WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.200 In the name of the Father of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You 2 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.900 may be seated. 3 00:00:08.100 --> 00:00:11.000 In the Divine Service this morning we continue to celebrate 4 00:00:12.100 --> 00:00:13.000 the Holy Trinity 5 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.100 a celebration that we started last Sunday. 6 00:00:17.700 --> 00:00:21.400 We worship one God in Trinity and Trinity 7 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:22.100 in unity. 8 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:25.600 Neither confounding the person's or not dividing 9 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.100 the substance. 10 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:32.100 We all agree that the doctor of Trinity is crucial 11 00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:34.400 for the life of the Christian church. 12 00:00:35.800 --> 00:00:38.400 In the church councils and the fourth and fifth 13 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:40.700 century testify to that truth. 14 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.500 As was preparing for this I went to the dogmatics to 15 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:49.400 see and Pieper he used 16 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:53.000 431 page to talk about the doctrine 17 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:55.100 of God in the doctrine of the Jesus. 18 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:59.300 Of course, he doesn't have a specific section to talk about 19 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:00.100 the Holy Spirit. 20 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.200 But the holy spirit is all over his three volumes. 21 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:08.700 So probably more than 431 page if you 22 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:10.800 talk about the Trinity. 23 00:01:13.300 --> 00:01:16.400 Our newest Systematic Theology confessing the 24 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:19.700 gospel, which by the way has a specific section for 25 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:25.200 the Holy Spirit use 355 page 26 00:01:25.800 --> 00:01:27.500 to talk about the Holy Trinity. 27 00:01:29.800 --> 00:01:32.200 Indeed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is 28 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:33.200 very important in the church. 29 00:01:35.300 --> 00:01:38.200 And our father Confessor said the Trinity is 30 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.300 the highest mystery. 31 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:46.300 I remember my days teaching confirmation class was 32 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:49.300 so very difficult to explain the doctrine of 33 00:01:49.300 --> 00:01:52.700 the Trinity to my confirmands. It doesn't 34 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:55.600 matter how many examples of use whatever you said. It's always 35 00:01:55.600 --> 00:01:58.000 hard to come to grasp that concept. 36 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:00.900 So when 37 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:05.400 I was a pastor at my congregation every time we had the Trinity Sunday. 38 00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:07.000 I tried to 39 00:02:08.200 --> 00:02:09.800 help my congregation to see 40 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.400 that the Holy Trinity wasn't really an 41 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:13.900 idea. 42 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.200 That you're not talking about 43 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:18.500 an abstraction 44 00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:21.200 that if God is in heaven 45 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:23.400 and we are down here. 46 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:26.900 And he doesn't have nothing to do with our reality in life. 47 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:32.200 Maybe a proper way to talk about God 48 is to ask the question. What is God? 49 00:02:38.700 --> 00:02:40.800 And I think if you look to the landscape. 50 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:43.600 religious landscape in the world today 51 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:47.600 you see that how people perceive 52 00:02:47.600 --> 00:02:47.900 God. 53 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:53.300 Statistics says that 4% of the world 54 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:55.000 population is atheist. 55 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:58.900 Of course, we have to understand that from that 4% 56 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:00.200 4% probably 57 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:03.100 20% they believe in something. 58 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.500 But let's say 4% They say don't believe in God and 59 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:08.500 existence of God. 60 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:12.700 Sixty percent of the population they claim themselves 61 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:14.000 to be agnostic. 62 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.300 Which means they don't deny existence of God 63 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:19.100 or they'd say they don't believe in God. 64 00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:23.000 But they don't know they are agnostics. 65 00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:26.400 But in 80% of the population of the world 66 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.100 they say that they believe in something. 67 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:34.700 They don't know sometimes what is that something but 68 00:03:33.700 --> 00:03:35.100 they believe. 69 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.600 80% of the population follow a god 70 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:43.700 some type of God. 71 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:49.000 We know that most of them are not falling the true 72 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:50.500 God or worship the true God. 73 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:53.900 So the question is what is God? 74 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:58.200 And I think Luther here helps us very well when he says 75 00:03:58.200 --> 00:04:00.700 in the large catechism, a god 76 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:04.200 is the term for that to which we are to look 77 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:07.600 for all good and which you are to find refuge in 78 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:08.200 our need. 79 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:12.500 Therefore to have a God is not 80 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:15.600 else than to trust and believe 81 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:17.900 in that one with your whole heart. 82 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:22.200 So whatever is most important in your life. 83 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:27.100 Whatever you rely on for your most profound needs that is 84 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:27.700 your god. 85 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:31.800 According to Luther everyone has a god. 86 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.500 Some people trust in themselves in their 87 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:39.600 money and their knowledge their wealth their friends or 88 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:39.800 other people. 89 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:45.200 Some rely on idols or false gods, but everyone 90 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:47.000 has some type of God. 91 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:51.300 The question is not much, What is God 92 00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:53.600 but who is 93 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:55.500 our God. 94 00:04:57.900 --> 00:05:00.500 Early my message this morning I said that the 95 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:02.100 Triune God Is not an abstraction. 96 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:06.200 But instead God is a reality in our lives. 