Saints: Beloved In The Lord! 1 John 3:1-3
November 07, 2021
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
1 The saints on earth and those above But one communion make; Joined to their Lord in bonds of love, All of His grace partake. 2 One family, we dwell in Him, One Church above, beneath; Tho' now divided by the stream, The narrow stream of death. 3 One army of the living God, To His command we bow; Part of the host have crossed the flood, And part are crossing now. 4 Lo! thousands to their endless home Are swiftly borne away; And we are to the margin come And soon must launch as they. 5 Lord Jesus, be our constant Guide; Then, when the word is given, Bid death’s flood its waves divide And land us safe in heaven. Amen. Source: The Lutheran Hymnal #478 Sermon for All Saints' Day (transposed) November 7th, 2021 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana. Sermon Text: 1 John 3:1-3. Sermon Theme: "Saints: Beloved Of the Lord!" Preached by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
Episode Notes
All Saints’ Day(November 1st) Transposed 7-November-2021
Sermon Text: 1 John 3:1-3
Sermon Theme: “Saints: Beloved In The Lord!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Words matter. Man’s words masquerade as wisdom, but they are far from the truth. Early this morning most of our nation switched back to standard time. Every year we deceive ourselves that we are “saving daylight” by adjusting our clocks early in the spring. Truth is we are only deceiving ourselves thinking that we control time and daylight. Time and daylight are blessings from our Creator whose Word not only called all things into existence, His Word still upholds this creation. We need to learn from Moses to pray, “Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” We need to learn from David to confess, Psa 31:14-16 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." (15) My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. (16) Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake.”
All Saints’ Day - November 1st - reminds us of the reality that Moses sang forth in the 90th Psalm, Psa 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” All Saints’ Day calls us to remember the myriad of saints, of which St. John testifies that no one could number, who have walked before us trusting in Christ Jesus as the One and only sacrifice for their sins. Unknown to the world, they are loved and cherished by God the Father through Jesus Christ enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Though they rest from their labors in this fallen world, we their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren follow their faithful example fixing our eyes upon Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our salvation.
Learn to confess: “Saints: Beloved of the Lord!
What makes a sinful human being into a saint? Depends on whose word you trust. From the day of Adam’s rebellion against God’s life giving and love sustaining Word - men deceive themselves that saints are self-made. According to man’s sin corrupted reason - a saint is someone who knowing the difference between good and evil, choosing to do the good. In the eyes of the world a saint lives according to what it temporarily defines as “good.” Our corrupt collapsing culture defines a saint as tolerant of all sexual dysphoria and adulteration of God’s gift of sex blessing marriages with children, and children with a family for life. Collapsing culture calls those “saints” who virtue signal - by what they wear, drive, post, eat, or refuse to eat.
Following man’s word and wisdom sainthood is something doable that we can earn by living right. This false teaching of sainthood invades Christianity when we shut our ears to God’s Word. Yesterday’s Evansville Courier Press included an article titled “What is a Miracle?” It began, “Albino Luciano, better known to the world as Pope John Paul I, reigned as pope for only 34 days before his death in September 1978. But he will soon join the ranks of 20th-century popes who the Catholic Church has canonized. This literally means they have been entered on the 'canon,' or list, of people formally declared to be in heaven and have been granted the title 'Blessed' or 'Saint.' “ Rome’s process of declaring someone a saint means to carefully examine their life and teachings. Then to examine if at least two miracles can be associated with them while living or by someone praying to them after they died.
Sainthood is earned by a holy life according to man’s wisdom and word.
What does God’s Word teach us? God the Holy Spirit teaches us through the pen of St. John, “1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And again, 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” From Adam’s rebellion we are all conceived and born enslaved to sin, Satan, and hell. Born spiritually dead in our trespasses and sin - we cannot make ourselves alive by trying to live a “good” life.
