Confessing the Thrice-Personal Particular LORD, not just 'God'.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
When giving the reason for the hope in you, when explaining, or defending the Christian faith, bot h Law and Gospel - I hope you have found the introductory articles helpful. We must engage people in dialogue about that one God that deep down they know as the Creator, Law Giver, Judge, Provider, Source of all goodness. You can have that conversation with your neighbour. I also hope you feel it - this is not just an idea of God, concept- but living personal God who discloses Himself in saving actions and then sends us the interpreting Word - I hope you see beyond the need for general revelation, that one of the most important things we do for our neighbours is point to, speak, show the value of God’s living Word. It’s authority, its sufficiency.
But then after that general introduction of God’s being attributes, and God’s revelation. We get to the heart of the matter - we’ve seen that the Bible is a general handbook about , answer book , but a covenant book about how to be in saving relationship, and then how to live according to God’s design, plan, and law. SO the heart of the matter is who is God, and what does he do. And because He is not just an idea of general God, but one who acts and lives and personally involved, the very next and neglected teaching is about the Trinity of the Living God.
Key Truth: The One True Living God exists in Three Persons in relationship, and saves us to bring us to live in personal relationship with Him.
This means that the Bible isn’t about some vague ideas about God. And God is the same in Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and whatever other, just compare and boil to the basic ideas of God. The God of the Bible OT and NT, is the one true God who addresses this world, who engages in the the story of this world and my life and yours. who risks all to save it. He is the living God who intrudes in our lives, and He has done so in living personal way, ultimately acting from the Father, by the Son and through the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is not abstract theology to come up neat ideas about God, but a description of how God is and acts.
Basically, Christians always worshipped the God who worked in history, and personally confronted them, as He did so in increasingly apparent Triune way always understanding the Three Person of the Godhead were united as God himself! But when teachers like Arius began to say the Son was created, there was a time when he was not, and God made him, spiritual more divine than angels or humans, but not fully God, when the Holy Spirit was seen a the new mode of God that replaced the old mode of the Sprit on Christ which replaced the mode before that of God as Father in the OT, it was then that the Christian church around 312 started to meet - and say we need to put up some boundaries of how we talk about Father Son and Holy Spirit. They were not trying to exhaust the mystery of who are God reveals himself to be, nor were they trying to explain away great mystery that can’t be comprehended. They were helpfully showing the limits of what we can say about God who in one sense is One essence - all the God-ness - fully shared, equally glorious, powerful and eternal. But at the same time but in a different sense, they are three - distinctive characteristics of three Person, each with distinct role , what they would call a distinct way of relating to each other - subsistence, three different - modes of relating in the Father -imitating, planning, sending, The Son eternal generated as a Son reflecting Father and His character outwardly, executing His plan, The Spirit like rivers of love and Communion birnging them together, and also being the power that applies the work of The Son.
In the 4th Century from the West Augustine and especially Athanasius and from the East Cappodicians Fathers - especially Gregory Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, and Basil, summoned by the church to settle the issue of Arianism - they came to show how - three co-equal, co essential Persons are on e God and how each Person of the Trinity -lives in through , and unto the others. So that is not divided has not parts, but is Truly One. It is a summary and explanation of Biblical Christianity, that arises not out of abstract thought, but from how the living God reveals himself to us. So as put it:
“I cannot think of one, but I am immediately surrounded with the splendor of the three; nor can I clearly discover the three, but I am suddenly carried back to the one.” -Gregory Nazianzus
When the church gathered at the city of Nike, Nicea - victory, they were seeking to show how God reveals Himself, and how that is validated in our experience of God.
It was not abstract speculation, for theologians. Gregory of Nyssa, said of the people in Constantinople it is full of mechanics and slaves who are all of them profound theologians. If you want a man to change a piece of silver, he informs you wherein the Son differs from the Father. If you ask the price of a loaf, you are told by way of reply that the Son is inferior tot he Father; and if you inquire whether the bath is ready, the answer is that the Son was made out of nothing. “ His point everyday Christians were talking about discussing, seeking full knowledge of the Triune God. And because this is the way God reveals Himself and the way a person experiences god - we must be a witness to the Trinity! We don’t worship or put forth a God in general, but we proclaim the thrice personal God - who moves toward us!
A. The Unity of our Particular God
But Christian believe that there is a majestic fulness in God. In the OT the furniture of the teaching of the Trinity is there, but the lights are dim can’t really see fully yet. Record of God acting see this richness of life of the God - Let us make man in our image, Elohim, read the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the deep, see Angel of the Lord mediating with God’s people and yet he is worshiped as the Lord. Here promise of the Spirit of the LORD sent out from God. In the earliest OT times because of the polytheism unable to get full knowledge of this - be confusing fall into tri-theism. But in the fulnnes of time, when God sent His Son - when at his baptism - three persons of the Trinity all acting at the same time and so distinct. We can say with Benjamin Warfield as we look at OT and NT, true this word and even this doctrine is not put together for us, but: B. B. Warfield, The doctrine of the Trinity lies in Scripture in solution; when it is crystallized from its solvent it, does not cease to be Scriptural, but only comes into clearer view.
