March 1, 2026
Second Sunday in Lent
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John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
This is perhaps the most well-known and beloved verse in the New Testament, for good reason. This simple Gospel message is the foundation for our whole life, including our new life in Christ.
This new life is characterized by thankfulness and devotion to our Father who has provided for us so lavishly in Christ.
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Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 12:1–9; Romans 4:1–8, 13–17; John 3:1–17
The Word of the Gospel Opens the Eyes of Faith and Fixes Them on Christ Jesus
The Lord called Abram (Abraham) to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him. He also promised to make of Abram “a great nation,” to bless him and make his name great as a blessing to “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:2–3).
“Abram went, as the LORD had told him” (Genesis 12:4), and in Canaan “he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 12:8). He “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
Here the grace of God is manifested, that He “justifies the ungodly” (Romans 4:5), not by works of the Law, but through faith in His promises. He removes all of our sins and lawless deeds through Jesus Christ, the offspring of Abraham in whom all the Lord’s promises are realized.
This forgiveness of sins is the Word of the Gospel, the voice of the Holy Spirit, which “gives life to the dead” (Romans 4:17). It opens the eyes of faith to behold Christ Jesus, the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15).
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Life Thoughts for the Week
Second Sunday in Lent – Salvation comes only through faith in Christ, who was “lifted up” on the cross as the payment for the world’s sins (John 3:14-15). Not even Abraham our forefather was saved by his works or inner worth (Romans 4:2-3).
In choosing to redeem us by His own grace apart from our works, God shows us that our value is not found in a person’s own qualities. Instead, every person is precious to God and worthy of dignity because “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16).
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Lectionary Series – Sunday’s Scripture Readings © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 800-248-1930, Ext. 1265 • worship@lcms.org • lcms.org/worship. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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