Sainthood is earned by a holy life - not our life - but the holy life lived for us under the Law. The Holy Life sacrificed for us on the altar of the cross once for all. Listen! (Vs.1) Look away from your self, your heart, your feelings, your experiences, your works! Behold, the manner of the Father’s love for you! Listen as St. John the Baptist preaches you to repent from all your good deeds and see where his finger focuses you, Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Look God the Father loves the unlovable, rebellious, sin captive, Satan deceived, and hell bound children. Look at His love. Jesus preaches, Joh 3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Look to the cross and see the manner of God’s love to us sinners.
Saints are birthed by God the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ to be adopted by God the Father. This is the miracle of God calling us to be His own in Holy Baptism. What man says is a delusion, but when God speaks it is Truth. God has spoken, “I baptize you!” “I place My Holy Name upon you!” “I seal you with the cross of Christ!” “I wash you forgiven..”the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
You are what God the Father calls you - His own beloved children in Christ Jesus! Clothed in Christ’s perfect human life fulfilling God’s Law from the moment of His conception for you! St. John sees you before Christ’s Throne: Rev 7:13-14 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" (14) And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The world doesn’t know your true identity. It’s eyes are blinded by Satan and he holds them captive in his lies. It doesn’t know you, for it suppresses the Truth in unrighteousness and rejects God the Father as Creator and Preserver of life. To the world the Christian appears spiritually poor, mourning, hungry, thirsty, meek, and weak seeking peace and showing mercy. The world deceived by Satanic spirituality rises up to persecute Christian saints thinking that they are doing their idol a favor.
Dear saints do not lose heart! (Vs.2) God the Holy Spirit calls you “beloved!” God loves you. He created you in your mother’s womb. He bought you back from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. 1Jn 4:9-10 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. “
What parent among you ever said to your child, ‘Yes, we gave life to you, but we are going to wait until you’re twenty to see if you prove yourself to be good enough to be our child.” Even if the Lord blesses us with a child through adoption - we gladly give that child our name and rejoice to call them our own. A loving parent continues to carry their children in their heart, even if that child rejects them and flees. Like the forgiving Father of the prodigal son, they pray and patiently wait scanning the horizon for their son returning home. Listen! “Now we are children of God.” God’s Word doesn’t lie! For us who are slow to believe all that the Moses, the prophets, the evangelists, and apostles have written - God speaks this reality into your ears at the beginning and end of every divine service within His House. The divine service begins and ends with God placing His Name upon you that He may bless you as His beloved child. Dr. Luther taught us to begin and end each day speaking the truth of our baptism that we are God’s beloved children marked and redeemed by the cross of Jesus.
We are God’s beloved children now! What does our future hold? Death and the grave? Listen to Jesus, “Joh 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” You who mourn listen, Joh 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know." Jesus’ flesh and blood crucified and risen for us is the Way, the Truth, and the Life - bringing us Home again to our Father in Heaven. Listen, “As I live you will live also!”
Christ Jesus is coming again to speak His Word, “Arise!” Our graves will release us and we shall see Jesus as He is - we cannot fully comprehend that in that day we will be more of ourselves than we are now - freed from the slavery of sin and deception of Satan. We will be like Jesus in the resurrection on the Last Day. Jesus risen from the dead still had His flesh and blood body, He could eat, drink, talk, be held, and embrace His disciples. We shall be like Him. All who mourn those they love who have fallen asleep trust in Jesus - you shall be together again. You will see them, know them, laugh with them, feast with them, lifting up your voices to Christ Jesus your great Redeemer for all eternity.
Saints live in this world, but we are not of this world. (Vs.3) Our hope is in the life of the world to come. Our treasures are not worldly stuff that moths and rust destroy and thieves steal. Our treasures are in heaven - family, brothers and sisters in Christ who have run the race of faith before us - whom we look forward to seeing again.
Eyes fixed on our true homeland. We daily return to our baptismal birthright. 1Jn 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Honestly we look into the mirror of God’s Holy Ten Commandments and confess our sins to God and our neighbors that we have sinned against. God is faithful - His promise made to Adam in Christ cannot be broken. He is just - our sentence is paid in full by Christ Jesus crucified and risen for us.
