36:13.62\00:36:16.64
and I said: "I've never
seen you in church before.
00:36:16.85\00:36:18.73
How come you come to church? "
00:36:18.93\00:36:20.91
He said, "Oh, " he
said, "when I was a young man
00:36:21.11\00:36:24.19
about 17 years old, " he
said, "I gave my heart to Jesus
00:36:24.49\00:36:28.28
Christ. " He said, "I
accepted Him as my Savior. "
00:36:28.48\00:36:30.36
And he said: "I went
to church every week. "
00:36:30.66\00:36:32.70
He said: "I
didn't miss church. "
00:36:32.91\00:36:34.24
He said: "I was
there every week. "
00:36:34.34\00:36:36.08
And he said: "I loved it! "
00:36:36.28\00:36:37.53
He said: "I
looked forward to it. "
00:36:37.73\00:36:39.55
And he said: "It was
a great experience. "
00:36:39.75\00:36:41.52
And he said: "When I was in
my twenties... early twenties, "
00:36:41.72\00:36:44.21
he said, "I started
going with a young lady. "
00:36:44.41\00:36:46.95
And he said: "She
didn't go to church. "
00:36:47.25\00:36:49.94
But he said: "I didn't
think anything about it. "
00:36:50.24\00:36:52.44
He said: "We fell
in love, " and he said:
00:36:52.64\00:36:55.66
"got married. "
00:36:55.86\00:36:57.50
And he said:
"After we got married,
00:36:57.80\00:36:59.75
every time I went to church
00:36:59.95\00:37:01.71
when I came back we
got in a great big argument
00:37:01.91\00:37:04.74
because she
didn't want me to go. "
00:37:04.94\00:37:06.29
He said: "That went on
every week. " And he said:
00:37:06.59\00:37:09.25
"Finally I just gave it
up. Quit going to church. "
00:37:09.45\00:37:12.97
Said: "I haven't
gone to church in years. "
00:37:13.27\00:37:15.98
He said: "Two
weeks ago my wife died. "
00:37:17.45\00:37:21.17
He said: "I decided
to come back to church. "
00:37:21.47\00:37:24.29
And in my mind,
folks, I said to myself:
00:37:25.46\00:37:28.15
"this time you'll
know what you're doing. "
00:37:28.35\00:37:30.85
See, that's what
I said to myself.
00:37:31.15\00:37:32.71
So I said to him:
"Would you like to study? "
00:37:33.01\00:37:35.26
"Oh, " he said, "I'd love to. "
00:37:35.46\00:37:36.76
I said: "I'll tell you
what. I'll come out every week
00:37:37.06\00:37:39.16
and we'll have a
study together. "
00:37:39.26\00:37:40.67
Now folks, I just didn't
go out and study with that
00:37:40.97\00:37:44.45
old gentleman. I gave
him assignments to do.
00:37:44.65\00:37:47.40
He could have gotten a
degree from the Seminary.
00:37:47.60\00:37:49.63
I mean he faithfully did
those assignments every week.
00:37:49.93\00:37:53.84
And I gave him this assignment
one week there in Acts
00:37:53.94\00:37:57.25
the second chapter where
it says that Peter preached
00:37:57.45\00:38:00.32
and 3,000 were
converted in a day.
00:38:00.52\00:38:02.51
And as we were
studying that he looked at me...
00:38:02.81\00:38:04.98
he said: "Brother Cox, if
Peter would have put those
00:38:05.18\00:38:07.69
people through what
you've put me through
00:38:07.79\00:38:09.40
there wouldn't have been 3,000.
00:38:09.60\00:38:11.04
See? I began to understand.
00:38:12.62\00:38:14.10
Yes, a person
needs to be taught,
00:38:14.30\00:38:16.12
but that does
not take a long time.
00:38:16.32\00:38:20.14
It has to do
with the commitment.
00:38:20.24\00:38:22.27
The surrender of
one's heart to Jesus Christ
00:38:22.47\00:38:25.85
is what it has to do with.
00:38:26.05\00:38:27.46
Not only are they to
be taught... it says:
00:38:27.76\00:38:31.02
They had heard the Word of God.
00:38:34.21\00:38:35.86
Secondly, a person must believe.
