John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 What would you say are some of the most difficult things that we
Christians are called upon to believe?  I ask that in all sincerity.  To
be a follower of Jesus and someone who is pledged to holding to the
teachings of Jesus there are many "hard doctrines" that we face.  Which
ones do you have the most difficulty with?
 Well, let's see what we might say.  I would imagine that there are some
of you who might say, "Well, Pastor, it is this teaching of the Trinity
of God that is difficult."  To that I would say, "You are right."  We
teach, according to God's Word, that God is one and yet God is also
three.  We just used that confession of the church that deals with this
teaching and while the Athanasian Creed helps it still leaves our minds
reeling.  That's right.  In truth this teaching makes no sense to our
human minds.  It is not logical to say that something is three and yet
one.  However this is what God has revealed.  In other words God wants us
believe what he says even if is doesn't make clear sense to us.  He says
he is three and yet one and we are to bend our hearts and minds to his
wisdom.  To bend our minds to the ways and revelations of God is really
the very essence of faith.
 Another "teaching or doctrine" that we find difficult is "the idea of
closed communion and fellowship."  In many cases we don't understand why
we don't invite everyone who is at church with us to come to the Lord's
Supper.  We do it that way because that's how Scripture lays it out.
Holy Communion is to be an expression of our unity with Jesus and our
unity of doctrine.  But how can there be unity with Jesus if there is no
unity in doctrine?  Here is where we wrestle.  Someone says, "I believe
in Jesus, why can't I commune with you?"  But when you question them
further you find that they belong to a church that denies basic doctrines
of Jesus.  They may deny infant baptism or the real presence of
communion.  They may deny the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible or
belong to a church that denies the Trinity of God.  If this is so, is
their Jesus our Jesus?  Is their faith the same?  Should we then not
protect their souls from further harm by seeing to it that they don't
"eat and drink judgment upon themselves" because of their rejections of
God's Word and in essence their rejection of Jesus as God and Lord.
 Then there is that issue of "fellowship" so closely connected to the
Lord's Supper.  Fellowship is any expression of common faith that is
shared among Christians.  Areas of fellowship include prayer, the Lord's
Supper, pulpit fellowship, financial support, joining others in worship
and the like.  Again, if we don't agree with someone on what the Bible
says and that is clear by his actions and confession how can we join with
them in fellowship?  Fellowship as Christ's children depends on our
walking together in the truths and wonders of Christ.  Should we support
the false teacher?  Worship with the false teacher? Should we join in a
prayer with those who do not hold Jesus to be God and Lord?  Should truth
be equated with falsehood, darkness with light, good with evil?  Thus
while this is a difficult teaching it is an important one nonetheless.
 What I would not expect to hear from anyone in this discussion but think
should be mentioned is this, "It is difficult to believe the simplicity
of our salvation in Jesus."  We don't think it is but I can tell you that
as you read and study the Holy Scriptures and then look at the world it
is rather clear that this is one of the most difficult of teachings for
people to keep straight.  I say that because so many don't have it
straight and don't really get this simple truth of the gospel of Jesus.
That's why I chose to preach on the text before us, this text of the
simple truth of God in sending his Son.  Let's consider this text under
the theme: GOD'S LOVE IN CHRIST. 1st. He gave His Son.  2nd. His Son
gives eternal life.
 I am guessing that many of you are perhaps thinking that I have lost my
senses to make the statement that here is one of the most difficult of
teachings that we confront as God's children.  Jesus died for us and rose
to bring us salvation seems so simple.  But the majority doesn't get it.
So what is it that complicates this?  Because of why Jesus came.
 I'm talking about a truth that so many don't think about when reading
this verse of God's Word.  We like to think that this verse is pure
gospel, but in truth it does contain law and that needs to be understood.
 Do you know why God gave his Son?  That's what this verse speaks of
first.  The verse says clearly that God gave his son because of love.
But I'm not talking about God's love.  I am talking about why God had to
give his Son in the first place.  Why?  Why did he have to give Jesus?
The reason is simple.  He gave Jesus because of sin.  Sin, that scourge
of our world and life.  Sin the very horror of our beings and self.  Sin,
the thing that separates from God and makes us eligible for only one
thing: eternal damnation.
 Jesus came because of sin.  And yet it is our sin that makes this
teaching of Jesus so hard to grasp.  Our sinful nature wants us to
believe that Jesus needs our help to save us.  We think Jesus needs our
cooperation.  We want to believe that because of our own goodness,
because we work at this or that, because we go to church, because we are
in Bible Class, because we read our Bibles or other devotional stuff,
because we aren't that bad....the list here is endless...we want to think
that we help in our salvation.  And yet we don't.  Not one wit.  We are
but death and damnation on our own...but we don't want to get that.
 God in love gave his Son.  He had to give his Son to save us.  We could
not, would not and were totally incapable of reconciling ourselves to the
Holy God.  Only God could bring about this marvel.  Only God could close
the gap that sin had opened between himself and man.  God closed that gap
by giving his Son Jesus.
