Second Sunday of Easter(2026)

1 John 5:4-10

Grace mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia!

What a joyful proclamation that we continue to celebrate as Christ has won the victory over sin, and death for mankind, and we see in our Epistle lesson quite the bold statement from God’s word, that by faith we have overcome the world, and the Scriptures speak of this in other parts as well, especially in the letter to the Romans that we are more than Conquerors through Jesus Christ and the victory belongs to us, and for that reason we are a people that ought to have joy and be celebrating the victory, for Christ has overcome the powers of sin and death and that ought to bring each of us immeasurable joy. For in the Resurrection of Christ, we have the victory over the world, and for that we ought to celebrate the new life that has been given to us.

The Conquered World

What is the world?

For that is what has been overcome and defeated and conquered and so what is being referred to here, for the world is vast, and when you and I say, world that would look very different in our minds today, than it would for John’s time. Even the nations and countries that existed at that time have changed and are not at all like they were back in that time. So what is being referenced here?

In sum, it is the power of sin.

This is what this particular epistle has been dealing with in light of the resurrection and victory of Christ upon Calvary and what Jesus won for us. This would include the forces of Satan in the world and all of those who remain in his camp and would lead us away from Jesus, but it also includes the sin that exists inside of our own hearts, and that it no longer has dominion over us. He explains what has overcome sin, satan, death, all that belongs to the world, it is our faith. This isn’t just some internal quality or power that exists inside of us, like our resolve, or being calm, no faith is matter of trust and belief and it must have an object that it holds on to, and

Faith takes hold of Jesus.

Who is the Son of God that has entered into the world for our sake. This is trust, this belief, this hope is what has not only carried John through the darkest and most difficult times, but it has also carried the Apostles, and countless Christians over the centuries through difficult struggles especially when we are tempted to engage in evil and be part of the world, but Christ came to separate us from a world that is dying that we might have new life in Him. For Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed Alleluia.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ

How do you know Jesus is your savior?

It’s a simple question, but it is one that we want to be able to talk about and be able to share with others. That is the process of Evangelism, it isn’t enough to condemn sin, and to threaten the world with the wrath and judgment of God, that just leaves them hopeless, and that isn’t why Christ came. He came to be the Savior of sinners, and so that’s why it is important to know where the Scriptures point us to be assured of our salvation.

The Bible points us to three places.

In our text, the Bible emphasizes that Jesus came by the water, and the blood, and that these two with the Spirit of Truth testify that Jesus is the Son of God, and that this is the testimony of God which is greater than all the testimonies of men. Evangelism isn’t just about saying, Trust me, it is encouraging us at all times to trust Jesus, the Son of God and what He has done for you.

This is where you find comfort.

For in these 3 things you find the testimony of God, for if we receive the testimonies of our fellow men, why would we not receive the testimony that God has given about Jesus? So we look to the water, the blood, and the Spirit to find God’s witness that Jesus truly is the Christ the Son of God, and that what He accomplished on Calvary is for your salvation.

The Cross of Christ

Here we have the water and the blood.

How can we not think of his pierced side so soon after Good Friday and Jesus’ painful death there for mankind. When Jesus died upon Calvary, there was a great earthquake, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, there was a great earthquake, and at the time of his death there were those who were raised from their graves in Jerusalem, and what did the Centurion say there at the foot of the Cross? Truly this was the Son of God. How do we know this?

It was John that bore witness.

He was the one that Jesus trusted with the care of Mary for since Jesus was the first born son of Mary it was his responsibility to care for her. John saw all of this first hand, and he witnessed these events and God’s declaration that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. For the water and the blood have a special purpose in the Old Testament.

These were both need to purify people.

The blood would cover over a person’s sins and grant them the ability to approach God in safety, and not come under judgment for the life of the creature bore the punishment they deserved that they might receive God’s blessings and his holiness, but there was also water that was part of their ritual washings to cleanse a person who had become unclean. So here at the death of Christ, we have the water and the blood, which purify us from our sins. We look and say?

Where Is the Spirit?

We see that at the jordan.

At the opposite side of Jesus’ ministry when He just began and was baptized by John the Baptist, for here we have the water and the spirit, like we did at the beginning of creation as the Spirit hovered over the waters, when all things were made new, and made good, and here we have in Scripture once again the Holy Trinity present and active as the promised redemption draws near, for you have Jesus, the Son of God in the water, you have the Holy Spirit, and Father speaking from heaven.

It was there that the father bore witness.

What did the Father say? This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. As a disciple and then an apostle of Jesus, John was witness not only to the death and resurrection of Jesus, but also to the baptism of Christ and heard the Father say this not only there by the Jordan, but also upon the mount of transfiguration. So by the Water, Blood, and the Spirit bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God. How do you know that Jesus saves you?

Baptism unites us with the death of Jesus.

This is the point of the Sacraments, that Jesus, the Son of God, instituted them to not only give us forgiveness, to cleanse us from our sins, but to point us to these places where we can find the forgiveness of sins. For we weren’t there upon Calvary, Jesus didn’t appear to us on the road to Damascus, and we aren’t eye witnesses to Jesus’ miracles. But the water and the blood that flowed from Christ’s side cleanses you from sin, and death.

It also gives us the Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, what does the Bible tell us? “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit that Christ promised to send, that convicts us of our sin, the righteousness that is found in Christ, and the Judgment of the ruler of this world, that is satan. Is given to us.

To Be Born of God

It isn’t Baptism alone that saves, faith is needed.

There are some out there who accuse us of teaching that Lutherans believe once baptized always saved. The Scriptures don’t teach that, and if you look at our official teachings, Lutherans have not taught nor believed that, the Scriptures are clear, whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. So baptism does save, but faith is still required.

This all happens by the Word.

For it has always been the Word that saves us, it’s the Word that it is attached to the Water, the Word that is spoke that brings life, It is the Word of God that bore witness to these things, but what is the Word, who is the Word? It’s Jesus, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us, who gives us this new birth by the Water and the Word, covers us with His blood and sent the Spirit that we might be adopted as children of God. That is why if you

If you reject the Word, you don’t have life.

Jesus is the life and the light of men, but if you set the Word aside, if you reject and don’t want it you cannot be saved. In this epistle, one of the big concerns is that people have been rejecting that Jesus is the Son of God, if you just think of Jesus as a teacher, or that Jesus is just offering up opinions or personal ideas, then you are denying that Jesus is the Son of God, and have been overcome by the world and your mind is held captive by it.

The world would have you ignore all that God has revealed in Holy Scripture, the world would have you cling to the fleeting pleasures of the flesh, and indulge in them, instead of laying them aside, and it would have you believe that you don’t really have to know the Scriptures, you don’t have to know the Bible, you don’t have to really believe what is written in there, just follow your heart, do what feels right, just don’t listen to the one who has conquered the world.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is no surprise that the world wants us to be ignorant of Christ, and ignorant of God’s Word, and the testimony that has been borne about Christ, but this is why you see that much of the world is ruled by anxiety, fears, greed, and all manner of vice, because they think that this is all there is so it is just how people live, and so they allow themselves to be conquered and overcome by the world and will go down into eternal death. Rather see the Son of God who has come to save you, and how God has borne witness that not only is this His Son, but also your Savior, who has overcome the world for you. For all who trust in His Work, who receive His Word, are not overcome by the World, but are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. So don’t be afraid of the world, and don’t be surprised when people push back on sharing the message of Christ, don’t be afraid, for Christ is risen, He is risen indeed alleluia, and we want the whole world to know that Jesus is the Son of God. In Jesus name. AMen.