00:38:36.06\00:38:38.59
If you don't believe,
it's not any good. It says:
00:38:38.89\00:38:41.92
"He that believeth
not shall be damned. "
00:38:46.63\00:38:49.49
Baptism apart from
belief is not any good.
00:38:49.69\00:38:52.33
"He who believes and
is baptized will be saved;
00:38:52.63\00:38:56.04
but he who does not
believe will be condemned. "
00:38:56.24\00:38:59.56
Also, the scriptures says
that you and I need to repent.
00:38:59.86\00:39:04.06
Now it says here in Acts 2:38:
00:39:05.42\00:39:08.00
I want to say a word
about repentance, folks.
00:39:19.45\00:39:21.72
The scripture says that
repentance is something that
00:39:22.81\00:39:26.97
God gives. Did you hear me?
00:39:27.17\00:39:30.60
It says it's
something that God gives.
00:39:30.90\00:39:33.13
I've talked to
people and I've asked them:
00:39:33.33\00:39:35.46
"Have you accepted
Christ as your Savior? "
00:39:35.56\00:39:37.14
And they've said:
"Yes, I've given my heart
00:39:37.44\00:39:39.69
to Jesus Christ. " And I
said: "Have you been baptized? "
00:39:39.89\00:39:42.82
And they say: "No, Brother
Cox, I haven't been baptized. "
00:39:43.02\00:39:45.05
Say: "Well, why
haven't you been baptized? "
00:39:45.36\00:39:47.00
They say: "Well I just
don't feel bad enough. "
00:39:47.20\00:39:49.24
What are you talking about?
00:39:49.54\00:39:51.44
You know, they think
that if they don't repent
00:39:51.74\00:39:55.32
in sackcloth and ashes
then they shouldn't be baptized.
00:39:55.52\00:39:58.84
No, dear friends.
00:39:59.14\00:40:00.47
Your responsibility,
my responsibility,
00:40:00.77\00:40:03.85
is to come to Jesus Christ.
00:40:04.05\00:40:06.07
He is the One
that gives repentance.
00:40:06.37\00:40:10.02
And if you'll
give your heart to Him,
00:40:10.32\00:40:12.07
He'll do His work in your
life and bring about repentance.
00:40:12.27\00:40:16.23
That is God's work.
00:40:16.36\00:40:17.68
Your responsibility and mine
is to give our hearts to Him.
00:40:17.99\00:40:21.18
OK. But He said
you need to repent.
00:40:21.48\00:40:23.37
And as God brings repentance,
you and I need to repent.
00:40:23.57\00:40:26.85
Thirdly, it says that
we need to be converted.
00:40:27.97\00:40:30.48
Do you understand conversion?
00:40:41.08\00:40:42.75
Hmmm? Do you
understand conversion?
00:40:44.15\00:40:45.92
Let me tell you
what conversion is.
00:40:47.03\00:40:48.81
You'll have to
forgive the vernacular here.
00:40:49.75\00:40:53.09
I'm going to hell, I'm going
to hell, I'm going to hell,
00:40:53.19\00:40:57.39
I'm going to hell.
00:40:57.59\00:40:58.63
I'm going to
heaven, I'm going to heaven,
00:40:58.94\00:41:01.19
I'm going to
heaven. That's conversion.
00:41:01.39\00:41:03.60
Means TURN AROUND!
00:41:03.90\00:41:05.17
That's what it
is: change my way.
00:41:05.47\00:41:08.42
That is conversion;
that's what the word means.
00:41:08.72\00:41:11.64
I change the
direction that I'm going.
00:41:11.85\00:41:15.03
So when I commit my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:41:15.33\00:41:19.63
it means that I've
changed my direction.
00:41:19.93\00:41:23.86
I have made a commitment
of my life to Jesus Christ.
00:41:24.06\00:41:28.42
You see, baptism represents
the death of Jesus Christ.
00:41:30.10\00:41:34.82
So when a person is
placed beneath the water
00:41:44.99\00:41:48.93
that represents the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:41:50.10\00:41:53.50
Now folks, are you understanding
why sprinkling won't work?
00:41:53.80\00:41:58.34
Or a few drops of oil
00:41:59.51\00:42:03.20
or a pinch of salt won't work?