 And what is it that Jesus has done?  What does our verse say, "he gave
his one and only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but
have eternal life."  Here is what Jesus did.  He offered himself as the
atoning sacrifice for our sins.  He completely and perfectly atoned for
us.  Now get this...if you don't think your sins are bad or even if you
think your sins are not that bad then you may not fully appreciate what
is revealed here.  You may think that as long as you work hard and strive
mightily then you will be a greater person of faith or a greater servant
of our God.  In truth, unless you understand your total depravity in sin,
your total worthlessness before the mighty God then what Jesus has done
for you will not strike the chord it should.  You will not cast your
whole self upon Jesus and his work.  You will not rest your salvation
upon the beautiful and total grace of God.  You will have missed this
marvel of Jesus.
 The marvel of Jesus is simple.  We creatures of sin, totally dead in
trespasses have been given life.  Complete life, new life, yes as our
text says, eternal life.  Let's understand all of these things.
 You do realize that in the whole of our Gospel reading we learned about
this life.  Jesus in speaking with Nicodemus says, "I tell the truth, no
one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again....born of water
and the Spirit..."  As that conversation progressed and Nicodemus shows
that he does not grasp what Jesus is revealing not only does Jesus chide
him for his lack of understanding but Jesus then leads him to see the
truth of what all of Scripture is about.  All of Scripture is pointing to
Jesus, pointing to the work Jesus will do and pointing to the fact that
when that work is completed the Holy Spirit of God will come and cause us
to be born again.
 Born again?  Should we like Nicodemus say that we don't get that?  But
we do.  We know that to be born again means that we have new life, life
in Jesus, spiritual life in tune with God.  Not because of merit or worth
on our part but because God and his Holy Spirit has caused this new life.
 The new life of faith.  The new life of confidence and hope in Jesus.
 When I am born again that simply means that I have become a child of God
through the work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit works in the gospel
in word and sacrament.  Notice I didn't say the Holy Spirit works through
my works.  I am a child of God as I believe the message of Jesus.  This
doesn't make me perfect or holy in this life but does make me perfect and
holy in the eyes of God unto eternal life.
 Why?  Because my sins are forgiven.  All the rotten things I do, all the
rotten things I keep doing these are forgiven in Jesus.  Now be careful
here!  I am not saying that you can take that favorite pet sin of yours
and just keep on truckin.  You can't be a thief, keep stealing and at the
same time claim the forgiveness of sins in Jesus.  It doesn't work that
way.  It doesn't work that way because we are talking about a new life.
NEW LIFE.  Not the same old life, the same old sinful attitude, the old I
can do whatever I want and Jesus will just have to live with it.  He will
not live with it and neither will you.  You will die with it, for such a
way is not the way of the new life but the way of death, such is actually
the way of unbelief!  And I want you to understand that it is that way
with everything that God declares a sin.
 Jesus is not about unbelief, Jesus is about new life.  He came to bring
us new life, a new attitude, a new heart and mind because we have the
forgiveness of sins and the status of God's children.  Children with the
desire to be like their DAD, our Heavenly Father, the Perfect, Almighty
and Holy God.  That then becomes the desire of our hearts.  By the way,
did you know that this teaching is formally called: "sanctification."
Sanctification is defined in this way.  First that we are called to
faith, called out of the unbelieving world to faith in Jesus.  Second,
that because of the gift of life in Jesus we desire to live pure and holy
lives in accord with God's Word out of our love and thanks to God.
 New life, spiritual life, born again life, eternal life!  Let's not
forget that simple and wonderful truth of Jesus.  He isn't about how we
are living now although when he is properly in our life He does and will
impact our earthly lives, he is really about our eternal life.  We are
members of God's eternal kingdom of heaven!  We are heirs of Jesus, those
who will inherit the treasure that Jesus has won for us.  Eternal life is
ours in Jesus.  Now if I can, let me use a specific illustration.
 Let's talk about wills and testaments.  Will and testaments are legal
documents that define who gets our stuff once we die.  Please note that
wills and testaments are first of all set up and directed not by the
inheritors, those who might be getting but rather by those who want to
give.  For instance, no child has an automatic right to their parent's
stuff unless the parent so decrees it.  The last will and testament of
Jesus is His will and His desire for us.
 Second note that before a will is put in place a death has to occur.  So
it is with Jesus and his will.  Jesus died.  Jesus is unique and special
because he died and came back to life, yet his will is in effect for us.
He has given us His treasure.  His treasure is purity and holiness given
to us in the declaration of sins forgiven.  He makes us holy.  He then
gives us His kingdom.  That eternal kingdom of heaven, riches beyond
belief.  Marvel beyond our grasp, a promise of eternal dwelling with the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.  We are the heirs of Jesus.  Isn'
that a great thought!
 Please bear in mind that this wonderful simplicity of Jesus is so easy
for us to lose sight of.  We forget how needy we are.  We forget how much
Jesus has done for us.  We forget how Jesus came to be our Savior, came
out of love for us, his Father and the glory of His kingdom.
 I pray that we never forget what Jesus has done for us.  He has come to
be our Savior.  He has given us eternal life.  He has won our victory now
and forever.  God help us to never, ever forget that!  Amen.