The Trinity: The God We Experience

CONTEXT

memoriAl day.

We have experienced a lot over the last several months in the feast cycle.

God sent Jesus into the world (Christmas)

Jesus died for the sins of the world on the crosss (Lent)

Christ risen from the dead (Easter)

Christ risen from the earth to heaven (Ascension)

The coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost).

Now putting all this experience together: Trinity Sunday. The One God -- the God who loves, saves us, and gives us new life — is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Our lesson today is a well known passage, John ch. 3.

Early in Jesus’ ministry. Pointed out by John the Baptist. Son of God; lamb of God. Takes away the sin of the world. Jesus a powerful teacher and miracle worker. Cleared the temple, destroy and I will build it again. A veiled prophecy of his death and resurrection. This enacted prophecy put Jesus in the crosshairs of some of the religious leadership, but not all. Nicodemus senses something special in Jesus. He is asking Jesus to help him make sense of what he is seeing and sensing.

TEXT John 3:1–17

John 3:1–17 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

INTRODUCTION

Statement of the doctrine of the trinity: Succinctly: One God existing in three persons. Co-equal in all divine attributes and yet differentiated by their relationship with each other and toward us.

Not 1 God who appears to us sometimes as a F, S, or HS: Modalism. We rejected that.

Not separate, F, S, HS, each of which is God: Tri-theism. We rejected that.

Rather: Trinity: Tri + unity = 1 God, three persons.

One divine nature, 3 persons in that divine nature.

Complicated and technical.

If St. Peter asks, explain the Trinity: we might be in trouble.

Even as detailed as I just was, that explanation I am sure does not approach the mystery of the Trinity.

Key: description of experience.

If St. Peter says, describe your experience of God…then we can talk about the Trinity.

Nicod comes to Jesus because he is experiencing something. Jesus talks with him he uses Trinitarian language.

EXEGESIS 1: The Spirit Moves

Nicodemus’ identity

Elder.

teacher.

on the sanhedrin (supreme court); in charge of interpreting the law and applying it.

Nicodemus a person knowledgeable, experienced, mature person of power, influence and respect.

Yet he sensed God was moving in a new, more explicit way in Jesus.

he is in the dark literally and spiritually.

Jesus’ answer to him is that to see the kingdom of God:

Must be born ἄνωθεν -- from above or “again”. This is where that popular phrase comes from.

Nicodemus knows that Jesus is not being literal. Cannot go back into mother’s womb. But he is not sure what Jesus does mean.

Jesus expands:

Born of water and Spirit.

Water: Baptism, commitment.

Spirit: direct, gracious action of God.

Genesis: Spirit blew over the waters.

Ezekiel: The Spirit and the dry bones.

An encounter with God is needed.One that comes from God and that you should commit to.

Like the wind. It blows where it wills. You can only feel it. Open to it.

One that is blowing on you…Nicodemus. Can’t explain or control it, but you can feel it.

APPLICATION 1: We experience the Spirit

EX: walking on the beaches. Wind and water. Wind, I am actually feeling the wind. Water I am actually feeling the water.

As our bodies experience the physical world, wind, water. So our spirits experience God. Key: it is God we are experiencing, not just ourselves! (psycho, emotional phenomenon)

What experience is God The Holy Spirit engaging with us.

I believe in God the Holy Spirit - I believe in a God who is not far away, but as close to us as the wind that blows.

EXEGESIS 2: The Son Saves

Nicodemus: How can these things be? How can God come so near? As Holy and exalted as God is? Knowing we are so sinful as we are.

Ancient sensibilities - especially the Jews — were very realistic about moral and spiritual failures. There was a real darkness to humanity.

Ancient Jewish thought: God so holy that to be near God was to risk annihilation.

Met on the mountain.

Sectioned off by curtains.

Atonement through blood.

Jesus knows Nicodemus is ponding this problem. How can a Holy God come to an unholy people?

