We Are Children of God based on 1 John 3:1-3

I. Today, we remember the saints. Today, I encourage you to pray for the families and friends of those who have ended their earthly journey in the past year: Marcus Anderson and Damon Dirks at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Wilmer Tiedemann, Marlene Brockshus, Lyle Mayer, LeAnn Harms, and Phyllis Stap at St. John Lutheran Church; and Marilyn Consoer, Lois Sixta, and Marilyn Hedges at Zion Lutheran Church.

II. Adam and Eve and their children in Genesis 4:2-7. Genesis 4:2-7 “Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.””

III. Read Genesis 4:8-12 and comment. Genesis 4:8-12 “Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.””

IV. The Lord needed to do something to save us.

V. The love of God and 1 John 3:1-2. 1 John 3:1-2 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

VI. Luther and difficulties and “I am baptized!”

VII. We are children of God in baptism.

VIII. As God’s children we are forgiven to serve Him.