Whoever Desires to Be Saved Must
John 3:1-17
June 15, 2025 anno Domini
Whosoever desires to be saved must … The Athanasian creed has a very different beginning than the church’s other two creeds which begin “I believe.” I believe is subjective. This is what I believe. You don’t have to believe it. When your wife says, “I believe the garbage is full.” You don’t have to believe her, but don’t expect a very nice father’s day present.” If you want to be saved you must is objective. There’s no choice in must. You must not drink and drive. You must secure all firearms when your grandchildren are visiting. Ignore the must to your own peril. The Athanasian creed makes that “must” clear “Whoever does not keep [the catholic, universal, Christian faith] whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.” “Whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.”
The Athanasian Creed states objective fact. Christianity does not claim to be the opinion of Jesus of Nazareth. Christianity does not consider itself one religion among many. The Christian faith makes the audacious claim that it alone has the truth from God and this truth alone can save.
That’s another presupposition the Creed makes. You need to be saved and that means you’re in danger. When you’ve been kidnapped you need the Hostage Rescue Team to save you. When you have a heart attack you need the EMT’s to save you. If you’re not in deadly trouble you don’t need to be saved.
Unfortunately because of our sinful nature and the lies of the Devil we don’t even know we’re in trouble and we don’t want God’s help. That sticks with us even as believers. What is your reaction when anyone tells you, “You must…?” You bristle, you rebel. You don’t want anyone telling you what you must do. You can take care of yourself.
That’s where we find Nicodemus in the text. Nicodemus was a good man and a very nice man. He came to Jesus with high praise, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus praised for Jesus. However, Jesus is not impressed, and He doesn’t reciprocate the kindness. Jesus does not commend Nicodemus for being a Jew, a devout Pharisee, or a great teacher of the people. Jesus doesn’t stand there telling Nicodemus how glad he is that Nicodemus showed up or how important Nicodemus is to Him. Although some might find it unwelcoming I like the Church service beginning without any announcements. The first words spoken after the opening hymn are not about you but about God. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re here, but my happiness over you isn’t going to do anything for you. I’m glad you’re here because Jesus is here and you need Him.
Jesus would never make it as a Church Greeter. The first thing He says to Nicodemus is you’re not welcome here. “You must be born again.’” I mentioned in last week’s sermon, that this line of Martin Luther has really struck me. “You must become a different person.” That’s what Jesus is telling Nicodemus. You must be born again.That “You must” stymies Nicodemus. He hears what Jesus is saying, but it is impossible, “How can a man be born when he is old?”
Nicodemus probably wants take back what he said about Jesus being a good teacher. Good teachers communicate so students can understand. Good teachers tell their students something they can actually do. A preschool teacher is not going to say, “Okay, today we’re going to read a book called Johnny the Walrus learns about Quantum Physics.”
If Jesus isn’t a good teacher at least Nicodemus remains a good student. He truly wants to get the lesson. He continues to ask questions, “How can this be?” Jesus continues to be Jesus. There are no compliments for Nicodemus. He doesn’t say, “That’s a great question Nico. I’m glad you asked.” Instead, Jesus calls him dumb. How did you get to be a teacher of Israel and yet you don’t know any of this?
Why did Nicodemus even bother to come to Jesus. He flattered Jesus, questioned Jesus, surely there’s some bit of Nicodemus Jesus could be pleased with. He was a Pharisee, a Jew, a noted teacher. Did that not count for anything?
Jesus answer is clearly no. Jesus says, “You must.” And Nicodemus says, “I can’t. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” This “must” of Jesus is all over the Scriptures. Be holy as Your Father in heaven is holy. Keep the commandments and you will live. Whoever would be first among you must be your slave. If your brother sins against you 490 times saying, “I repent” you must forgive him. I can’t. That’s right you can’t. That’s why something else must happen. You must become a different person and the only One who can make you what you are not is the One who made you in the first place. The Holy Trinity must do this.
That is why Jesus continues. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” In the beginning of His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus was like those snakes that bit the Israelites in the wilderness. The words of Jesus, like the poison of the serpents brought death to sinners. His Words made Nicodemus nothing, took away all he trusted, killed the great teacher of Israel. And then His Word brought Nicodemus the medicine of immortality. As Moses lifted up that serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man will be lifted up on the cross. Look to Him, believe in Him, and He will change you. Your sins will be forgiven and you’ll be credited with His righteous. You’ll be holy before God in Christ. You’ll keep the commandments in Christ and seek forgiveness from Him when you don’t. You’ll be snatched from the Devil’s dungeon and brought to the home of Your Father. You’ll be born again in mother church from the womb of Holy Baptism. You won’t die but live.
You must, but you can’t. You can’t so He must. The Son of Man must be lifted up. The Father so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The Father sent His Son. The Son was lifted up on the cross. The Spirit was given to God’s men to preach that life-bestowing, person changing news. Jesus did what you could not do and He did it for you so that you could be a different person, born again of water and the Spirit.
You cannot worship a generic American God who loves the USA. That’ll get you nowhere except proud or desperate. You must worship the Holy Trinity – the Father, who sent His Son. The Son who was lifted on the cross to save you from yourself. It is not enough to know that, you must believe it is for you. And you can’t believe it – so the Holy Spirit blew like the wind when and where He pleased, in the water of your baptism, in the preaching of God’s Word. The water went on your head and the Word into your ears to change your heart.
Whosever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith, and the catholic faith is this. We worship the Trinity. We believe Jesus of Nazareth, true God and true man, died for our sins, rose again, ascended into heaven, and sits at God’s right hand. He’s coming back to judge the world. If you want to be saved you must believe He did this for you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.