00:42:03.40\00:42:05.57
It represents the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:42:06.81\00:42:09.17
That's why the person
is put beneath the water.
00:42:09.47\00:42:12.99
It represents the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:42:13.30\00:42:16.00
It goes on here in
Romans 6 and it says:
00:42:16.30\00:42:19.51
So baptism also not only
00:42:26.29\00:42:28.45
represents the
death of Jesus Christ,
00:42:28.65\00:42:30.53
it represents the burial...
that He was placed in the tomb.
00:42:30.65\00:42:35.49
Burial of Jesus Christ.
00:42:35.79\00:42:37.64
So baptism represents
the death, the burial,
00:42:47.13\00:42:51.23
and then here in
Romans 6 and verse 5 it says:
00:42:51.44\00:42:54.32
So as that person
comes up out of the water
00:43:05.20\00:43:07.73
it represents the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
00:43:07.93\00:43:11.47
It does more than that.
00:43:12.94\00:43:14.49
As that individual is baptized,
00:43:14.79\00:43:17.94
as he's placed
beneath the water,
00:43:19.60\00:43:21.99
it means that I have
died to an old way of life.
00:43:22.30\00:43:28.28
With me?
00:43:29.47\00:43:30.85
That's conversion.
00:43:31.15\00:43:33.24
I have died to
an old way of life.
00:43:33.54\00:43:38.58
No longer am I going
to walk in the old way.
00:43:39.38\00:43:45.34
I've given my
heart to Jesus Christ.
00:43:45.64\00:43:47.85
You with me, folks?
00:43:49.33\00:43:50.52
It's like marriage.
00:43:51.56\00:43:53.39
You don't get married
00:43:55.75\00:43:57.57
and keep running
around with other women.
00:43:57.87\00:43:59.86
You don't do that!
00:44:01.42\00:44:02.71
If you do, you're not
going to stay married long.
00:44:03.90\00:44:06.32
OK?
00:44:06.62\00:44:09.03
So when I give my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:44:09.33\00:44:12.04
I have died to
an old way of life.
00:44:12.34\00:44:16.49
That's what it represents.
00:44:16.79\00:44:18.61
It also means that all my sins
00:44:18.81\00:44:23.59
have been buried.
00:44:23.89\00:44:26.18
OK? And I come up
out of the water clean...
00:44:26.48\00:44:31.31
clean in Christ Jesus.
00:44:31.61\00:44:33.57
I don't know of anything...
00:44:34.62\00:44:36.30
I don't know of
anything in this life
00:44:36.60\00:44:40.02
that will give you the privilege
of starting over brand new
00:44:40.22\00:44:44.74
except baptism.
00:44:44.95\00:44:47.08
Baptism lets you wipe
the slate absolutely clean.
00:44:47.38\00:44:51.66
Want to see what the
scripture says about that?
00:44:51.96\00:44:53.97
Micah 7 verse 19:
00:44:56.84\00:45:00.16
Oh, it says He will take
all of your sins tonight,
00:45:13.03\00:45:15.51
dear friend.
00:45:15.71\00:45:18.55
That sin that haunts you.
00:45:18.85\00:45:21.39
Maybe it's something that you
did that was really very bad.
00:45:21.69\00:45:25.44
Or maybe it's just something
that constantly nags you.
00:45:26.80\00:45:30.60
God says He'll take that sin...
00:45:31.87\00:45:34.00
cast it into the
depths of the sea.
00:45:34.40\00:45:37.87
Marvelous!
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.14
You see when you're baptized,
00:45:41.39\00:45:43.56
the Bible says
you come up clean.
00:45:43.76\00:45:46.09
You don't have
one thing against you.
00:45:46.29\00:45:49.91
The Bible uses words for that.
00:45:50.21\00:45:52.63
It says that you are justified.
00:45:52.93\00:45:55.51
That's what baptism represents.
00:45:55.54\00:45:57.22
It means that all your
sins have been done away with.
00:45:57.42\00:46:00.69
Cast in the depths of the sea.
