The Sixth Sunday after the Festival of the Holy Trinity
also known as the Eighth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
July 27, 2025
We Believe and Confess Through the Apostles’ Creed
Because Jesus Descended Into Hell…..
Heaven Is Even More Certain For Us
In orthodox Christian theology, Jesus’ descent Hell refers to the
first activity in Jesus’ Exaltation (or re-assumption of all His divine power and glory). It occurred between His burial and His bodily resurrection. While in hell, Jesus proclaimed God’s righteous judgment and power over Satan, unbelief and hell for the benefit of those who believe in Him. Through His descent into Satan’s kingdom, Jesus proved His triumph over Satan at the cross was real, and our souls’ security against Satan’s desires to have us for himself in hell for all eternity.
Only two passages in the Bible speak explicitly about Christ’s descent into hell. Those passages are I Peter 3:17-22 (our sermon text) and Colossians 2:6-15 (today’s Second Lesson). In two more, Ephesians 4:7-10 and Psalm 16 (today’s Opening Psalm…..which Peter quoted in his Acts 2 Pentecost sermon) a possible reference exists. With so few passages making reference to it, some suggest that this teaching is a secondary/inferior teaching of God’s Word. That is simply not true. Whether Scripture teaches something in one passage or a thousand passages, that teaching is God’s truth….and is always important for us as His believing children.
Two other Scripture lessons today will fill out our service. Our Gospel Lesson from Matthew 16 reminds us that the gates of hades (hell) cannot prevail against Jesus’ power and the salvation that He has secured for us who believe in Him. And our Children’s Lesson, from Hebrews 2, will remind us that Jesus had defeated and de-fanged the Devil for us….so that, while we still recognize Satan can be a problem for us, we don’t have to worry about spending eternity in hell with him, so long as we continue to trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
We are continuing our summer service/sermon series on the truths taught (and which we confess) in the Apostles’ Creed. Today we have arrived at what amounts (for some) to a rather controversial statement: “He descended into Hell.” Part of what makes this statement controversial, is the minor importance that some assign to it. Controversy is also found in the different reasons that some Christians say required Jesus’ descent into hell.
The most cited Bible passage for the account of Jesus descending to hell before His resurrection is 1 Peter 3:18-20. Noah proclaimed God’s righteousness and justice to the unbelieving world prior to the Flood, and – along with us family – was saved by God’s grace through the ark. As a parallel of God’s justice and righteousness, Jesus descended into hell to proclaim His triumph over sin, death, Satan and hell, so that we can face these unspiritual opponents and threats with the confidence that we, too, are already triumphant over them through Christ’s victorious, redemptive work. Because we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, these opponents and threats cannot deprive us of our place in heaven – much less condemn us to an eternity in hell because of our sin.
Of course, Jesus’ descent into hell is affirmed by us regularly in the Apostle’s Creed. It bears mentioning here that some Christians differ with us on what Jesus’ descent signifies, as well as when it occurred and what it accomplished. As to when it occurred, our Savior descended into hell sometime on sundown on Holy Saturday, but before His bodily resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. What He did there, as we noted earlier, was to preach to the spirits in prison who disobeyed God (in other words, the fallen angels and the unbelieving souls also confined in hell). What did He preach? Some (the Catholic church and some Reformed churches) wrongly suggest that Jesus preached the Gospel in order to save and release to heaven the souls of Old Testament believers who died before His sacrificial death on the cross for their sins. They misquote I Peter 4:6 to reinforce this false view, however, Jesus – before His death and resurrection – clearly taught in Luke 16:19-31 that once a soul is in hell, it can never leave. (Other passages, such as Isaiah 66:24 and Matthew 25:41 among others, also affirm the irretrievable, eternal state of the damned.) What Christ preached in hell was the Law (the righteousness and justice of our holy God). He proclaimed there (and proved by His physical presence….since Jesus descended body and spirit into hell after being vivified/returned to life) eternal salvation through His victory over sin, death and Satan for those who believe in Him, as well as the eternal damnation of those who die in their unbelief.
As to why this teaching is not contained in the Nicene Creed (which is used by some who question its authenticity), we ought to keep in mind that the Nicene Creed was written especially to unify the Church around the truth of Jesus’ deity and unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit as the Triune God. In so doing, it rejected the false teachings of a man named Arius, who denied Jesus’ full deity and essential unity with the Father and the Spirit. On the other hand, the Athanasian Creed joins the Apostles’ Creed in affirming Jesus’ descent into hell.
