Feast of the Holy Trinity (1880)

John 3:1-15 Every religion wants to be an instruction, how a man should and could come to God and be saved. The most shameful of all religions is the one according to which one teaches that all people without exception after their death finally go to heaven. People are in fact chastised according to this religion either only on earth for their sins by all sorts of hardship and anxiety of conscience, or, if there are after this life still punishments, then these still are not eternal punishments. The godless sect of so-called universalists teaches this way among others in the midst of Christianity. Countless unbelievers also think this way when they still believe that there is a God and another life. Woe to them! For how does the mouth speak the truth?1 But the most common religion or doctrine of the way to salvation is this: But the most common religion or doctrine of the way to salvation is this: Be virtuous, give each his own, do good works, and if you have done wrong, then regret it and better yourself, thus you are capable of much in your weakness, thus you will also die blessed. This is not only the summary of current Judaism, Islam, and all heathen religions, but also whole crowds of people who call themselves Christians. Their motto is: "Fear God, do right, fear no one", and "Never do (i.e. no more) is the best repentance." The entire Old and New Testament Scriptures in all its pages testifies that it demonstrates to men not the way to heaven, but rather the way to hell, not to salvation, but to damnation. However, Christ's words in today's festival Gospel shine a particularly bright light back into this dreadful blindness and darkness of men: Truly, truly I say to you: unless a man is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.2 According to this, then, let me speak to you today: About Rebirth; in so doing I will show you three things on the basis of our Gospel: 1. how necessary rebirth is for being saved; a. how earnestly Christ attests to this, . by a four-fold Amen or "truly", i.e. a four-time assertion3; how absolutely necessary it must be!4 . by a two-fold repetition; b. to whom rebirth is so necessary, . all who are naturally born.5 Luther: Therefore we teach that all the works of man are nothing and in vain apart from the new birth. And for this reason we call this the most important element in the instruction of the people, namely, that first of all they must be reborn. They must be told
1 2

Matthew 7:13-14; Mark 9:43-44. John 3:3. 3 John 3:3, 5. 4 Cf. John 5:24; Revelation 3:14; Ezekiel 33:11. 5 John 3:6.

that they are all dead and that everything else, whatever there may be of conduct, orders, fasting, etc., avails nothing toward the attainment of the forgiveness of sin. First they must be born anew and become new persons.6 . also all those who are of the nature of Nicodemus, who . was a Pharisee, i.e. eager in all works of the Law7, . was a ruler among the Jews, i.e. well acquainted with God's Word as a member of the High Council8, . called Christ his Master and therefore was convincing in his understanding of the doctrine of the divinity of Christ9, . but for fear of the Jews, only came to Jesus by night10, i.e. not publicly confess Him and for this would not yet take shame, expulsion, and persecution on himself11, . still had heard nothing of the mystery of the work of rebirth and therefore, following his reason, was vexed at Christ's teaching of rebirth12; The application may be made!13 2. by what means it will be effective in people, a. by Holy Baptism14 and b. by the Word of God15; 3. of what composition it is, a. it is an incomprehensible mystery16, b. it has its foundation in the incarnation and redemption of the Son of God17, and finally c. its nature consists in a living faith wrought by God, which . makes men into a gracious child of God here and . makes them partakers of eternal life there.18 O.H.

Luther, M. (1999). Luther's works, vol. 22: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 1-4 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.) (Jn 3:3). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House. 7 John 3:1. 8 ibid. 9 John 3:2. 10 ibid. 11 John 12:42-43. 12 John 3:4, 9. 13 In original: Fiat applicatio! 14 John 3:5; Cf. Titus 3:5. 15 John 3:8: "You hear its sound"; Cf. 1 Peter 1:23, 2:2; James 1:18. 16 John 3:7-12. 17 John 3:13-14. 18 John 3:15.