Dear Christian friends:

Today I want to preach to you about faith. Almost everyone believes in God. Few will say there is no God. But many do not believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and only Savior for sinners. Faith in Jesus that He died on the cross for us and that He obeyed the Law of God for us, that faith is the faith we must have in our hearts.

Many people belong to a church and pray and worship and do some works for their god, but their faith and their works and service are worthless. They are still unbelievers. Jesus says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

This also Jesus clearly shows in our text today. All of us are tempted to give up faith in Jesus as our Savior from sin. Our natural pride and self-righteousness hinders us and tempts us. We don't want to confess our sins and mistakes. That hurts our pride and self-respect. So we either try to hide our sins or make excuses to ourselves and to others. Even if we confess our wrongs we think, "I will suffer for that myself. I will pay for what I have done wrong."

A few days ago I was talking with one of my neighbors. He confessed, "I have said things that I should not have said and I have done things that I am ashamed of, but I ask no one to forgive me or defend me. I will suffer for my wrongs and I am not worse than the next man." He does not humbly trust in Jesus to forgive him and defend him. He is very proud and self-righteous man. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, but now he never goes to Church or the Lord's Supper. Sometimes he goes to funerals or weddings.

All of us need to be careful so we are not tempted by our stubborn pride, and give up faith in Jesus. So let us attend to our text. Here Jesus gives us a:

First, He warns of the terrible things unbelievers often do and they do not realize what they are doing. Jesus tells the Jewish church leaders and teachers how their fathers in the past persecuted and killed the prophets whom God had sent unto them. He warns that they will also in a few days crucify Him and after that many others whom God will send to preach the good news of forgiveness of sins.

Think of that: Because of their pride and self- righteousness they refused to believe in Jesus, the only perfect Man who only did good and kind deeds and offered God's mercy and forgiveness. So let this be a strong lesson to us. If we do not humbly believe in Jesus, we may like the Jews fight against God and against his servants truly a terrible thing! We destroy the only good and righteous people in the world.

Secondly, Jesus show here in the text that it is a very sad thing, too bad when people do not believe in Him. It is such a waste and so foolish. (Read verse 37) There is full and free forgiveness of their sins. They do not need to hide their sins or make excuses. God loves them anyway and forgives them. They do not need to feel bitter and guilty and worthless.

They suffer much bitterness and pride and anger and hate, but all the time God wants to love them and forgive them and comfort them and save them. Unbelievers are much like the man whose sailboat tipped over in the Gulf of Mexico in a storm. He swam and swam until he was exhausted trying to save himself. Finally he sank and drowned in five feet of water. He was on a large sandbar and didn't know it. If he had known it, he could have stood up on the bar and waited for help.

So many people today are like that man. God loves them. He has saved them from sin and everlasting punishment, but they don't know it or they refuse to believe it. So they will be lost forever. God's love is wasted on many many people.

In this life they have no real peace and comfort. They can't love and they can't forgive and they are not happy in their hearts.

So I urge you to swallow your pride, confess your sins and trust in Jesus crucified for forgiveness and peace hope and joy now and forever.

Amen