David and Luz Maria Ernst – Serving the Lord in Venezuela

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The name in which we baptize

John 3:1-18

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “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.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Juan 3:1-18

1 Había un hombre de los fariseos que se llamaba Nicodemo, príncipe de los judíos. 2 Éste vino a Jesús de noche y le dijo: Rabí, sabemos que has venido de Dios por maestro; pues nadie puede hacer los milagros que tú haces, si no está Dios con él. 3 Respondió Jesús y le dijo: “De cierto, de cierto te digo: El que no naciere otra vez, no puede ver el reino de Dios.” 4 Nicodemo le dijo: ¿Cómo puede un hombre nacer siendo viejo? ¿Puede entrar por segunda vez en el vientre de su madre, y nacer? 5 Respondió Jesús: “De cierto, de cierto te digo, que el que no naciere de agua y del Espíritu, no puede entrar en el reino de Dios.” 6 “Lo que es nacido de la carne, carne es, y lo que es nacido del Espíritu, espíritu es.” 7 “No te maravilles de que te dije: Os es necesario nacer otra vez.” 8 “El viento sopla de donde quiere, y oyes su sonido, pero no sabes de dónde viene, ni a dónde va; así es todo aquel que es nacido del Espíritu.” 9 Respondió Nicodemo, y le dijo: ¿Cómo puede hacerse esto? 10 Respondió Jesús y le dijo: “¿Eres tú maestro de Israel, y no sabes esto?” 11 “De cierto, de cierto te digo, que lo que sabemos hablamos, y lo que hemos visto testificamos, y no recibís nuestro testimonio.” 12 “Si os he dicho cosas terrenales, y no creéis, ¿cómo creeréis si os dijere las celestiales?” 13 “Y nadie subió al cielo, sino el que descendió del cielo, el Hijo del Hombre que está en el cielo.” 14 “Y como Moisés levantó la serpiente en el desierto, así es necesario que el Hijo del Hombre sea levantado;” 15 “para que todo aquel que en Él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.” 16 “Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en Él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.” 17 “Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por Él.” 18 “El que en Él cree, no es condenado, pero el que no cree, ya es condenado, porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito Hijo de Dios.”

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The Holy Trinity in action

John 14:23-31

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; *my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

Juan 14:23-31

23 Respondió Jesús y le dijo: “Si alguno me ama, mis palabras guardará; y mi Padre le amará, y vendremos a él, y haremos con él morada.” 24 “El que no me ama, no guarda mis palabras; y la palabra que habéis oído no es mía, sino del Padre que me envió.” 25 “Estas cosas os he hablado estando con vosotros.” 26 “Mas el Consolador, el Espíritu Santo, a quien el Padre enviará en mi nombre, Él os enseñará todas las cosas, y os recordará todo lo que yo os he dicho.” 27 “La paz os dejo, mi paz os doy; no como el mundo la da, yo os la doy. No se turbe vuestro corazón, ni tenga miedo.” 28 “Habéis oído que yo os he dicho: Voy, y vengo a vosotros. Si me amarais, os habríais regocijado, porque he dicho que voy al Padre; porque mi Padre mayor es que yo.” 29 “Y ahora os lo he dicho antes que acontezca, para que cuando acontezca, creáis.” 30 “Ya no hablaré mucho con vosotros; porque viene el príncipe de este mundo; y no tiene nada en mí.” 31 “Mas para que el mundo conozca que yo amo al Padre, y como el Padre me dio mandamiento, así hago. Levantaos, vámonos de aquí.”

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Abraham rejoiced to see my day

John 8:46-59

46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” 48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Juan 8:46-59

