1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:05,800 Grace, mercy and peace, be unto you from God, our Father and from our 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:06,600 Lord and Savior 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,700 Jesus Christ. Amen. Dear friends in Christ. 4 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:18,600 He is risen. He is risen, indeed alleluia. The word of God, which engages us this day is a portion 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,400 just the first verse actually, of the lesson that was just read 1st. 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:28,700 John 3 verse 1. Where John writes see what kind of love the father has 7 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:29,800 given to us. 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,700 That we should be called children of God 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,500 and so we are. 10 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:40,300 Thus far the text. Dear friends in Christ. 11 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:45,800 Although I know some of you I would like to pretend for a moment that 12 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:46,500 I don't know 13 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:49,700 any of you. I have never met you. 14 00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:52,700 I have no idea who you are. 15 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:59,800 And so with that premise if I were to come up to you and ask you the 16 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,200 question, who are you? 17 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:08,500 I suspect that most if not all of you would respond by simply stating 18 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:09,800 your name to me. 19 00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:12,800 But then what if I responded 20 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,500 okay, that's your name. 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,900 But beyond your name, who are you? 22 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:23,800 What is your identity? 23 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,400 After perhaps some frustration, maybe even a little anger with me. 24 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:35,900 Some of you might respond with, I'm a student, I'm a faculty member, 25 00:01:35,900 --> 00:01:42,100 I'm a staff member at Concordia, Seminary in St. 26 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:42,300 Louis. 27 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,400 And in a few months, some of you will be able to respond. 28 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,000 I'm a pastor, I'm a vicar. 29 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:52,900 I'm a Deaconess. 30 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:55,500 A Deaconess intern. 31 00:01:56,500 --> 00:02:00,700 Others of you might respond in terms of relationships, you have with 32 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:03,600 other people. saying these things such 33 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:11,600 as I'm a wife, I'm a husband, I'm a mother, I'm a father, I'm a 34 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,100 daughter, I'm a son. 35 00:02:14,100 --> 00:02:21,200 And a list of categories could go on and on and on each of us has many 36 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,900 different locations and many different roles in life. 37 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:33,600 But in our text, John tells us that all of us together, share one 38 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:41,000 common identity, no matter how many other vocations and roles we have 39 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:41,500 in this life. 40 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:45,100 Each one of us could answer the question. 41 00:02:45,100 --> 00:02:47,700 Who are you by saying 42 00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:51,000 I am a child of God. 43 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:57,600 But unfortunately we also have something else in common with that 44 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:58,800 common identity 45 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:04,900 we have as a child of God, mainly that we were not conceived and born 46 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:06,900 a child of God. 47 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:14,000 Not one of us was. In fact, John tells us elsewhere that we were 48 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,800 actually conceived and born in the darkness of sin. 49 00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:24,600 And what's more, we loved the darkness rather than the light. 50 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,500 Each of us was conceived and born in a state of eternal condemnation. 51 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:32,400 before God. 52 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:38,500 And if we want someone other than John's to weigh in, we can turn to Paul 53 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:43,100 who in Ephesians 2 tells us that we were dead in our trespasses 54 00:03:43,100 --> 00:03:44,800 and sins. 55 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:53,200 And that way we were by nature children of wrath conceived and born 56 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,900 under the wrath of God, children of wrath, not children of God. 57 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:04,800 And just as a dead person can do nothing to help or improve their 58 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:05,500 condition. 59 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:09,600 So also we who were spiritually dead 60 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:15,500 could you absolutely nothing to help or improve our spiritual 61 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:15,600 condition. 62 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:22,900 But the good news is that God has intervened on our behalf. 63 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:28,900 John begins our lesson for a day by commanding us to see another word 64 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:36,100 to look at to behold to take note of what kind of love the father has 65 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:37,600 given to us. 66 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:45,700 Now, before we talk about, what kind of love that is, it is so very 67 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:46,300 beneficial. 68 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:51,900 It is such a blessing to pause to stop 69 00:04:51,900 --> 00:04:57,300 and to be reminded that we are loved by God, 70 00:04:58,700 --> 00:05:01,900 that you are loved by God. 71 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,200 In this world with his frenzy of daily activity, with all of its 72 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:13,800 disappointments and frustrations, we overtime can become worn down 73 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:21,600 exhausted, spent, physically, emotionally and even spiritually at times. 74 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:28,200 But the good news is that no matter how busy, your life is, no matter 75 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:32,000 how many disappointments or frustrations, you may have on any given 76 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,200 day, no matter what else is going on in your life. 77 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:39,200 You are loved by God. 78 00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:46,400 And God will not change that and no one can take that from you. 79 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:50,200 How well, Paul expresses this same truth 80 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:56,000 at the end of Romans chapter 8 when he writes for, I am sure that 81 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:01,700 neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers nor things present, nor 82 00:06:01,700 --> 00:06:07,100 things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in 83 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:13,200 all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in 84 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,000 Christ Jesus 85 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,400 our Lord. 86 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:23,000 You are loved by God, both now and eternally. 87 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:30,600 But what kind of love is this? John just using that terminology what 88 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,300 kind of love gives us 89 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:37,200 the idea gives us the impression that he's going to be talking about 90 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:37,800 something 91 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:45,200 that is extraordinarily really wonderful and extra-ordinarily glorious. And 92 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:51,500 indeed that love is board is that love that, move God to do everything 93 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:55,000 necessary to make you a child of God. 94 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:59,900 You see with God love is not merely an emotion or a feeling. 