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JOHN 16:1-15
Posted: 6/16/2019
LISTEN TO THE OPENING VERSE OF A HYMN WRITTEN IN 1754. I SHARE IT BECAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS THE TRINITY, AND IT ALSO CONNECTS US TO THE GOSPEL PASSAGE.
“HOLY TRINITY, THANKS AND PRAISE TO THEE.
THAT OUR LIFE AND WHOLE SALVATION-
FLOW FROM CHRIST’S BLEST INCARNATION,
AND HIS DEATH FOR US ON THE SHAMEFUL CROSS.”
TODAY IS WHAT THE CHURCH CALLS “TRINITY SUNDAY”, MEANING THE SUGGESTED PASSAGES FOCUS ON THE DOCTRINE OF ONE GOD REVEALED IN THREE PERSONS. THE WORD “TRINITY” MEANING TRI-UNITY, HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A WORD OF WONDER, A WAY OF TRYING TO EXPRESS THE INEXPRESSIBLE.
ONE GOD FOUND IN THREE PERSONS IS LARGELY A MYSTERY THAT CANNOT BE FULLY EXPLAINED OR GRASPED BY THE HUMAN MIND. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS- A CONFESSION OF FAITH ABOUT THE UNIQUE REVELATION OF GOD’S SELF.
SOME SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES THAT POINT US TO THIS REVELATION ARE: THE GREAT COMMISSION IN MATTHEW 28, WHERE JESUS COMMANDS HIS FOLLOWERS TO BAPTIZE IN THE NAME OF THE- FATHER AND SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
THERE IS ALSO JESUS’ BAPTISM DESCRIBED IN MARK 1:10-11, WHICH TELLS HOW THE DOVE DESCENDED UPON JESUS AS THE VOICE OF HIS FATHER SPOKE: “THIS IS MY SON….”
WE ALSO HAVE PAUL’S BENEDICTION IN 2 CORINTHIANS 13:13: “THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL.”
AND IN EPHESIANS 2:18, THE APOSTLE EXPLAINS HOW JESUS UNITES BOTH JEWISH AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS TOGETHER, WRITING: “FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER BY THE ONE SPIRIT.”
WE ALSO HAVE TODAY’S GOSPEL READING FROM JOHN, WHICH CONTAINS SOME OF JESUS’ FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WORDS OF COMFORT TO THE TWELVE, BEFORE HE GOES TO THE CROSS. CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DISCOURSE ARE CHRIST’S OWN WORDS THAT POINT TO GOD AS TRINITY.
JESUS DESCRIBES THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE GREAT COUNSELOR, A TEACHER, AND GUIDE—WHO WILL REVEAL TO THE DISCIPLES ALL THOSE THINGS THEY CANNOT NOW UNDERSTAND, OR EVEN BEAR TO HEAR. THE SPIRIT WILL CHALLENGE ALL OF THOSE WHO DO NOT REALLY KNOW THE GOD OF ISRAEL—BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS IS ONE WITH THE FATHER AND THE SPIRIT.
JESUS’ DECLARATION- THAT THE SPIRIT WILL TEACH THEM THE TRUTH OF HIS WORDS, WHICH ARE FROM HIS FATHER, EMPHASIZES THE UNITY OF GOD WHO IS ONE. HE ALSO SAID THE SPIRIT HELPS US BY EXPOSING SIN IN THE WORLD, AND ALSO WITHIN OURSELVES TO BRING THE WORLD AND US INTO REPENTANCE.
AND IN PLAIN ENGLISH JOHN CALVIN SAID THAT: OUR FAITH IS GIVEN TO US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO POINTS US TO JESUS, WHO RECONCILES US TO GOD THE FATHER. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SAID THAT THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO TAKE THE THINGS OF CHRIST AND INTERPRET THEM TO HIS CHURCH-SO CHRISTIANS MAY GROW IN GRACE AND SERVE GOD.
IT IS MY HOPE YOU WILL REMEMBER WHILE UNDERSTANDING DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS VALUABLE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. JESUS IS INDEED, LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS- THE PIONEER AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITH. HE IS THE SON -GOD SENT INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, AND THE ONE WHO SENDS HIS SPIRIT TO ABIDE WITHIN THOSE JESUS SAVES. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW. AMEN
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