The Holy Trinity 

Sermon Text: John 8:48-59

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from our loving God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

They had it all wrong… the Jews, that is, in our Gospel text… a text which finds us in the midst of a rather intense discourse between our Lord and the Jews who were inquiring of Him, challenging Him, and maliciously labeling Him.

Jesus was not a Samaritan with which the Jews looked upon with disdain and would have no dealings.

Jesus was not demon possessed. On the contrary, those accusing Him were under the influence of their father and it was not God the Father… or Abraham… but rather Satan.

They were so off base. But then ignorance will do that… their ignorance of and refusal to see the truth laid out for them and all people in Holy Scripture. Regarding this, they are certainly not alone and their sad spiritual state is not limited to there and then, but very much the here and now. It is all around us. It permeates this sinful and sick world in which we live.

Many people… the majority of people… have it all wrong… they have Him all wrong… Jesus, God the Son, all wrong… as well as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Well, isn’t that easy to do? To get things wrong about God, that is… who He is and the relationship between and among the Persons of the Holy Trinity. I mean, come on, the Athanasian Creed is a mouthful and then some. We often relegate it to one worship service a year and even groan at that. 

It can seem daunting and confusing when, in fact, it provides important and essential clarification in a very matter of fact and concise way.

It is an amazing confession of faith… an amazing statement of fact, many facts… all of which are derived from… emanate from God’s Word… yes, the one source where the Lord our God lovingly tells us about Himself… all that He would have us know… all that we need to know… all that we are capable of knowing. 

It is hilarious that many want to know more about God when they will not even explore to the fullest all that He tells about Himself in Scripture… that which is enough to occupy our hearts and minds all our days on earth.

The world always turns to its own devises… to its own thoughts, including that about God. It relies on its own wisdom, which is but folly, instead of that which is divine and true.

St. Paul says it best in his first letter to the church at Corinth. He quotes Sacred Scripture saying, “For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:19-24)

The Athanasian Creed and all that is confessed therein regarding the Oneness of God, the Persons of the Holy Trinity and the one way to salvation… it is daunting and confusing, seemingly laborious only to those who are blind… only to those who are too stubborn to hear God’s Word… too lazy to pick up their Bibles… to read it... to listen as the Lord reveals Himself, His loving ways and loving plan for you and all the world.

Not being all that subtle (which I know is out of character for me)…  it is downright pathetic and incredibly dangerous the state of ignorance among people who are quick to say they are Christian and yet have little knowledge of what that all means and entails… little knowledge of the God they worship… who He is… what He says… what He has done for them… and what He will do… what is certainly yet to come.

What may have been learned and known at one time, may no longer be the case. Christian catechesis… the learning… has never been a “one and done” matter, but you would be hard pressed to see that in many of our churches.

The danger in this has to do with so many precious men, women and children being led astray… led away from the one true Triune God in whom alone there is eternal life and instead being led right into hell and eternal death having no idea that it is even happening to them. 

What about you? The Christian life includes taking constant stock of who we are and where we are… and this, all in relationship to Jesus Christ… this, in relationship to God our Father and the work of God the Holy Spirit in us.

Yes, of course, there is so much about God… about the Holy Trinity that is above and beyond us… clergy and laity alike. A pastor is charged with the awesome task of being “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

There are a lot of mysteries. We cannot fully explain God and the Holy Trinity and are by no means called to… thankfully! Rather, we are given the responsibility and blessed opportunity of presenting it in its fullness within the confines of Scripture… no more… no less… but always fully sufficient. 

Dearly beloved of the Lord, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, please ponder, consider and dwell upon your God and my God… indeed, the God of all… the One of which there is no other.

Ponder long and hard the One you individually and we collectively call upon when we say, “In the name of the Father, and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Consider Who we invoke in these words… Who we seek to be present with us… Who we worship, pray to, flee to… the One in whose presence we always want to be… the One in whom alone we are safe, satisfied and content… the One in whom alone we are forgiven and this again and again… perpetually washed clean in Holy Baptism…

… the One… ONE… in whom alone we have life eternal. What is it that Christ our Lord said to the Jews and continues to say to all of us? “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51)

Countless saints who have gone on before us know the reality of this. They live and are very much alive in the reality of this, being with our One True and Triune God whom they behold “face to face.”

How fitting it is for us… we, who yet fight the good fight of faith here below… now… this day… begin the second half of the Church Year looking at, considering and marveling over our God and His work in us… we the Church… Christ’s very Body with Him as the supreme head.

How exciting it will be for us to return here to God’s House every week throughout this season and beyond, to commune with the one true living God who is in our midst as we gather together in His name… He who lovingly, mercifully and graciously is with us in Word and Sacrament now and always. Indeed, to Him alone the glory. Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.