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June 10, 2001 LECTIONARY
READINGS [
Read texts at the Vanderbilt Divinity On-Line Library ] The Underlined / Linked
Texts above will take you to "The
Wonderful Gifts of Trinity" For millions of Christians around the world, today is one of the Seven Principal Feasts of the Christian year. Trinity Sunday, celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost, spread throughout the western church in the fourteenth century. No matter what tradition a church is a part of, the trinity has been a major tenet of historic Christian faith since Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria led a struggle over the nature of Jesus Christ in the fourth century church. ¹ The Creed of St. Athanasius, although not written by Athanasius is a good statement of his teachings. A short part of the beginning of this creed says that:
As you read through or listen to the words of this statement, perhaps you feel sympathetic toward those who find the issue of the Trinity confusing and would just as soon think about other things.² To be sure, there are some knotty theological issues to wrangle with in an academic discussion of the Trinity. But, on the other hand there are some very practical concerns connected with the Trinitarian faith. Today's reading from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans has a particularly outstanding list of ways our spiritual lives are touched by the reality of the Trinity. You and I, as Christian persons enjoy some wonderful gifts that are rooted in the classic conception of God as, "Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Stay with me for a few moments here as we look at this reading from Romans. The first issue Paul takes us to is the gifts we have received From God as we have come to know God through Jesus Christ. We might call these the "incarnational" gifts of God. They come to us through God the Son. Then Paul concludes our passage with something only God can do in our lives. We could call this the "inner spirit" gifts of God. They come to us through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. If we make a list of these gifts, the list is impressive.
Even though the more academic issues that are involved in the theology of the Trinity may be difficult, wouldn't you say the gifts of God we've just listed are gifts most of us long for? Of course they are. Let's take a closer look at how the Trinity is important to our lives in a very practical way. Peace with God [V.1] Throughout the biblical drama, God attempts to restore a relationship of peace with Israel through the law and the prophets. In spite of every appeal God made, reconciliation did not happen and the relationship between God and people remained one of estrangement. Then "the Word became flesh." God came in the person of Jesus Christ to offer new life if persons would simply by faith receive the reconciling work of Christ on the cross. In just a few verses past our text, Paul writes, "But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." [v.8] Now because of what Christ did, we have peace with God which makes it possible for us to have the peace of God within. Grace for our failures [v2] One of the foundation principles St. Paul gives in his writings is that we are saved by grace. We could not "earn" or "deserve" our way into God's "good graces" - so the grace of God made it possible to be reconciled through Christ. "...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself," [2 Cor. 5:19] The good news, however, is that this grace does not disappear when we are reconciled with God. This is, "...grace in which we stand." The grace of God not only greets us at the front door of our entrance into a life of faith, but provides the foundation for our living out the days of this earthly pilgrimage. The grace that saves is grace that supports. The grace that enabled forgiveness for our life of sin is also the grace that enables a life of faith and faithfulness. There is grace for those inevitable times when failure comes our way. The grace and peace of God are interrelated. Ten times in the Pauline writings, the blessing is written, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Sharing in the being of God [v2] There is even more! The grace of God not only provides a foundation for our earthly lives, it is a promise of an eternal destiny. Paul says we boast (better translation is rejoice) "...in our hope of sharing the glory of God." The glory of God is a glimpse of divine reality. It was the brightness of the transfiguration that frightened the disciples on the mountain top, it was the deepest prayer of Jesus in the gospel of John when he asked that his followers might see the glory he had with the Father before the world began. [John 17:24] Paul's statement here takes the meaning of God's glory even further. This is not simply a glory we will see - it is a glory we will share. The glory of God is at the heart of the image of God and it is the renewed image of God in the life of the believing heart that will clearly reflect God. The thought is spelled out in more detail in 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Living with hope [v4] The bottom line for living is that because of the peace and grace of God and the promise of an eternal glory shared with God - we have hope for living no matter what. In fact, Paul says we actually rejoice in our sufferings. Another way to say it is that the believing heart always has joy because of the promises of God that have come through the only begotten (thought uncreated) Son of God. Suffering is transitory and hope underlies all that comes our way. *** Amazingly, there is still more. The gifts of peace and grace, the glory of God and hope come through the Son. The life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Son made possible the foundation of our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit, now brings the work of God into our inner being. Knowing the love of God [v.5] The love of God which resulted in the incarnation of the Son of God is beyond comprehension. Who can fathom a love that reconciles enemies and pours out precious life for those who repeatedly reject the Giver of Life? If you and I could love like that, our lives would be quite different - to say nothing of our world! Yet, the work of God in our lives continues beyond the gifts that call us into relationship with God. The Holy Spirit