00:46:01.09\00:46:03.50
God says: "You got a sin tonight
00:46:29.57\00:46:32.55
that's really
bothering you, friend? "
00:46:32.76\00:46:35.15
Said: "I'll put
it behind My back. "
00:46:35.45\00:46:37.97
"I'll cast it into
the depths of the sea. "
00:46:38.27\00:46:41.37
"I'll remember it no more. "
00:46:41.87\00:46:44.91
"As far as the east
is from the west... "
00:46:56.73\00:46:58.89
God said: "I have removed all
your transgressions from you. "
00:46:59.19\00:47:02.50
This is what God
desires to do for you.
00:47:02.80\00:47:05.06
Wonderful! He loves you.
00:47:05.36\00:47:08.79
Baptism is simply
a public declaration
00:47:09.00\00:47:12.87
of one's
acceptance of Jesus Christ.
00:47:13.07\00:47:15.07
How important is it?
00:47:15.27\00:47:16.46
How does God feel about it?
00:47:16.76\00:47:19.24
I want you to listen to
what God says about it here:
00:47:19.54\00:47:22.88
John the Baptist preached
and these people heard it
00:47:36.60\00:47:39.73
and they were
baptized... even tax collectors.
00:47:40.03\00:47:43.55
OK? Now watch
00:47:43.85\00:47:46.40
what he has to say here:
00:47:46.70\00:47:48.50
"Oh, " they said, "we
don't need to be baptized. "
00:48:00.82\00:48:03.32
And they pulled their
cloaks around themselves
00:48:03.62\00:48:07.63
and said: "Oh,
we don't need it. "
00:48:07.83\00:48:09.70
And it says that
they rejected what?
00:48:10.10\00:48:14.61
The will of God.
00:48:16.02\00:48:18.13
You see, the will of God is
that you should be baptized.
00:48:18.43\00:48:22.93
That's God's will.
00:48:23.23\00:48:24.43
Dear friend, don't sit there
00:48:24.73\00:48:27.44
and say: "Well,
I'm not good enough. "
00:48:27.64\00:48:30.65
"The Lord won't have me. "
00:48:30.95\00:48:33.32
"I've done too many
bad things in my life. "
00:48:33.62\00:48:36.47
Dear friends, God's
will is that YOU be baptized.
00:48:36.77\00:48:42.08
That's God's will.
00:48:42.38\00:48:44.00
He said: "Listen, there
aren't any sins I can't forgive.
00:48:44.20\00:48:48.53
I'll take them; I'll
remember them no more. "
00:48:50.05\00:48:53.33
Jesus Christ came to this earth
00:49:33.54\00:49:37.66
and He died for you.
00:49:37.96\00:49:40.80
He lived a perfect life for you.
00:49:42.22\00:49:44.94
He did everything
that was required for you
00:49:45.24\00:49:48.38
that you might be saved.
00:49:48.58\00:49:50.57
He did all that.
00:49:50.87\00:49:52.50
Are you not going to accept it?
00:49:54.11\00:49:56.19
"We played with
flutes, and you didn't dance.
00:49:56.49\00:50:00.11
We mourned, and
you didn't weep. "
00:50:00.41\00:50:03.89
Are you going to let the
great sacrifice of Jesus Christ
00:50:04.19\00:50:08.77
go in vain?
00:50:08.98\00:50:10.39
No, dear friend.
00:50:11.97\00:50:13.70
He made every needful
00:50:14.10\00:50:19.49
thing for your salvation.
00:50:19.69\00:50:22.48
He accomplished it
that you might be saved.
00:50:22.78\00:50:26.25
Scripture says
that Saul of Tarsus
00:50:28.85\00:50:34.16
had received a commission
from Ananias, the high priest,
00:50:35.59\00:50:39.96
to go to Damascus
and arrest the Christians
00:50:41.35\00:50:44.56
and to bring them back
to Jerusalem to be tried.
00:50:44.76\00:50:47.07
Taking a group of soldiers
00:50:47.38\00:50:51.69
they headed for Damascus.
00:50:51.89\00:50:54.24
When they got within
view of the city of Damascus
00:50:54.54\00:50:59.02
all of a sudden a great light
00:50:59.33\00:51:02.36
shone upon Saul. So strong that
it knocked him to the ground.
