"Born From Above - Victorious!" 1 John 5:4-10
April 11, 2021
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
"Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!" Christ Jesus gives us His victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. He seals it upon us with baptismal water and proclaims it in words of absolution. Rejoice to live victorious in Christ's Holy wounds alone! As infants desire the pure spiritual milk of God' s Word - that God the Holy Spirit might keep you in this one true faith in Christ Jesus. Sermon text: 1 John 5:4-10. Sermon theme: "Born From Above - Victorious!" Preached for Quasimodo Geniti - the Second Sunday of Easter, 11-April-2021, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
Episode Notes
Quasimodo Geniti, The Second Sunday of Easter 11-April-2021
Sermon Text: 1 John 5:4-10
Sermon Theme: “Born From Above – Victorious!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. An army so devastated and defeated that no one was left to bury the dead – all that is left is a valley of dead dry bones. You cry out with them, “‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Behind locked doors, filled with fear, their hope had been crucified and laid lifeless in a tomb three days earlier. Indeed they are cut off and soon may be sacrificed to satisfy the blood thirsty mob like their Teacher. Isolated in doubt, cut off from the gathering together of God’s people, refusing to believe that Christ Jesus is among us in our suffering and despair. The prophet Ezekiel called and sent to preach hope to the exiled congregation of Judah in Babylon – paints a picture of defeat and despair. Then the Lord sends forth His living Word to be preached through the mouth of His called preacher. The impossible happens as the Lord’s living Word is preached – dried dead bones are clothed with flesh and the breath of life renews them. The Crucified cannot be kept away from His fearful disciples by locked doors. Our Risen Jesus comes bringing them peace through His living wounds – the marks of our salvation. He breathes forth God the Holy Spirit to bring life to our sin deadened world by speaking His life giving Word of cross won – empty tomb verified forgiveness and peace.
It is by His Living Word and Life giving Holy Spirit that we are blessed. Blessed because although we have not seen the Risen Jesus bearing our wounds – we believe that by His stripes we have healing. How can we believe without seeing? But these are written, that all of you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing all of you might have life through his name. (John 20:31 [UKJV])...”Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17). Today we rejoice that our Risen Christ has made us strong and as great as newborn babies. Remember when the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Our Lord Jesus took a young child in His arms preaching, ‘Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted, and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4 [RKJNT]) Newborn babes – desire the pure milk of God’s Word from your Mother – Christ’s Church here on earth – your local congregation. Rejoice daily as you trace the cross of the crucified on your forehead and heart with Jesus’ Words that brought you forth to life in your baptism that you are: “Born From Above – Victorious!”
St. John was an eyewitness of all that he records in his historically accurate Gospel. He could’ve written much more, but he writes down all that is necessary for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That by faith we might have life in Christ Jesus’ Name.
Faith isn’t your doing. It isn’t your choice to believe in Christ Jesus. (v1 John 5:4-5) Our Lord Jesus preached to righteous Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”(John 3:3). When this good man wondered how this was possible – Jesus preaches baptism - “Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6 [RKJNT]” Now the apostle John echos Jesus’ Word. Born of God we overcome the world. None of us chose the day of our conception or physical birth. We were created by God through the blessing of our parent’s marriage. Knit together by the Lord within our mother’s womb. So we were born from above – born of God by His saving grace alone. We rightly confess, ‘I believe that I cannot by my own reason and strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him.” From our fleshly birth we are all like Thomas refusing to believe the truth that Christ crucified for sinners is raised to declare us forgiven – at peace with God through His flesh and blood alone. “But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
God the Holy Spirit enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps you in the one true Faith in Jesus Christ through cross won – empty tomb certified gifts of life – forgiveness of sins spoken through your pastor as from Christ Himself – baptism with water and Christ’s Word spoken birthing you to faith – Christ’s Word preached – fellow Christians calling you back to gather with the faithful that Jesus might break bread and fill us with His life and peace every 8th day – every Sunday – every first day of the new creation.