Jesus inserts himself as the agent of reconciliation.

he is the one who descended (from the position of divinity to humanity). He is the one who will ascend from humanity to divinity.

One who is God and Man bridging the distance.

Jesus refers to to a story in the OT book of Numbers.

When the ancient Israelites were being afflicted by poisonous serpents in the wilderness because of their sin, God told Moses to set up a bronze serpent, a symbol the punishment of their sin, so that whoever looked at it would not die but be healed.

Just so, Jesus will be lifted up on the cross. He would not be just be a sign of sin, but would take on himself the actual sin of people. Those who look to him would receive not physical healing, but eternal life.

Whoever looks to the Son is not looking at a sign, but at God making atonement for humanity’s sin and bridging the gap.

APPLICATION: We experience the Son

EX: I say a harsh word to my wife. I tell a friend. He says, “I forgive you.” But can he do that? No. Dao has to forgive me. The person I have offended has to forgive me.

When we sin against God we are aware of a chasm between us. God has to forgive us. Jesus is God forgiving us.

BTW: During his ministry Jesus would forgive people their sins, and the leaders were offended. Who can forgive sin, but God alone? Exactly, Jesus is God. When I confess to God and Jesus forgives, it is God who is forgiving.

To say I believe in God the Son = I believe in a God who himself died and rose again to forgive me my sins.

EXEGESIS 3: The Father Loves

The ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Son, are the will of the Father.

3:16.God (the Father) so loved the world...he sent the Son, not to judge the world, but that it might be saved through him.

The Father who created all things is the One from whom the plan of salvation comes.

He was unwilling to create the world and humankind only to have it lost to sin and death.

Sent the Son who shares with him the same love for humanity to save the world.

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Sends the Holy Spirit who shares with him the power to bring people into new life.

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Nicodemus had always believed in the One God. The Father. Getting a stunning revelation of how that One God is going to save his people. A fuller One God. A more diverse One God. A more active One God.

APPLICATION 3: We Experience the Father

EX: Coast Guard rescue operation.

Distressed swimmer = us.

Helicopter = Father

Rescue Swimmer = Son

Connecting line = HS

To believe in God the Father is to believe in one loves you so much, he makes a rescue possible, through his Son and the HS.

CONCLUSION: We Experience the Trinity

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night looking for an explanation. He recieved an invitation to experience.

An invitation that bore fruit in his life. Nicodemus opened himself to a new understanding and experience of God through Christ.

visit at night (ch.3)

defended at Sanhedrin (Jn. 7)

anointed and buried the body with Joseph of Arimathea. (Jn. 19)

I like to think filled with Spirit on Pentecost.

Christian tradition suggests that Nicodemus was later baptized by the apostles Peter and John.

In some churches he is venerated as a saint and has a dedicated feast day in August.

When st. Peter asks what is the trinity, don’t reach for your book of confessions. Instead, just remember your relationship.

What do you mean you believe in F, S, HS. I mean, I believe in the God who loves me, saves me, and brings me in.

Prayer of Intercession

Let us offer our prayers, crying, Triune God…hear our prayer!

Eternal God, we pray for the world, that through the reconciling love of Christ our destructive and violent ways may cease, as you bless your human family with peace. Triune God…hear our prayer!

We pray for the mission of your church, that empowered by your Spirit we may proclaim the good news of the age in the world you so dearly love. Triune God…hear our prayer!

We pray for all who suffer, that together with Christ in his suffering we may find healing as he did, as he was raised and exalted in you. Triune God…hear our prayer!

— Frank Cibik for flue

— Those who are stressed caring for others (i.e. Denice)

—

We pray for your creation, that as it groans for its redemption we may care for its well-being through the power of your life-giving Spirit. Triune God…hear our prayer!

We remember before you those who have died and pray for those who will die today, that through your glorious redemption that ends all suffering they may rest with you eternally. Triune God…hear our prayer!

Through Christ, with Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, we praise you, O God, now and forever. Amen.