of God which proceeds, "...from the Father and the Son," comes now to grow the love of God in our lives. And not just a little bit. "God's love," Paul says, "Has been poured into our hearts." As we learn to surrender our lives more fully into the care of God's hands, the love of God is able to displace more of our stingy human love and replace it with Divine love. Which brings us to the bottom line of this short text. Having God at work within us [v.5] These gifts of God which come from God, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all point to the wonder of Paul's last statement. This love of God which is poured out in our hearts comes to us, "...through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." Do you see the power of this? God the Holy Spirit is a permanent inner Divine Guest in the life of the believing person! The activity of the Holy Spirit (God within us) is no more and no less than our involvement with this guest. Supposing a guest came to your home and received little or no attention from you. This actually happened to my six year old daughter. She was invited to a friend's home, but the friend wanted only to watch television. When my daughter came home, I asked, "did you have a good time?" "No," she answered. "No? Why not honey, what did you do?" "Nothing," she replied. She did not have a good time and her relationship with her friend was not nourished in the least because the friend had no time for my daughter. God the Holy Spirit is a guest within that would like to grow and nourish a relationship with us that will result in the growth of peace, grace, hope and love in our lives. ** The Holy Trinity is not simply an academic subject or some kind of divine "new math." Rather the Trinity is a powerful and practical issue for the living of our Christian lives. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ¹ See more on Athanasius in the Trinity Sunday sermon from 2000
>> Here << Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 The lections connect somewhat through the wisdom of Proverbs and the Spirit of truth of the gospel. Wisdom is of the highest possible value and pursuit of wisdom is more worthwhile than any other pursuit. The Spirit of truth will bring the followers of Christ into all truth. A relationship with God is the heart of both texts. Wisdom and truth will lead persons who choose them into the will and the ways of God. Everything else, Proverbs will say is "foolish." Wisdom is personified in Proverbs and some see a reference to Christ in this text. However, wisdom as personified here is a creation of God, while Christ is the only begotten, but uncreated, Son of God. Nevertheless, wisdom as presented here is reminiscent of the logos which was with God in the beginning and without whom nothing was made. Wisdom was with God from the beginning of creation and, "...was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always." Wisdom and truth are agents of God's redemption which bring them very close to the ministry of Christ. The "Spirit of truth" of the gospel accomplishes the work of personified wisdom in Proverbs.
John 16:12-15 - Another Sermon Idea for the Gospel Text This theme is more topical than expository, but there is a real need to ask a question in our world. "Does anyone care about truth?" Jesus said the Spirit would "...guide you into all the truth.." Ask questions about who tells the truth? 1. Do HMO's tell the truth about
patient care? Examine the ways truth is important to your community and ask the question of what it would mean if "all truth" would be applied in the most important issues facing the people you minister to. Then raise the question, "Do you tell the truth to yourself?" Jesus said to his followers, "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." To care about truth is to care about freedom. Untruth binds. Truth frees. John 16:12-15 A sermon on the gospel text can be found >> here << Romans 5:1-5 If the congregation is in need of a bit of teaching on the meaning of justification by faith, the following will help a preface to the full text sermon. The epistle begins with the word "therefore," which begs the question, "What leads to this therefore? Paul has been laying out his argument for justification by faith. All are guilty of sin and powerless to make themselves right with God through their own efforts. There is a need for a new way to become righteous in the sight of God. (Without the righteousness of God, relationship with God is not possible.) The law was not able to bring us to righteousness and in fact the law exacerbated the separation between God and humankind. The law only deepened the knowledge of all the ways we were unable to do what is right in the sight of God. It would all have seemed hopeless except that, "...now a way of righteousness from God apart from law, has been made known..." It is not through keeping all of God's requirements perfectly that we become righteous, but through faith in Christ who kept all of God's requirements perfectly and now offers his righteousness to all who will trust in him. It is by faith and not by law that we are justified in the sight of God. Indeed, Paul affirms, even Father Abraham was justified by faith because the scripture records that, "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." [Rom. 4:3] Thus, Paul affirms, it is not by law but by faith that we are made right in the sight of God. "Therefore, since we are justified with faith, we have peace with God..." Now the epistle for today takes us from the academic discussion of justification by faith to the blessings that come to us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. A Call To Worship (Psalm 8 responsively ) Leader: O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Prayer of ConfessionHoly and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offences against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light, and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Assurance of PardonDear friends in Christ, receive the good news that our God is merciful and abounding in love toward all those who turn to him in true faith and repentance. In Christ we are forgiven. Amen. A Prayer of Dedication All of these gifts we bring and the ability to bring them is of your hand O Lord our God. We rejoice in your great love for us and stand amazed that you should choose to build the kingdom of the love of your Son through us. Amen. |