Sermon by Pastor Daniel Dahling

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167th Year

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Pentecost 21 - Mission Sunday
October 9, 2005
John 3:16

+++

INTRODUCTION: When it comes to spiritual truth, so many are like Nicodemus…they simply can not understand the things of God. Jesus was utterly amazed that a professor and scholar such as Nicodemus did not understand the need and the method of spiritual birth.

The kingdom of God remains a mystery to many. To help us understand the things of God Jesus tells us of the incredible love of God.

  1. The fact of His love.  “God so loved…”

A. Scripture tells us it was “night” when Judas Iscariot went from the Upper Room to betray Jesus. Nicodemus came by night to converse with Jesus. Was Nicodemus ashamed to be seen talking to Jesus during the day? Was he afraid of losing his position as a ruler and teacher by being associated with this Jesus – a revolutionary, a peasant preacher?

Maybe it was night in Nicodemus’ life – a life of doubt, confusion, and meaninglessness? This encounter shawls that Nicodemus was in the dark when it came to understanding the things of God.

B. What is that one ingredient which changed this man? In a word it is the love of God.  Jesus reveals to us a God of love – who cares so much for you that He sent His own Son into this world that those in the world may not be condemned but rather given the gift of life. The essence of God is love. 

Transition: There is the fact of the Father’s love. Yet it is expressed toward people living in this world. There is also the object of His love.

  1. The object of His love “God so loved…the world…”

A. The question could be asked, are all people or just Christians children of God? Because we are human, some claim that all are children of God. Indeed, we all are creatures of God because God is the creator of all. But remember two realities. Remember who you are and remember whose you are. To be a child of God calls for a relationship between a Father and a child. This relationship is established by adoption which occurs in baptism.

Jesus states that a creature must be born again to be a child of God. It is the mission of the church today to convert creatures into children – children of our heavenly Father.  You are a Christian – a child of God.

B. Because you are a child of God you are an heir to the riches of His kingdom. Jesus as God’s Son received His inheritance; glory, power, authority as King of kings. Upon His ascension Jesus received the riches of God’s kingdom, and was given dominion, which is nothing more then the absolute authority to reigns. As a child of God, you too can look forward to a heavenly inheritance – the riches of grace found in Jesus Christ.

Transition: There is the fact of the Father’s love; there is the object of His live. There is the purpose of His love.

  1. The purpose of His love “…that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

A. Eternal life is a gift of God to those who enter the kingdom of God. It is a life in God and a life with God. Since it is identification with God; the believer shares in the eternal quality of that God.

B. Most believe that “eternal life” starts at physicaldeath. Yet the Savior teaches that eternal life begins way before death – it begins at the moment one is born again – when one is born spiritually – when one is born of the Spirit – when one believes Christ in faith.

When physical death comes there is no break in that relationship with God or membership in the kingdom. Our life with God is eternal regardless of physical life or death.

CONCLUSION: This is where the sermon really begins as you now take this message of Christ to the people with whom the Lord has placed into your life.

Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus indicates that Jesus appealed to all classes and conditions of people. Jesus came for all people. He attracted people of position and power as well as publicans and sinners, the rich as well as the poor, the educated as well as the unlearned. Jesus has meaning and a message for all people.

+ Soli Deo Gloria +