We celebrated Trinity Sunday. The Bible is clear about the teaching that God is three persons in one united God. Problems and false teachings arise, not because the Bible is unclear, but because people don’t understand this doctrine — the math just doesn’t work out according to how we think math should work.

One of the charges that those who deny the Trinity make is that the Old Testament doesn’t teach the Trinity. Actually, that is not true — although it is more clearly taught in the New Testament. Below is a quote from a Lutheran doctrine book that shows that believers who only had the Old Testament were not bothered by the teaching that God had more than one person.

It is interesting to note in this connection that in the New Testament record no one ever objected or expressed surprise when Jesus spoke of the plurality of persons in God and called them by name. Some to be sure violently objected to Jesus’ identification of himself as one of the three, but they did not object to the idea of three in one itself. The disciples on their weakest day never asked, “What in the world are you talking about?” when Jesus taught the truth that God is three and nevertheless one. It was a truth already known to them to a certain extent from the Old Testament. God’s identification of himself as one God in three persons is, of course most clearly spelled out and expressed in the New Testament. . . . Matthew 28:18–20: “Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Daniel Deutschlander
Grace Abounds, p. 98

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We celebrated Pentecost which focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit of God does many things, we rejoice that included in his work is the work of conversion – he brings us to faith in Jesus. He brings us to spiritual life through the gospel that is in the Word and Sacraments. In grace, the Spirit works through the message of Jesus as our Savior (the gospel) to create and strengthen faith. For this wonderful work, each of us must thank and praise the Spirit!

Below is a portion of our Large Catechism that reminds us of this wonderful work that the Spirit carried out in our lives.

Neither you nor I could ever know anything about Christ, or believe on Him, and have Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel. The work of redemption is done and accomplished. Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, and so on. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew about it, then it would be useless and lost. So that this treasure might not stay buried, but be received and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed. In the Word He has the Holy Spirit bring this treasure home and make it our own. Therefore, sanctifying is just bringing us to Christ so we receive this good, which we could not get ourselves.
Luther’s Large Catechism, Part II, Article III: paragraphs 38-39

1 Corinthians 12:3
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

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We celebrated the Ascension of Jesus. Jesus' Ascension back to heaven took place forty days after his resurrection. Jesus had completed his work as the Savior, winning salvation for everyone. At his Ascension he reclaimed his place as the King of Kings!

To help us understand what it means that Jesus is our King, Lutheran theologians have spoken of three kingdoms that Jesus rules. Recalling the different kingdoms helps us remember the true goal of Jesus' reign has our King.

Jesus rules a Kingdom of Power (also called his Kingdom of Nature or Kingdom of the World). All of nature and creation bows to Jesus' will. Even while on earth, the disciples marveled that "Even the wind and waves obey him" (Mark 4:41). How Jesus uses this power remains hidden in the wisdom of God and is often a mystery to us. Demanding answers to "Why did God let that happen?" is a dangerous question if we conclude that God is unfair or unloving. We may not understand the actions of our Lord. Proof of his love for us is not how life unfolds; proof is found at the cross of Jesus! He has saved us for eternity. Until we are fully set free from sin, "we live by faith, not be sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7) and must submit ourselves to God's perfect will.

Jesus rules a Kingdom of Grace. This kingdom is not a place, but the activity of God in the hearts of all who believe. By grace, he creates faith and unites us to himself. The Kingdom of Grace is the Christian Church. Jesus rules this kingdom through the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments. Through the gospel in these "means of grace" sinners see the fullness of God's grace! This kingdom will endure to the end of time. This kingdom is a kingdom of faith; hardships or persecution do not remove one from this kingdom.

Finally, Jesus rules a Kingdom of Glory. Jesus' Kingdoms of Power and Grace are ultimately leading to the greatest of his Kingdoms. We will live in the glory of heaven! In heaven, God's people will not know sadness or troubles. All will be perfect. In Revelation 7:14-17 we hear a description of heaven: "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. The one seated on the throne will shelter them: They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any scorching heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Jesus rules - in this world and in your life! Give thanks to your Ascended Lord for his power, grace, and the glory that is to come.

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"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." Romans 4:25 (NIV)

Jesus’ resurrection is proof that you are saved! The evidence of sin that you remember and know in your heart has been erased. Jesus took away your sins and has declared you forgiven!

Unfortunately, the devil continues to hold that sinful evidence before us. He wants to create doubt and fear. Faith sees the truth! Because of Jesus, God has declared you forgiven and no one can undo what God has done!

Below is a quote that is directed to pastors but has comfort and insight for all believers. Because Christ is risen, you are saved!

"No matter how sick a person may be in his soul, the gospel can heal him. No matter how deeply a person has fallen into the corruption of sin, the gospel can pull him out. No matter how troubled, frightened, and afflicted a person may be, the gospel can comfort him. Whatever the condition in which a person finds himself, even if he is convinced he must perish because of it, the preacher can confidently oppose him saying: “No, as certainly as God lives, he does not want the death of any sinner. You shall not perish; instead, you shall be saved. Turn to Jesus, who can evermore save all who come to God through him.” And if one who lies near death calls out: “God, what have I done? Woe to me! Now it is too late! I am lost.” the preacher should call to him: “No, no, it is not too late! Commit your departing soul to Jesus. You too shall still be with him in paradise today.”
C.F.W. Walther
Taken from Treasury of Daily Prayer p. 212

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The resurrection of Jesus from the dead seals your status with God. You are forgiven. Death is defeat and you enjoy the sure promise of eternal life. You are raised to new life because you are connected to Jesus’ resurrection through your baptism. This new life shows itself in your daily desire to serve God and live according to his will.

Isaiah 32:17 (NIV) "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."