When you have Jesus saying there is an essential unity between HI and the Father, John 14: and the Father saying from heaven - my begotten Son, when Psalm 2 says Today I have made you my Son, - eternal generation of the Son.
That isn’t just saying, quantitatively there is one God opposed to many. But qualitatively it saying this this one God, is Jehovah, I AM WHO I AM, the LORD in covenant with His people - this particular God who makes Himself known as the God of Abraham Isaac, and Jacob. In the New Testament he is prayed to at times as the Father other times as the Son and others times as the Spirit. In the NT we have Peter asking in the same breathe why did you lie to the Spirit,? Why did you lie to God. we have Paul saying there is One God the LORD and He is the Father and He is Jesus Christ the Lord:
1 Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
No, our testimony based on Scripture and confirmed in experience, is not just that there is a Creator God and you better believe in him. But that this particular God who came and visited Abraham, is Triune. Same One God who acts by His Spirit, same One God who comes down from Heaven becomes incarnate in the Son, atones for our Sins, rises with God’s nature perfectly joined to human nature - raising us up to His glory. And the testimony is that all these three people what: are one single essence. All their godness is the same - each fully God and God together!
But without contraiction, and progressively, we see this God coming and acting toward us - in three person!
B. The Trinity of God’s Persons
i. Father
But look how our confession summarizes it: T
“The Father is the cause, origin, and source of all things, visible, as well as invisible.” Belgic Confession Art. 8.
“The Father is called our Creator by reason of his power.” Belgic Confession Art. 9
No other religion prays to God as Father - the Scriptures reveal that the Father taking the role of Master/Initiator focused on exercise of power - we are to know He is Father of all creation, we are to turn to him not just as distant mean dictator in sky; but benevolent Father supplies sustains, heart is to be turned, honour is to be given, prayed to with sense of majesty, we are to relate to Him as the Greater sender not only of rain, but of the Son and of salvation in our lives through the Son. We are to testify of the Creator as that kind of Father , experience him life that.
ii. Son
Then, we read the biblical summary:
The Son is the Word, the Wisdom, and the image of the Father. Belgic Confession Art 8.
Listen to how even the OT alludes to the Son being at God’s right hand before creation of anything, with the particular role in the creation, of executing carrying out God’s plan:
Proverbs 8:22-23 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
Do understand the Son’s role in being and shining forth the wisdom and plan of God. He is the Word the principle of order and life and light that pervades all. And in salvation carrying that out, the Son becoming human and drawing near to us, like the Angel of the Lord at Abraham’s tent - look at his role:
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
He cones to speak as God to us - in all his words and works -
Hebrews 1:2 -3 … his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature ...
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
The centre of the teaching on the trinity is that we only really know God through the Son - as we testify to each other and our neighbours that belief in a Particular and Personal God - it is this that is at the heart of it: Not just I believe in God you should too, but God has come to me in Christ - I know the living God in Jesus - my belief in God is belief in Jesus as God come as a Redeemer - from failure and sin, and hell and death and despair.
I have a friend jacked about apologetics good and helpful , but all the reasons in the world about the existence of God, can’t break through this revelation - God is Jesus and He saves me! That how God discloses Himself!
Listen to in Art 9 The Son is our Saviour and and Redeemer, by his blood.
In my experience this is confirmed the blood of the Cross brings forgiveness and new life. This is what unbelieving family and freinds must see us pointing to in Christ’s Cross, and loving work:
2 Cor 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We are to hold up Christ’s work - whether in his justice, mercy, or victory over death - hold one aspect of Jesus work to our neighbours and say I see God - the image of God here. ie funeral, ie my weakness, ie. changes in world situation, Christ coming again.
iii. Holy Spirit
But finally the Trinity needs to be testified to in the third person, the hidden person who’s unique role and properties is testifying to the Son and applying His salvation and power in us.
“The Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son.” Belgic Confession Art 8.
Now let’s be clear here, because all the persons are fully God - it’s not like the Spirit is the power part of God. Nor is it like only the Father creates, then the Son alone does salvation, and the Spirit alone applies it. No, as they live in each other - though one Person take ts the lead in these activities all are involved in every act of God. And this is saying, the Spirit has a unique role, with unique properties, to carry that role out: Both in creation and in salvation - the Spirit is the Person who takes the Father’s Plan and the Son’s effective work - and then makes that work powerful and effective!
