Sunday Rewind

Occasionally, I'll have people ask for copies of my sermon notes. So I thought I'd start posting edited summaries each week. Maybe it will refresh your memory. Maybe it will serve as fodder for your journey through the week. May God bless you as you consider His Word.

Scripture Text: John 3:1-17

The theological doctrine of the Trinity has always managed to leave scholars somewhat frustrated and the faithful somewhat confused. Trying adequately to express the mystery of a God who is Three-in-One tends to leave us tongue-tied.

For many of us, words will always fail to capture the truth of Trinity. Being confused by spiritual matters is nothing new. Our scripture lesson this morning tells the story of a deeply religious teacher, and expert at the scriptures, who just couldn’t figure out what Jesus was talking about. His name is Nicodemus.

The concept of being reborn confused Nicodemus. It never occurred to him that a Jew would need to convert to the true faith of Israel. And yet, it doesn’t matter who your Daddy is, or isn’t, entrance to the Kingdom of God comes by faith.

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son. God loves the world. God desires that none should perish. God gives the Son that all may live. God has acted not to condemn, but to save. To trust in this is to have life anew, life eternal. This is the central theme of the gospel.

God is greater than our capacity to fully understand. There are some facets of His being that are like the wind. We see them, but we don't know where they came from, or where they go. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of those areas. And yet the triune nature of God teaches us something important about the universe He created.

The doctrine of the Trinity reveals that relationships stand at the heart of the universe. The natural world exists in relationship. God exists in relationship; Father, Son and Holy Spirit in seamless separateness. We exist in relationship.

We may not fully grasp the doctrine of the Trinity, but we can live it by finding ways to glorify God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To reveal God the Creator, work with what is at hand. To reveal God the Redeemer, give your pain a purpose. To reveal God the Holy Spirit, work with your passion.

The church calendar calls today “Trinity Sunday”. It’s a day set aside to celebrate the unique triune character of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If we will reveal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives, the world will see it. And many will come to faith, being born from above.