Freed from sin by God’s Word - we fight against our old sinful adam daily drowning him in baptismal contrition and repentance. In Christ Jesus we rise serving our neighbor in love with all that we are and have been given. God’s children freely live in God’s Word caring for all in need. Speaking to them hope in Christ Jesus who has made us saints by His life, death, resurrection - and spoken us: “Saints: Beloved In The Lord.” Amen.
Sermon Text: 1 John 3:1-3
Sermon Theme: “Saints: Beloved In The Lord!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Words matter. Man’s words masquerade as wisdom, but they are far from the truth. Early this morning most of our nation switched back to standard time. Every year we deceive ourselves that we are “saving daylight” by adjusting our clocks early in the spring. Truth is we are only deceiving ourselves thinking that we control time and daylight. Time and daylight are blessings from our Creator whose Word not only called all things into existence, His Word still upholds this creation. We need to learn from Moses to pray, “Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” We need to learn from David to confess, Psa 31:14-16 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." (15) My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. (16) Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake.”
All Saints’ Day - November 1st - reminds us of the reality that Moses sang forth in the 90th Psalm, Psa 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” All Saints’ Day calls us to remember the myriad of saints, of which St. John testifies that no one could number, who have walked before us trusting in Christ Jesus as the One and only sacrifice for their sins. Unknown to the world, they are loved and cherished by God the Father through Jesus Christ enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Though they rest from their labors in this fallen world, we their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren follow their faithful example fixing our eyes upon Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our salvation.
Learn to confess: “Saints: Beloved of the Lord!
What makes a sinful human being into a saint? Depends on whose word you trust. From the day of Adam’s rebellion against God’s life giving and love sustaining Word - men deceive themselves that saints are self-made. According to man’s sin corrupted reason - a saint is someone who knowing the difference between good and evil, choosing to do the good. In the eyes of the world a saint lives according to what it temporarily defines as “good.” Our corrupt collapsing culture defines a saint as tolerant of all sexual dysphoria and adulteration of God’s gift of sex blessing marriages with children, and children with a family for life. Collapsing culture calls those “saints” who virtue signal - by what they wear, drive, post, eat, or refuse to eat.
Following man’s word and wisdom sainthood is something doable that we can earn by living right. This false teaching of sainthood invades Christianity when we shut our ears to God’s Word. Yesterday’s Evansville Courier Press included an article titled “What is a Miracle?” It began, “Albino Luciano, better known to the world as Pope John Paul I, reigned as pope for only 34 days before his death in September 1978. But he will soon join the ranks of 20th-century popes who the Catholic Church has canonized. This literally means they have been entered on the 'canon,' or list, of people formally declared to be in heaven and have been granted the title 'Blessed' or 'Saint.' “ Rome’s process of declaring someone a saint means to carefully examine their life and teachings. Then to examine if at least two miracles can be associated with them while living or by someone praying to them after they died.
Sainthood is earned by a holy life according to man’s wisdom and word.
What does God’s Word teach us? God the Holy Spirit teaches us through the pen of St. John, “1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And again, 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” From Adam’s rebellion we are all conceived and born enslaved to sin, Satan, and hell. Born spiritually dead in our trespasses and sin - we cannot make ourselves alive by trying to live a “good” life.
Sainthood is earned by a holy life - not our life - but the holy life lived for us under the Law. The Holy Life sacrificed for us on the altar of the cross once for all. Listen! (Vs.1) Look away from your self, your heart, your feelings, your experiences, your works! Behold, the manner of the Father’s love for you! Listen as St. John the Baptist preaches you to repent from all your good deeds and see where his finger focuses you, Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Look God the Father loves the unlovable, rebellious, sin captive, Satan deceived, and hell bound children. Look at His love. Jesus preaches, Joh 3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Look to the cross and see the manner of God’s love to us sinners.