In Creation ,the Person of the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep. In salvation the Spirit in similar manner is poured out on Jesus followers - so that we are caused to share in Christ’s anointing with the Spirit!
This is what Jesus meant when he said:
John 14:16-17 … another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, ... You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
What will the Holy Spirit dwelling within a true and full person who is God do in us?
John 16:15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
If the Son is the great Accomplisher of salvation, the Spirit is the great Applier of salvation and he does that as a person. We commune with Him He speaks through the Word of Christ, and the result is that we share the Christ life we grow in holiness, that is why He is called the Spirit of Holiness, the Holy Spirit. Our testimony to the Holy Spirit is not to be just liver quivers and experiences of extraordinary gifts, but with no real understanding of the Spirit as a Person who dwells within and makes us more like Christ, all the while comforting and guiding and testifying.
It is remarkable that George Barna has found that 70 of Christians believe Jesus as Son of God he will come again, but 55% of “born again Christians reject the existence of the Holy Spirit and 61% of Americans believe the Holy Spirit is a symbol of God’s presence or power but not a living entity! But our confession and testimony is that:
”The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier, by his living in our hearts.” Belgic Confession Article 9
Athanasius helpful in showing us that these three person, not confounded with each other, nor intermingled, yet beautifully unified - co-essential and co-eternal.
Our God is not an idea or mere set of doctrines, or a being who gives us a world view. Our God is a thrice personal God , existing as one God in three Persons - he has intruded into His world to live in personal relationship with You. And the Trinity is simply helpful language to do that! But before we leave these articles, we must speak of more than the unity and trinity of God. What is the significance of living with a Triune God for us?
C. The Significance of Living with a Triune God
There are some churches that really focus on one of the persons of the Godhead to the exclusion of the other two. Some churches really only witness and try to live for God the Father. I will never forget someone saying - if you could preach that sermon in a mosque or synagogue or new age gathering and still get Amen’s nice sermon very inspiring, you have not preached a Christian sermon. The same is true if our life is just about social justice, and morality that has no reference to the Son of God, his birth, death, resurrection, ascension into heaven and His coming kingdom.
But by the same token, there are church that you’d be hard pressed to hear anything but personal salvation - embracing doctrines of the Cross and the church lifestyle so you can unknown you are good for heaven and feel really emotionally thrilled about forgiveness. What person of the Trinity is held up almost exclusivity there. There is little understanding go the Father’s holiness, no talk of Jesus doing that work that we might be adopted by Him for fellowship with the Father, little emphasis is placed on God’s holy law and the role of the Spirit in gradually but progressively making you Holy.
And finally there are churches so focused on the extraordinary gifts and experiences of the Spirit that this has eclipsed the teaching of Jesus Words, and growth in the salvation that Jesus Christ has won. They forget that the Spirit’s job is not to take attention and glory for Himself, but to draw people and keep people in communion with the Son.
It is striking that in understanding Jesus, Matthew’s gospel begins with Father, Son and Spirit present at one moment - Jesus is not merely holy man, prophet, wise teacher, embodiment of God’s love. He is much more in that opening gospel glimpse: Jesus is is the God-man in whom dwells the very presence and power of God - see triune action and community and delight. We see in that snap shot all the essential relationships - metaphor of the Son and Father relationship, The Spirit pour down to empower and equip from the Father , Stunning snap hot. But how does that gospel end? Matthew 28. Do you remember it its about a baptism too. But yours and mine. And it is in the one name of the God - baptized into that One Name, but in the threefold fullness of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit - the Name of the One True God carries the full character and life and purpose and mission - and you and I are baptized into those realities - into that Triune Life.
The LORD,not just a god, genreic and plain, but the covenant God JEHOVAH, appeared to Abraham that day. THE LORD spoke to Moses in the fire, he came in Christ, he dwells in His church by the Holy Spirit. Does it trouble you we don’t have the psychical manifestation or the incarnate presence? The Spirit is not embodied as a dove or a human today. But in just as real way that the Triune God drew near to Abraham and Moses, and was present with us in Christ when he walked the earth. So the Holy Spirit is present with us. We say it don’t we in the Apostles Creed. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins. We live in this church of Jesus Christ in which His presence by the the Spirit is palpable and His work the gospel sustains in the power of the Spirit. Yes God the Triune God comes to us, and there is no other God who will speak in this world, no other God who will save. He is not a system or idea, And people need our testimony to this God’s thrice personal nature and action.
The reality of the Trinity as you have come to know and experience it is about God’s loving faithfulness and His free and love choice to engage this world as Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. Karl Barth got it right when he says God sends God’s community the church, among the peoples … ordained for its part to confess Him before all men, to call them to Him and thus to make known to the whole world that the covenant between God and man concluded in Him is the first and final meaning of its history and that His future manifestation is already her and now its great, effective, and living hope.”