Some Christians wrongly teach that Jesus’ descent into hell is nothing more than that Jesus body was placed in a grave on Good Friday afternoon. They try to justify this by claiming that the Hebrew word “sheol” means the grave (which it does….but only sometimes….at other times it means “hell”/the abode of Satan.) They similarly say the same about the New Testament Greek and the Latin word “hades” (which was used in the Apostles Creed), but there, too, that word can mean “grave,” but more commonly means “hell.” What they fail to ask themselves is…if “descended into hell” only means that Jesus was physically buried in His grave, is this: “Then why would the Creed already include, just prior to this, the redundant phrase, “crucified, dead and buried”? Our answer: Because the descent into hell is not Jesus’ being placed in a grave, but speaks about His physical journey to the literal place called hell.
One more point to make…..Jesus did not descend into hell to complete His sufferings for our sins and to secure our souls’ salvation (anymore than He went to hell to liberate Old Testament believers who had to suffer there until His sacrifice for their sins….which is something that Scripture nowhere teaches – because it isn’t true!). One passage and statement of Christ while on the cross is sufficient here. In John 19:30 Jesus, about to give up His life for us, declares some of the Bible’s most meaningful words…..”It is finished!” The actual word in Greek was “tetelesthai,” which was a “technical term” used in business transactions when a bill’s final payment was made. It essentially said, “paid in full.” When Jesus stated that just as He was dying, He was telling us that He had completely paid in full the debt we owed for our sins….and, as a result, nothing more needed to be done by Him, or needs to be done by us. Our salvation is certain by God’s grace, through Holy Spirit-given faith in all that Jesus did to earn that salvation. There are no good works we need to do to be sure heaven is our home. And there was no reason for Jesus to descend into hell to further suffer for our sins…..since His suffering and death had already occurred….and victory over sin, death and Satan had been won for us through Jesus Christ crucified, vivified (returned to life) and about to be resurrected for us. As we continue to believe that by God’s grace, your and my salvation is certain and Satan has no power over us……Jesus’ descent into hell has proven that for us.
Prayer Upon Entering Church – Heavenly Father, You showed Your grace by bringing me to faith in Christ through the work of Your Holy Spirit, and then by giving me the blessing of being called Your child. Though what I offer You today is so small, compared to all You have done for me, please accept my humble offerings of praise and thanksgiving, as well as my gifts. Also, Lord, help me gladly hear and take to heart the Good News of salvation from sin for me and all people through faith in Your Son, my Savior. Renew and invigorate me with Your Holy Spirit today and every day, that I might live a confident life of faith and love to Your glory, and that I might share, by all possible means, at every opportunity, the same Good News of salvation through Christ which has filled my life with peace and purpose. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version
Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission. Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Silent Prayer upon entering the sanctuary Pre-service music
Pre-Worship Hymn Singing, beginning at 9:25 a.m.
We Praise Our God
The Welcoming and Introduction to Worship
the Congregation will rise for the invocation
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P: And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
Today’s Psalm Reading Psalm 16
Pastor: Guard me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
Congregation I say to the LORD, “You are my LORD. + I have no good apart from You.”
P: The holy ones who are in the land are glorious. All my delight is in them.
C: Those who chase after another god will increase their sorrows. + I
will not pour out their drink offerings of blood. I will not take up their names on my lips.
P: LORD, You are the cup that has been given to me. You have secured an allotment for me.
C: The property lines chosen for me fall in pleasant places. + Yes, a delightful inheritance is mine.
P: I will bless the LORD Who guides me. Even at night my heart instructs me.
C: I have set the LORD always before me. + Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
P: Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices. Even my flesh will dwell securely.
C: because You will not abandon my life to the grave + You will not let Your Favored One see decay.
P: You have make known to me the path of life….
C: Fullness of joy in Your presence, + pleasures at Your right hand forever.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn “Dearest Lord, While You Are Watching”
sung to the melody of “Neander” (CW 255)
Dearest Lord, while You are watching O’er Your universe today.
Pause a moment as we’re praying, Hear the words we have to say.
Bless us, please, oh Friend so dear, As to You we now draw near.
We have thrived on Your attention. We have prospered at Your hand.
Gifts too numerous to mention, You have showered on our land.
Earth and heaven sing Your praise, Mighty Ancient of all days!
Though at times we groan and grumble, Though our sinful deeds You see,
Though our prayers we often mumble, You forgive us constantly.
Could we find a friend so true, As the Friend we’ve found in You?
If You see some tear-drops falling, Lord, You know the reason why.
We are saddened at recalling, How You sent Your Son to die.
Such a wond’rous gift of love, We are so unworthy of!
Gracious God, oh please direct us, Every day and every night.
Send Your angels to protect us, From the Tempter’s evil might,
‘Til the day when we can see You in heav’nly majesty! Amen.