Saints are birthed by God the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ to be adopted by God the Father. This is the miracle of God calling us to be His own in Holy Baptism. What man says is a delusion, but when God speaks it is Truth. God has spoken, “I baptize you!” “I place My Holy Name upon you!” “I seal you with the cross of Christ!” “I wash you forgiven..”the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
You are what God the Father calls you - His own beloved children in Christ Jesus! Clothed in Christ’s perfect human life fulfilling God’s Law from the moment of His conception for you! St. John sees you before Christ’s Throne: Rev 7:13-14 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" (14) And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The world doesn’t know your true identity. It’s eyes are blinded by Satan and he holds them captive in his lies. It doesn’t know you, for it suppresses the Truth in unrighteousness and rejects God the Father as Creator and Preserver of life. To the world the Christian appears spiritually poor, mourning, hungry, thirsty, meek, and weak seeking peace and showing mercy. The world deceived by Satanic spirituality rises up to persecute Christian saints thinking that they are doing their idol a favor.
Dear saints do not lose heart! (Vs.2) God the Holy Spirit calls you “beloved!” God loves you. He created you in your mother’s womb. He bought you back from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. 1Jn 4:9-10 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (10) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. “
What parent among you ever said to your child, ‘Yes, we gave life to you, but we are going to wait until you’re twenty to see if you prove yourself to be good enough to be our child.” Even if the Lord blesses us with a child through adoption - we gladly give that child our name and rejoice to call them our own. A loving parent continues to carry their children in their heart, even if that child rejects them and flees. Like the forgiving Father of the prodigal son, they pray and patiently wait scanning the horizon for their son returning home. Listen! “Now we are children of God.” God’s Word doesn’t lie! For us who are slow to believe all that the Moses, the prophets, the evangelists, and apostles have written - God speaks this reality into your ears at the beginning and end of every divine service within His House. The divine service begins and ends with God placing His Name upon you that He may bless you as His beloved child. Dr. Luther taught us to begin and end each day speaking the truth of our baptism that we are God’s beloved children marked and redeemed by the cross of Jesus.
We are God’s beloved children now! What does our future hold? Death and the grave? Listen to Jesus, “Joh 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” You who mourn listen, Joh 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know." Jesus’ flesh and blood crucified and risen for us is the Way, the Truth, and the Life - bringing us Home again to our Father in Heaven. Listen, “As I live you will live also!”
Christ Jesus is coming again to speak His Word, “Arise!” Our graves will release us and we shall see Jesus as He is - we cannot fully comprehend that in that day we will be more of ourselves than we are now - freed from the slavery of sin and deception of Satan. We will be like Jesus in the resurrection on the Last Day. Jesus risen from the dead still had His flesh and blood body, He could eat, drink, talk, be held, and embrace His disciples. We shall be like Him. All who mourn those they love who have fallen asleep trust in Jesus - you shall be together again. You will see them, know them, laugh with them, feast with them, lifting up your voices to Christ Jesus your great Redeemer for all eternity.
Saints live in this world, but we are not of this world. (Vs.3) Our hope is in the life of the world to come. Our treasures are not worldly stuff that moths and rust destroy and thieves steal. Our treasures are in heaven - family, brothers and sisters in Christ who have run the race of faith before us - whom we look forward to seeing again.
Eyes fixed on our true homeland. We daily return to our baptismal birthright. 1Jn 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Honestly we look into the mirror of God’s Holy Ten Commandments and confess our sins to God and our neighbors that we have sinned against. God is faithful - His promise made to Adam in Christ cannot be broken. He is just - our sentence is paid in full by Christ Jesus crucified and risen for us.
Freed from sin by God’s Word - we fight against our old sinful adam daily drowning him in baptismal contrition and repentance. In Christ Jesus we rise serving our neighbor in love with all that we are and have been given. God’s children freely live in God’s Word caring for all in need. Speaking to them hope in Christ Jesus who has made us saints by His life, death, resurrection - and spoken us: “Saints: Beloved In The Lord.” Amen.
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