Jesus is the Son of God – the Christ Who has come into our human skin to rescue us from our sin and all its damning effects. Faith is His gift to us. On the base of our altar two Greek letters are carved: Alpha and Omega. The beginning and end of the Greek alphabet. St. John beheld Jesus in glory and heard Him preach: I am Alpha and Omega, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation of John 1:8 [RKJNT]) – The Writer of Hebrews calls us to look only to Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is here, within Christ’s Church – that our altar fixes your eyes on Jesus the Son of God. He begins your faith at the font. He sustains it through the pure spiritual milk of His Word preached from this pulpit. He strengthens is with His living body and blood placed into your mouth under bread and wine. He sustains it breathing forth forgiveness by God the Holy Spirit within His Church daily and richly. He completes it as He prays “deliver us from evil” at your death bed through the mouth of your pastor tracing the sign of His victory on your forehead – that you may fall asleep in peace.
The world can never know this peace – for it doesn’t know Jesus. (1 John 5:6-8) John stood at the cross until the very bitter end of Jesus’ life – but it wasn’t a bitter end – Jesus cries out in victory - “It is Finished!” The battle had been hard fought and won by Him for us! Breathing out His Holy Spirit Jesus laid down His life for us – no one took His life from Him – He laid it down to enter our tomb. John saw the soldier plunge the spear into Jesus’ heart – and His blood and water gush out to bring life to our world. Then three days latter he saw Jesus alive – felt His wounds and His living breath – filling him with the Holy Spirit to apply the victory of Christ’s cross and empty tomb – forgiveness of sins. That we might have peace in Jesus alone.
Jesus came by water. He begins His public ministry being baptized by John and declared the Scapegoat for all sinners. The Lamb of God who takes away our sins by His sacrifice. His baptism not only saddled Him with our sins – it led to His cross, suffering, and death for us. He did this all for you that your baptism into Jesus now leads you into forgiveness of all your sins, rescue from death and the devil, and the free gift of an open heaven – eternal salvation to all who cling to His Words and promise. By His baptism into the hell we deserved – Jesus alone opened to the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. The Spirit, the Water, and the blood all bear witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ – that He has saved poor miserable sinners like me and you. Not because we deserved it – but because He is good. He is mercy. He is grace.
Is this true? In the center of our altar a lamb is carved carrying a banner of victory – emblazoned with a cross. This is an ancient symbol of the Christian Church of victory and conquest. It was perhaps the inspiration of the old Latin hymn “Vexilla Regis Fluitant”, “The Banners of the King are Waving.” This key note of the Easter season should permeate our thoughts and feelings, our words and actions, our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows.” Christ has conquered sin, death,and the devil. He has delivered all mankind from their spiritual foes. His victory on that first Easter morn marked the victory of world conquest. For the past twenty one centuries kings, emperors, nations, and all nationalities have bent the knee to Jesus. For 70 years the communists in Russia were certain they had snuffed out Christ and His Church – then their system of lies collapsed – the Christ’s Church remains. In communist China – the government seeks to expunge the truth of Christianity – that Jesus died for sinners and physically rose to declare us forgiven at peace with the only true and living God. Our brothers and sisters in China suffer greatly to hear Christ’s Word preached – but even under severe persecution – the “Banners of the King are waving!” He leads His forces on to victory and conquest, manifesting His omnipotence, love, and grace, drawing to Himself from all corners of the earth millions upon millions who yield Him homage. As our culture in it decadence declares war on Christ and the Truth of the Holy Bible. It dooms itself to destruction. The Church will remain, even if our buildings are destroyed and our numbers decimated – Christ lives – His Kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting.
Take heart dear newborn babies. You have not been abandoned – receive the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word from your Mother – Christ’s Church – our local congregation. (1 John 5:9-10) Hear the Truth of God. Spoken. Poured. Confessed. Fed you Sunday after Sunday here within Christ’s Church. Don’t let fear isolate you from gathering together – for Jesus promises to be really present where two or three gather together in His Name. He shows us His forgiving wounds through absolving words that free us from our sins. He traces His Name upon our foreheads and hearts at the beginning and end of the Divine Service. He breathes forth His Holy Spirit – that we might have life and peace in Him alone. Away with fear – live by faith in Christ Jesus. Let His Holy Spirit free you from the prison of self to live your faith in love towards one another. Pour yourself out in service living the Ten Commandments in your daily callings as you care for your fellow sinners. We are not an army of dried up bones – nor just fleshly inanimate bodies – the Lord has breathed us alive by God the Holy Spirit through His Word. Rejoice! “The Lord is Risen!” Live in Him. Love one another as He loves you! Amen.