95 00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:06,900 It always results in action activity, on his part on behalf of his 96 00:07:06,900 --> 00:07:07,300 people. 97 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:14,700 And so it was that love for the world and that love for you, that moved 98 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:19,200 God to send and to offer up that which was most precious in His sight. 99 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:24,500 Mainly his only begotten son with whom he is 100 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:26,000 well pleased. 101 00:07:26,900 --> 00:07:29,600 How well John states it in his gospel. In 102 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,000 probably the best-known Bible passage in all of scripture. 103 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,400 John 3:16. For God 104 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:41,300 so loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that whoever 105 00:07:41,300 --> 00:07:46,000 believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 106 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:51,800 And that love that the father has for the world 107 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:58,100 and for you is reflected also is mirrored actually, and they love also 108 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:00,500 that the Son has for you. 109 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:06,600 Jesus himself testified as to how broad and how deep his love is for 110 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:06,700 you. 111 00:08:06,700 --> 00:08:12,700 When he said greater love has no, man than this, that he lay down his 112 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:14,900 life for his friends. 113 00:08:16,300 --> 00:08:19,000 And that's exactly what he did for you. 114 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:25,300 Voluntarily and willingly lay down his life for you. 115 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:30,700 To pay the price, not only for the sin darkened condition in which 116 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:32,000 you were conceived and born. 117 00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:39,100 But for every sin of thought, word and deed that you ever have 118 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:42,400 committed or ever will commit. 119 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,300 What kind of love is this? 120 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,800 Look no further than the cross. 121 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:55,100 And there you will see the clearest expression of God's love for you. 122 00:08:56,300 --> 00:08:57,900 And of course it was just two weeks 123 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:03,200 and a day ago, then we gather together with Christians worldwide, in 124 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,600 order to celebrate the great news that Christ is no longer among the 125 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:12,300 dead, but he is among the living. That death and the Tomb 126 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,900 could not hold him. And among other things 127 00:09:15,900 --> 00:09:23,200 that is a validation that the price, he paid his blood shed, his life, 128 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,100 given for your sin, is payment in full. 129 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:33,600 There is nothing more that he has to pay that you have to pay or 130 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,000 anyone has to pay. 131 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:41,400 For indeed, it is only through the crucified and Risen Lord, that we 132 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:42,800 have access to the Father 133 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:43,800 in the first place. 134 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:48,700 It's only through the crucified and Risen Lord that we can be adopted 135 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:51,100 into the family of God. 136 00:09:51,100 --> 00:09:55,100 And it's only through the crucified and Risen 137 00:09:55,100 --> 00:09:58,800 Lord, that we are children of God. 138 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:05,700 What kind of love is this is love that through the water and word of 139 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:08,500 holy baptism has made yours 140 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:11,700 everything that Christ earned for you. 141 00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:14,500 It's a love that in baptism 142 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:18,200 took us from being children of darkness and sin 143 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,400 to children walking in the light of his love. 144 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:28,600 It took us from being children who were condemned to being children, 145 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:34,200 whose salvation has already Eternal salvation has already begun. 146 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:41,300 It took us from being children of wrath to being children of God. 147 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,000 What kind of love is this? 148 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:49,800 Perhaps the most incredible aspect of this love is that it is not 149 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,600 deserved it is not merited. 150 00:10:52,600 --> 00:11:00,000 It is, instead, God's grace his undeserved, unmerited, love for 151 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,500 sinners, like you and me on account of Christ. 152 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:09,100 He simply gives us that love as a gift. 153 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:14,400 Remember, the way John states it in our text see what kind of love the 154 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,900 Father has given to us. 155 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:22,900 It's not a love that was given based upon something you would or would 156 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:23,800 not do in the future. 157 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,200 It's not a love that demands that you measure up to a certain moral 158 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,500 standard with your thoughts, your words and your deeds. 159 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:32,800 No. 160 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,800 It is simply given as a gift, you can't fathom it. 161 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:45,600 You certainly cannot explain it. Just know that you are loved and that 162 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:51,700 you are not only called a child of God, but that you are a child of 163 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:51,900 God. 164 00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:55,100 That is your identity 165 00:11:55,100 --> 00:12:00,000 as you sit here, this day and yet in our lesson, there is also an 166 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:07,000 aspect of the now and the not yet. Where John also adds that what we will 167 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:13,100 be has not yet appeared. Meaning it has not come yet to full fruition. 168 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:21,600 Don't worry when it does, it will be marvelous, because he adds that 169 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:26,000 when he Christ comes, we will be like him. 170 00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:35,300 Like him and that we will be righteous and holy and pure like him, 171 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:40,800 that we will have glorious new bodies, no longer impacted by the 172 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:47,600 corruption of sin on God's creation. And like him that we will never 173 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,900 die again. 174 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:57,700 All of this because of the kind of love that God has given to you so 175 00:12:57,700 --> 00:13:00,000 that you could be called a child of God. 176 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,700 And so you are. 177 00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:04,300 Amen. 178 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:09,000 Now May the peace of God, that passes all understanding guard, your 179 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,600 hearts and your minds and this one through faith onto life Everlasting. 180 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,700 Amen. Please stand to sing the Canticle.