Preparing for Worship - March 5, 2023

We continue to look at God’s plan for salvation in this Lenten season, as it was revealed in the Scriptures and especially in Christ our Savior. The Old Testament lesson tells of how God initiated this plan already in Genesis 12:1-9, when he called Abram (later Abraham) to leave his home and country and go to a land that God would show him. God promised to bless him and make of him a great nation and from his descendant all families on earth would be blessed. Abram went, as God directed him, and was led to Canaan, where he built altars to the Lord, the One True God.

The Psalm is Psalm 121. The psalmist looked up to the hills of Jerusalem and the temple, and above all, to the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. Six times he speaks of the Lord as the Keeper of him and Israel and all who looked to Him in faith. The Lord needs no sleep and watches over and shades His people night and day, seeking to keep their feet from stumbling and to keep them looking to Him for their help. Only He could keep them from evil and bless them forever. (See also the podcast Bible study for this week, which is on Psalm 121, and gives much more detail.)

In the Gospel lesson, John 3:1-21, Jesus revealed that He was the Son of God, sent from the God the Father to be the Savior of the world. He came not to condemn but to save the world, as people were “born again” of water and the Spirit in baptism and brought to believe in Him. Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned but has the gift of eternal life. Whoever does not believe is still is under condemnation. Of course, anyone can still come to faith in Jesus at any time, by God’s grace and blessing.

In the Epistle lesson, Romans 4:1-8, 13-17, Paul makes it clear that even Abraham was not saved by his goodness. Only by his belief in God and His promises was he counted righteous in God’s eyes, and his sins were forgiven and not counted against him. Jesus is the Promised Offspring of Abraham. As people trust in Jesus as Savior, they are also children of Abraham, no matter what nation they come from, Jews or non-Jews. They too are saved by God’s grace and forgiven of all their sins and given a new life and a whole new existence, in and by Christ Jesus, who justifies the ungodly.