"What is Saving Faith?"

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent

Sermon Text: John 3:1-17 (Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus)

What is saving faith — and how do you know you have it? This sermon explores the difference between mere knowledge about God and true justifying faith. Knowing God exists, or even knowing facts about Jesus, is not enough; even demons know those truths. Saving faith is the Holy Spirit’s gift: trust that Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice are for you.

The sermon walks through Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, showing that faith is new birth by water and the Spirit, not human achievement. Faith rests not in its own strength but in Christ’s promises. Even weak, struggling faith is real faith when it clings to Jesus.

Listeners are encouraged not to measure faith by feelings but by God’s Word — delivered through baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Gospel itself. In a world of doubt and spiritual struggle, Christ continues to strengthen faith through his gifts, assuring believers that they belong to him and are justified by faith alone.

Preacher: Rev. Matt Doebler, pastor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norfolk, VA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (LCMS)⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TLCnorfolk.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our mission is to make disciples and make them stronger through Word and Sacrament. (Mt. 28: 18-20)