Sermon Text: 1 John 5:4-10
Sermon Theme: “Born From Above – Victorious!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. An army so devastated and defeated that no one was left to bury the dead – all that is left is a valley of dead dry bones. You cry out with them, “‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Behind locked doors, filled with fear, their hope had been crucified and laid lifeless in a tomb three days earlier. Indeed they are cut off and soon may be sacrificed to satisfy the blood thirsty mob like their Teacher. Isolated in doubt, cut off from the gathering together of God’s people, refusing to believe that Christ Jesus is among us in our suffering and despair. The prophet Ezekiel called and sent to preach hope to the exiled congregation of Judah in Babylon – paints a picture of defeat and despair. Then the Lord sends forth His living Word to be preached through the mouth of His called preacher. The impossible happens as the Lord’s living Word is preached – dried dead bones are clothed with flesh and the breath of life renews them. The Crucified cannot be kept away from His fearful disciples by locked doors. Our Risen Jesus comes bringing them peace through His living wounds – the marks of our salvation. He breathes forth God the Holy Spirit to bring life to our sin deadened world by speaking His life giving Word of cross won – empty tomb verified forgiveness and peace.
It is by His Living Word and Life giving Holy Spirit that we are blessed. Blessed because although we have not seen the Risen Jesus bearing our wounds – we believe that by His stripes we have healing. How can we believe without seeing? But these are written, that all of you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing all of you might have life through his name. (John 20:31 [UKJV])...”Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17). Today we rejoice that our Risen Christ has made us strong and as great as newborn babies. Remember when the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Our Lord Jesus took a young child in His arms preaching, ‘Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted, and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4 [RKJNT]) Newborn babes – desire the pure milk of God’s Word from your Mother – Christ’s Church here on earth – your local congregation. Rejoice daily as you trace the cross of the crucified on your forehead and heart with Jesus’ Words that brought you forth to life in your baptism that you are: “Born From Above – Victorious!”
St. John was an eyewitness of all that he records in his historically accurate Gospel. He could’ve written much more, but he writes down all that is necessary for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That by faith we might have life in Christ Jesus’ Name.
Faith isn’t your doing. It isn’t your choice to believe in Christ Jesus. (v1 John 5:4-5) Our Lord Jesus preached to righteous Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”(John 3:3). When this good man wondered how this was possible – Jesus preaches baptism - “Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6 [RKJNT]” Now the apostle John echos Jesus’ Word. Born of God we overcome the world. None of us chose the day of our conception or physical birth. We were created by God through the blessing of our parent’s marriage. Knit together by the Lord within our mother’s womb. So we were born from above – born of God by His saving grace alone. We rightly confess, ‘I believe that I cannot by my own reason and strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him.” From our fleshly birth we are all like Thomas refusing to believe the truth that Christ crucified for sinners is raised to declare us forgiven – at peace with God through His flesh and blood alone. “But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
God the Holy Spirit enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps you in the one true Faith in Jesus Christ through cross won – empty tomb certified gifts of life – forgiveness of sins spoken through your pastor as from Christ Himself – baptism with water and Christ’s Word spoken birthing you to faith – Christ’s Word preached – fellow Christians calling you back to gather with the faithful that Jesus might break bread and fill us with His life and peace every 8th day – every Sunday – every first day of the new creation.
Jesus is the Son of God – the Christ Who has come into our human skin to rescue us from our sin and all its damning effects. Faith is His gift to us. On the base of our altar two Greek letters are carved: Alpha and Omega. The beginning and end of the Greek alphabet. St. John beheld Jesus in glory and heard Him preach: I am Alpha and Omega, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation of John 1:8 [RKJNT]) – The Writer of Hebrews calls us to look only to Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is here, within Christ’s Church – that our altar fixes your eyes on Jesus the Son of God. He begins your faith at the font. He sustains it through the pure spiritual milk of His Word preached from this pulpit. He strengthens is with His living body and blood placed into your mouth under bread and wine. He sustains it breathing forth forgiveness by God the Holy Spirit within His Church daily and richly. He completes it as He prays “deliver us from evil” at your death bed through the mouth of your pastor tracing the sign of His victory on your forehead – that you may fall asleep in peace.