Because your status with God is sealed – you are his eternal child – the words of Isaiah 32:17 describe you. You have the peace of knowing that God’s love for you cannot change. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, not even your imperfections change his view of you. He knows you for who you are and loves you. (Of course, that is not an excuse to willfully continue in a sin; but as we struggle with sin, we remain in God's grace.) Likewise, troubles and hardships cannot change God’s view of you. You can have the confidence to face life – or even death – knowing that Jesus’ love for you means he will bless all that happens to you.

May our continued Easter celebration give you the peace and confidence of knowing Jesus’ victory over sin and death is your victory over sin and death.

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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! This greeting echoed in our church last Sunday as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we continue to celebrate this great victory, please take a few moments to read 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter of the Bible. In particular, pay attention to these two sections:
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (vs. 12-14)

Without Jesus’ resurrection, the Christian faith is a waste. But Christ did rise from the dead and so all the promises of God come true!

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (vs. 56-58)

Your labor is not in vain! The work you carry out in your Lord’s name (anything you do as a Christian) is worthwhile. Proof of this is that Christ as risen from the dead and so you are alive as a servant of Christ!

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When they couldn’t use the false charges to condemn Jesus — because the lying false witnesses couldn’t tell their lies without contradicting each other — the High Priest took matters into his own hands. Mark records:
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 14:61–62

What a blessed position this man held as the High Priest. He was to serve as a mediator between God and his people in the Temple. Yet when Jesus was arrested, the High Priest played the role of prosecuting attorney against God’s Son, and he was desperate for a guilty verdict.

Jesus’ answer is powerful. “I am” he said. That is the divine name that God gave himself when asked by Moses at the burning bush, “Suppose I go to the Israelites . . . And they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” “I Am Who I Am” was God’s answer from the burning bush. It was also Jesus’ answer in the court of the High Priest. Jesus added clarity and emphasis to his answer when he said that he would be sitting at the right had of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds. This was a reference to Daniel 7:13-14: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Jewish rabbis correctly understood the words of Daniel 7 as referring to the coming Messiah. They would even refer to the Messiah as “the Cloud Man.” Jesus’ answer to the High Priest was that he was God and the Messiah in one person.

The unbelieving reaction was instant and violent. Immediately they condemned Jesus and began to abuse him.

And yet the One who knew he was the Cloud Man and God himself, let the abuse occur. He didn’t fight back with a devastating demonstration of power and judgement on those cruel unbelievers. As the final hours of Jesus’ life unfolded, he never tried to defend himself or stop the cruelty.

Jesus was there for the purpose of taking the abuse and the suffering. This would be God’s greatest act of mercy. He would be our substitute and suffer for our sins.

The cruel acts that we see in the next few days were acts of love — at least on Jesus’ part. Your salvation is secured and your sin forgiven because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

As our special Holy Week worship services begin tomorrow, look by faith at the great comfort that God wants to give you. He has come and personally dealt with your guilt. He has personally triumphed over death. We have great reason to gather in worship to remember all he has done.

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Lent is a time for spiritual renewal. This happens as we grow in faith from hearing God’s Word. Growing in faith always has the result of leading us to turn from the world for comfort to Jesus and his love. Martin Luther’s comments on Psalm 62:10 (“Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them”) remind us to use our gifts as God intends so that our faith remains firmly planted in Christ.

"Even if riches were to come to you in a rightful way, from God, do not rely on them and make mammon your God; for possessions are not given that we may rely on them and glory in them, which is futile and foolish, but that we may use and enjoy them and share them with others. . . . Our possessions should be in our hands, not in our hearts." Thus Saint Paul tells the Corinthians (1 Cor. 7:31) that we should use the world as though we used it not.

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There is a confidence to faith! God wants us to be confident in our faith because he will keep his promises! So we firmly believe that our sins are forgiven; that all works for our good; and that we will live in heaven. In James 1:6 we read, But when he [the believer] asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Martin Luther made an interesting comment on our confidence. Here is what he said in a sermon in 1532:
He who would deal with God and ask something of Him must not doubt or waver and say: Who knows whether God wants to give me this or whether I am worthy of it? No, by no means; but you should say: I know that God will do what I ask of Him; and although He does not do it now and in this way, He will do it at another time and in another way. For a wavering heart that does not firmly believe and hold that it will receive something will certainly get nothing, because God cannot give it anything, much as He would like to. Such a heart is a like a vessel which a man holds in his hands but, instead of holding it, constantly moves it to and fro. It will be impossible to pour anything into it, and though you would want to do so, you would miss the vessel and waste whatever you are pouring. So it is with a wavering, unbelieving heart. God would like to give what we need. But there we stand, like a foolish beggar, holding out our hat for gifts and yet not holding it still.
What Luther Says, p. 429

Pray with confidence to the God who has set you free from sin and death and who has planned your eternal place in heaven.

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It does not add up. The Lord of all who made the universe would lower himself to become one of us. Even worse, in becoming one of us he would endure the indignity of being born to poor parents and sleeping in a manger.

It does not make sense that when he publicly proclaimed his will – God’s will – he would tolerate those who rejected him and persecuted him for teaching divine truth.

Finally, what can we say about the cross? The Creator of all that lives would endure death. His death would be filled with pain and shame. His enemies would gloat, and it would appear that he lost. That does not add up and does not make any sense.

But that is the divine and unchangeable truth. You do not need to make excuses for God or his plan. God’s way results in your salvation. All other ways are doomed to fail.

We may shake our heads for a moment or two as we consider God’s ways. We may not understand why he did what he did. But we believe! We believe in God’s promised forgiveness. We know the truth of God’s will for our lives. He wants us to know him and to find strength in him. He wants us, seemingly weak as we may be, to be his servants in this world. Believe God’s promises and know the power of God that is at work in you.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

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