00:51:02.66\00:51:06.78
And a voice spoke
and said: "Saul, Saul,
00:51:07.08\00:51:09.70
why persecutest thou Me? "
00:51:09.90\00:51:11.63
And he said:
"Who are You, Lord? "
00:51:11.83\00:51:15.06
And Jesus said: "I am Jesus
00:51:15.36\00:51:19.30
whom you persecute. "
00:51:19.50\00:51:21.02
Said: "What would
you have me do, Lord? "
00:51:21.32\00:51:23.44
And He said: "Go on to Damascus.
00:51:23.74\00:51:27.80
It will be shown
you what you shall do. "
00:51:28.10\00:51:30.64
Saul of Tarsus is now blind.
00:51:30.94\00:51:34.74
He can't see.
00:51:35.04\00:51:37.01
He's led by the
hand to Damascus.
00:51:37.31\00:51:42.63
There in Damascus is a
man by the name of Ananias.
00:51:43.78\00:51:49.37
And the Lord has
spoken to Ananias and He said:
00:51:49.77\00:51:52.73
"Go to the
street called Straight
00:51:52.93\00:51:54.96
and inquire for
one Saul of Tarsus.
00:51:55.16\00:51:58.09
He is a chosen vessel unto Me. "
00:51:58.39\00:52:01.47
And Ananias goes there.
00:52:01.77\00:52:04.47
And the Lord has told
Ananias to pray for Saul
00:52:04.67\00:52:08.13
that he might receive his sight.
00:52:08.43\00:52:10.48
And Ananias goes and he
finds Saul and he prays for him.
00:52:10.78\00:52:15.73
And his sight is
given back to him.
00:52:16.03\00:52:18.94
Now here... I mean,
we're just talking a few days,
00:52:19.24\00:52:23.10
Saul of Tarsus -
who is the persecutor...
00:52:23.40\00:52:26.46
Saul of Tarsus who
has fought against God
00:52:26.66\00:52:31.27
and against Jesus Christ...
00:52:31.47\00:52:32.98
Here on the road to Damascus
he has come face to face
00:52:34.41\00:52:38.08
with Jesus Christ
00:52:38.28\00:52:39.47
and there he's
given his heart to Him.
00:52:39.77\00:52:42.81
And now the scales
have fallen off his eyes
00:52:43.11\00:52:47.04
and he can see. And
I want you to listen
00:52:47.24\00:52:50.36
to the words of Ananias to Saul:
00:52:50.56\00:52:53.75
Tonight, dear
friend, why are you waiting?
00:53:09.87\00:53:13.53
Why are you waiting?
00:53:13.83\00:53:15.98
He said: "Arise, be baptized.
00:53:16.28\00:53:20.06
Wash away your sins. "
00:53:20.36\00:53:24.25
Jesus Christ is
inviting you to take that step.
00:53:24.55\00:53:30.48
To follow Him; to have
all your sins washed away...
00:53:30.68\00:53:34.82
calling on the name of the Lord.
00:53:35.13\00:53:40.12
If you will do that,
00:53:40.42\00:53:42.60
then He will wash
you whiter than snow.
00:53:42.90\00:53:47.86
Lord Jesus, I long
00:53:52.18\00:53:56.40
to be perfectly whole.
00:53:56.80\00:54:02.72
I want You forever
00:54:04.09\00:54:09.11
to live in my soul.
00:54:09.31\00:54:15.26
Break down every idol,
00:54:16.39\00:54:22.33
cast out every foe.
00:54:22.66\00:54:28.59
Now wash me
00:54:29.64\00:54:32.59
and I will be
00:54:32.89\00:54:36.51
whiter than snow.
00:54:36.91\00:54:42.90
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:54:46.12\00:54:47.81
Father, we thank you
00:54:48.31\00:54:50.34
that You've made
all the provisions...
00:54:51.98\00:54:54.11
that all that we
have to do is to follow.
00:54:54.41\00:54:57.87
We ask, Lord, that tonight
00:54:58.17\00:55:00.83
each one of us may rejoice
00:55:01.13\00:55:05.48
in our sins forgiven, the
cleansing that Christ gives
00:55:05.78\00:55:10.59
and that we might
follow You and walk with You.
00:55:10.89\00:55:15.08
To obtain a copy of this
program or for more information,
00:55:19.71\00:55:22.47
please write to:
00:55:22.67\00:55:23.71