The First Sunday after Easter

King of Grace Lutheran Church (ELS), Golden Valley MN

The Collect

Lord God, heavenly Father, You delivered Your Son for our offenses, and raised Him again for our justification:  We beseech You, grant us Your Holy Spirit, that He may rule and govern us according to Your will; graciously keep us in the true faith, defend us from all sins, and after this life raise us to eternal life: through the same  etc.

The Epistle [1 John 5

All that is born of God, overcometh the world.  And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  This Jesus Christ is he that came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three which bear record in heaven:  the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater.  For this is the witness of God that is greater, which he testified of his Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself.  He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave his Son.  And this is the record, how that God hath given unto eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.

For a sermon by Martin Luther on this text, please follow the link   http://www.lectionarycentral.com/easter1/LutherEpistle.html

The Gospel [John 20

The same day at night, which was the first day of the Sabbaths, when the doors were shut (where the disciples were assembled together for fear of the Jews) came Jesus and stood in the mids [middle], and said unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you.  As my Father sent me, even so send I you also.  And when he had said these words, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  Whosoever's sins ye retain, they are retained.

Follow the link to a sermon by Martin Luther on this text   http://www.lectionarycentral.com/easter1/LutherGospel2.html

For a second Luther sermon go to   http://www.lectionarycentral.com/easter1/LutherGospel.html