The world can never know this peace – for it doesn’t know Jesus. (1 John 5:6-8) John stood at the cross until the very bitter end of Jesus’ life – but it wasn’t a bitter end – Jesus cries out in victory - “It is Finished!” The battle had been hard fought and won by Him for us! Breathing out His Holy Spirit Jesus laid down His life for us – no one took His life from Him – He laid it down to enter our tomb. John saw the soldier plunge the spear into Jesus’ heart – and His blood and water gush out to bring life to our world. Then three days latter he saw Jesus alive – felt His wounds and His living breath – filling him with the Holy Spirit to apply the victory of Christ’s cross and empty tomb – forgiveness of sins. That we might have peace in Jesus alone.
Jesus came by water. He begins His public ministry being baptized by John and declared the Scapegoat for all sinners. The Lamb of God who takes away our sins by His sacrifice. His baptism not only saddled Him with our sins – it led to His cross, suffering, and death for us. He did this all for you that your baptism into Jesus now leads you into forgiveness of all your sins, rescue from death and the devil, and the free gift of an open heaven – eternal salvation to all who cling to His Words and promise. By His baptism into the hell we deserved – Jesus alone opened to the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. The Spirit, the Water, and the blood all bear witness to the truth that Jesus is the Christ – that He has saved poor miserable sinners like me and you. Not because we deserved it – but because He is good. He is mercy. He is grace.
Is this true? In the center of our altar a lamb is carved carrying a banner of victory – emblazoned with a cross. This is an ancient symbol of the Christian Church of victory and conquest. It was perhaps the inspiration of the old Latin hymn “Vexilla Regis Fluitant”, “The Banners of the King are Waving.” This key note of the Easter season should permeate our thoughts and feelings, our words and actions, our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows.” Christ has conquered sin, death,and the devil. He has delivered all mankind from their spiritual foes. His victory on that first Easter morn marked the victory of world conquest. For the past twenty one centuries kings, emperors, nations, and all nationalities have bent the knee to Jesus. For 70 years the communists in Russia were certain they had snuffed out Christ and His Church – then their system of lies collapsed – the Christ’s Church remains. In communist China – the government seeks to expunge the truth of Christianity – that Jesus died for sinners and physically rose to declare us forgiven at peace with the only true and living God. Our brothers and sisters in China suffer greatly to hear Christ’s Word preached – but even under severe persecution – the “Banners of the King are waving!” He leads His forces on to victory and conquest, manifesting His omnipotence, love, and grace, drawing to Himself from all corners of the earth millions upon millions who yield Him homage. As our culture in it decadence declares war on Christ and the Truth of the Holy Bible. It dooms itself to destruction. The Church will remain, even if our buildings are destroyed and our numbers decimated – Christ lives – His Kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting.
Take heart dear newborn babies. You have not been abandoned – receive the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word from your Mother – Christ’s Church – our local congregation. (1 John 5:9-10) Hear the Truth of God. Spoken. Poured. Confessed. Fed you Sunday after Sunday here within Christ’s Church. Don’t let fear isolate you from gathering together – for Jesus promises to be really present where two or three gather together in His Name. He shows us His forgiving wounds through absolving words that free us from our sins. He traces His Name upon our foreheads and hearts at the beginning and end of the Divine Service. He breathes forth His Holy Spirit – that we might have life and peace in Him alone. Away with fear – live by faith in Christ Jesus. Let His Holy Spirit free you from the prison of self to live your faith in love towards one another. Pour yourself out in service living the Ten Commandments in your daily callings as you care for your fellow sinners. We are not an army of dried up bones – nor just fleshly inanimate bodies – the Lord has breathed us alive by God the Holy Spirit through His Word. Rejoice! “The Lord is Risen!” Live in Him. Love one another as He loves you! Amen.
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