After which the Congregation will rise as
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words, and actions; I have done what is evil in Your sight and have failed to do what is good. For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, both now and for eternity. But I am truly sorry for all my sins, and trusting in the perfect life and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I plead: God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And now, carrying out my office as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
The Order of Matins
Pastor – O Lord, open my lips.
Congregation – (sung) And my mouth shall show forth Your praise
Pastor – Hasten, O God, to deliver me.
Congregation (Sung) Hasten to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning is now and every shall be.
World without end. Amen. Hallelujah
Pastor – O come, let us worship the Lord.
Congregation (Sung) For He Is Our Maker
O come let us sing to the Lord
Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving
And make a joy noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all Gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hand;
The heights of the hills are also His.
The sea is His and He made it.
And His hands formed the dry land.
Oh, come let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God.
And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand
The Prayer for Today
O Almighty God, our Heavenly Father + as we meditate on Your Word today + move us to repent of all our sins + particularly the sins of worrying, + of being worldly, + selfish, + weak-willed, + idolatrous, + and indifferent toward Your Word. + Enable us, + through Your Spirit’s aid, + and motivated by the Gospel, + to resist the Devil’s temptations, + the evil influences of this wicked world, + and the deceitful desires and wicked ways of our own sinful nature. + Empower us to grow in our faithfulness to You + and increase our trust in You, O Lord, + that we might daily bring honor and glory to Your holy name. + All this we ask in the name and for the sake + of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + One God, for ever and ever. + Amen.
after which the Congregation may be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson Revelation 1: 4-18
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him Who is, Who was, and Who is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before Yis throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His own blood 6 and made us a kingdom and priests to God His Father—to Him be the glory and the power forever. Amen.
7 Look, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him,
including those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of Him. Yes. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, the One Who is, and Who was, and Who is coming, the Almighty.
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingship and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.
10 I was in spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12 I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was One like a Son of Man. He was clothed with a robe that reached to His feet, and around His chest He wore a gold sash. 14 His head and His hair were white, like white wool or like snow. His eyes were like blazing flames. 15 His feet were like polished bronze being refined in a furnace. His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 He held seven stars in His right hand. A sharp two-edged sword was coming out of His mouth. His face was shining as the sun shines in all its brightness.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last— 18 the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell.
The Second Lesson Colossians 2: 6-15
6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 by being rooted and built up in Him, and strengthened in the faith just as you were taught, while you overflow in faith with thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, which are in accord with human tradition, namely, the basic principles of the world, but not in accord with Christ. 9 For all the fullness of God’s being dwells bodily in Christ. 10 And you have been brought to fullness in Him. Christ is the Head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in Him, with a circumcision not done by human hands, in the putting off of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with Christ in baptism. And in baptism you were also raised with Him through the faith worked by the God Who raised Christ from the dead.
13 Even when you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ by forgiving us all our trespasses. 14 God erased the record of our debt brought against us by His legal demands. This record stood against us, but He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 After disarming the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them by triumphing over them in Christ.
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 16: 13-20
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But you, who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Children’s Lesson Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood, He also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death He could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil) 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
The Devil….Defeated….and De-Fanged
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 155 Christ the Lord is Risen Again
1 Christ the Lord is ris’n again;
Christ has broken death’s strong chain.
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
Singing evermore on high: Hallelujah!
3 He who bore all pain and loss
Comfortless upon the cross
Lives in glory now on high,
Pleads for us, and hears our cry: Hallelujah!
4 He whose path no records tell
Has descended into hell;
He the strong man armed has bound
And in highest heav’n is crowned. Hallelujah!
5 He who slumbered in the grave
Is exalted now to save;
Now through Christendom it rings
That the Lamb is King of kings. Hallelujah!
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Pre-Sermon Salutation
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord! Amen.
The Sermon Text 1 Peter 3:13-17
17 Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, 18 because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place, the Righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit, 19 in which He also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. 20 These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 He went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to Him.
Jesus Descended Into Hell
I. When? II. How?
II. Why? and III. For Whom?
after the Sermon, the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for the post-sermon blessing
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
We offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) Those in the chapel can place their offerings in the offering plates
2) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
3) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Prayers of the Church
Included in our prayers this morning are:
A Prayer of Intercession for Tim Pfortmiller
who is approaching the end of his earthly life and the beginning of eternity in heaven;
also
A Prayer of Thanksgivng on behalf of Kay and Frank Giardino
who will be celebrating their wedding anniversary this Thursday;
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 537 “Onward Christian Soldiers”
1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle
See his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
2 Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod.
We are not divided,
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity. [Refrain]
3 Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
‘Gainst that Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
And that cannot fail. [Refrain]
4 Onward, then, ye faithful;
Join the happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ the King;
This through countless ages
Saints and angels sing. [Refrain]
Silent Prayer
Announcements
Post-Worship Music