46 “¿Quién de vosotros me redarguye de pecado? Y si digo la verdad, ¿por qué vosotros no me creéis?” 47 “El que es de Dios, las palabras de Dios oye; por eso no las oís vosotros, porque no sois de Dios.” 48 Respondieron entonces los judíos, y le dijeron: ¿No decimos bien nosotros, que tú eres samaritano, y que tienes demonio? 49 Respondió Jesús: “Yo no tengo demonio, antes honro a mi Padre; y vosotros me deshonráis.” 50 “Y yo no busco mi gloria, hay quien la busca, y juzga.” 51 “De cierto, de cierto os digo, si alguno guarda mi palabra, jamás verá muerte.” 52 Entonces los judíos le dijeron: Ahora conocemos que tienes demonio. Abraham murió, y los profetas; y tú dices: El que guarda mi palabra, jamás probará muerte. 53 ¿Eres tú mayor que nuestro padre Abraham, el cual murió? También los profetas murieron. ¿Quién te haces a ti mismo? 54 Respondió Jesús: “Si yo me glorifico a mí mismo, mi gloria nada es; mi Padre es el que me glorifica; el que vosotros decís que es vuestro Dios.” 55 “Y vosotros no le conocéis; pero yo le conozco; y si dijere que no le conozco, sería mentiroso como vosotros, pero yo le conozco, y guardo su palabra.” 56 “Abraham vuestro padre se regocijó de ver mi día; y lo vio, y se gozó.” 57 Le dijeron entonces los judíos: Aún no tienes cincuenta años, ¿y has visto a Abraham? 58 Jesús les dijo: “De cierto, de cierto os digo: Antes que Abraham fuese, yo soy.” 59 Entonces tomaron piedras para arrojárselas; pero Jesús se encubrió, y salió del templo atravesando por en medio de ellos, y así pasó.

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The central truth of the faith

John 3:1-15

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Juan 3:1-15

1 Había un hombre de los fariseos que se llamaba Nicodemo, príncipe de los judíos. 2 Éste vino a Jesús de noche y le dijo: Rabí, sabemos que has venido de Dios por maestro; pues nadie puede hacer los milagros que tú haces, si no está Dios con él. 3 Respondió Jesús y le dijo: “De cierto, de cierto te digo: El que no naciere otra vez, no puede ver el reino de Dios.” 4 Nicodemo le dijo: ¿Cómo puede un hombre nacer siendo viejo? ¿Puede entrar por segunda vez en el vientre de su madre, y nacer? 5 Respondió Jesús: “De cierto, de cierto te digo, que el que no naciere de agua y del Espíritu, no puede entrar en el reino de Dios.” 6 “Lo que es nacido de la carne, carne es, y lo que es nacido del Espíritu, espíritu es.” 7 “No te maravilles de que te dije: Os es necesario nacer otra vez.” 8 “El viento sopla de donde quiere, y oyes su sonido, pero no sabes de dónde viene, ni a dónde va; así es todo aquel que es nacido del Espíritu.” 9 Respondió Nicodemo, y le dijo: ¿Cómo puede hacerse esto? 10 Respondió Jesús y le dijo: “¿Eres tú maestro de Israel, y no sabes esto?” 11 “De cierto, de cierto te digo, que lo que sabemos hablamos, y lo que hemos visto testificamos, y no recibís nuestro testimonio.” 12 “Si os he dicho cosas terrenales, y no creéis, ¿cómo creeréis si os dijere las celestiales?” 13 “Y nadie subió al cielo, sino el que descendió del cielo, el Hijo del Hombre que está en el cielo.” 14 “Y como Moisés levantó la serpiente en el desierto, así es necesario que el Hijo del Hombre sea levantado;” 15 “para que todo aquel que en Él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.”

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There is one true Triune God

JohnAttributes of God 3:1-15

Juan 3:1-15

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Before Abraham was, I am

God's promise to Abraham

John 8:46-59

Juan 8:46-59

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A new covenant, a new name for God

Matthew 28:18-20

Mateo 28:18-20

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The self-revelation of the Triune God in baptism

Grace and peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Every Sunday we worship the Holy Trinity. We begin the liturgy in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I announce the absolution in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We sing to the three persons of the Trinity in the Gloria Patri, the Kirie Eleison, the Gloria in Excelsis and many hymns. However, today is the special Sunday dedicated to reflecting on the Holy Trinity.

The Book of Concord, the declaration of the beliefs of our church, includes the three creeds, the Apostolic, the Nicene and the Athanasian. Each deals with the doctrine of the Trinity, but today is the Sunday when we confess our faith in the words of the Athanasian Creed, the longest and most detailed of the creeds.

Why three creeds that deal with the same theme? Why is each one longer than the others? Our faith is in the Triune God. According to the command of the Lord in our text for today, we baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine is key to understanding baptism, in addition to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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