97 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:11.200 In other words, we could say that Trinity has happened among 98 00:05:10.200 --> 00:05:11.500 us. 99 00:05:13.900 --> 00:05:14.800 Acts chapter 2, 100 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:18.500 Is Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. 101 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.500 And Peter is explaining what is happening on that 102 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:25.500 moment that people fall over the world are 103 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:28.100 able to understand the news the good news 104 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.500 of Jesus Christ and the gospel in their own language. 105 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:33.500 And Peter says in verse 22. 106 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:36.400 Men of Israel hear these words, 107 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:40.200 Jesus of Nazareth a man attested to you by 108 00:05:40.200 --> 00:05:43.500 God with Mighty works and wonders and 109 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.300 signs that God did it through him in your midst 110 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.700 as yourself know. 111 00:05:51.200 --> 00:05:52.700 But Peter's saying here is very clear. 112 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:55.000 God is not the concept. 113 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:58.800 An idea or something abstract? No, 114 00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:01.300 our God does wonders. 115 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.700 He operates his might works and signs. 116 00:06:04.700 --> 00:06:06.700 Where in disguise 117 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:10.300 up there out there in the space. No, 118 00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:14.900 God does all this amazing things right 119 00:06:14.900 --> 00:06:15.200 here. 120 00:06:16.200 --> 00:06:17.100 in our midst 121 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:18.500 among us 122 00:06:20.200 --> 00:06:21.400 Who is our God? 123 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:25.400 He is a God that wants to be with people. 124 00:06:26.700 --> 00:06:27.900 He's not an abstraction. 125 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:30.800 But he is an action. 126 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:36.500 God makes things happen among us why because our 127 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:37.900 God is a personal God. 128 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:41.200 He wants to be in relationship with people. 129 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.200 How could God be a heavenly Father if you would not 130 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:46.800 have children? 131 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:50.600 Have you seen a father without children? 132 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:54.700 To be a father you must must have a child. 133 00:06:57.200 --> 00:06:58.700 So our God reveals himself 134 00:06:59.700 --> 00:07:01.000 very personal to us. 135 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:06.400 Someone that comes to us a loves us and wants 136 00:07:05.400 --> 00:07:08.500 us to know him in through 137 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:11.700 his son will be able to worship him as our 138 00:07:11.700 --> 00:07:12.200 heavenly Father. 139 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:18.200 One our favorite Bible verse for us John 3:16 says 140 00:07:17.200 --> 00:07:20.100 that God so loved the world that 141 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:20.700 he gave 142 00:07:21.400 --> 00:07:22.800 His one and only son. 143 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:26.000 God's love is not a touch. 144 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:28.100 He's not an abstraction. 145 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.800 Did you hear what John said God loved 146 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:34.100 and God gave 147 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:36.200 is concrete. 148 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:38.500 Jesus became flesh. 149 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:44.600 But the sermon of Peter didn't end here. 150 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.600 Because verse 23:24. He 151 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.100 says this Jesus 152 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:54.900 delivered up according to the definite plan in foreknowledge of 153 00:07:54.900 --> 00:07:57.500 God, you crucified and 154 00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:59.900 killed by the hands of lawless, man. 155 00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:03.900 God raised him up losing the 156 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:06.300 pangs of death because it was 157 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:08.900 not possible for him to be held by it. 158 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:11.900 We have a lot to unpack in this two verse. 159 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.200 God the Father had a plan 160 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.200 and Jesus came down from heaven to deliver it. 161 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.000 Jesus came down to make that plan happen. 162 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:23.200 How? 163 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:26.900 Jesus was crucified and was killed. 164 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:31.200 By whom well, Peter says in our text in his 165 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:34.200 sermon today that the men of Israel did that. 166 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:36.800 Jewish the Jews, right? 167 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.000 Well, great we have somebody to blame now. 168 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:43.100 Jesus died because of them. 169 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:44.400 Really? 170 00:08:45.800 --> 00:08:46.600 Do you believe that? 171 00:08:48.900 --> 00:08:51.500 How is this for us to point fingers and 172 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:54.700 accuse others of something that actually we all 173 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:55.000 did it? 174 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:00.500 Was not the Roman soldiers what the Jews 175 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:02.700 that crucified Jesus, but in fact 176 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.500 was my sins was your sins 177 00:09:06.400 --> 00:09:07.600 that nailed him on the cross. 178 00:09:08.900 --> 00:09:11.600 Paul explains that in this way in 179 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.600 First Corinthians 15. 180 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:16.200 For what I receive I pass on to 181 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:19.600 you as a first importance that Christ died 182 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.200 for our sins according to the 183 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:25.500 scriptures. And he goes on in Romans 5 verse 8 184 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:28.400 and he says but God demonstrate his own love 185 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:29.300 for us in this. 186 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:33.800 Where as still sinners Christ died for 187 00:09:33.800 --> 00:09:34.100 us. 188 00:09:35.400 --> 00:09:38.300 You know instead of looking to others we should be looking to 189 00:09:38.300 --> 00:09:39.900 ourselves, better 190 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:42.300 Looking inside of us. 191 00:09:43.300 --> 00:09:46.500 Our things are not better than anybody else's sins. 192 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:48.400 They are terrible. 193 00:09:49.800 --> 00:09:50.500 Nasty. 194 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.200 Revoting sins. 195 00:09:55.300 --> 00:09:58.700 But Paul reminds us that Jesus died for us whike we were 196 00:09:58.700 --> 00:09:59.700 still sinners. 197 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:04.800 He came down in our darkest hole to rescue us. 198 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:09.400 Yes, Jesus died by Peter says God raised him 199 00:10:09.400 --> 00:10:12.300 up losing the pangs of that because it was 200 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:14.600 not possible for him to be held by it. 201 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.500 Jesus is Victorious. 202 00:10:18.400 --> 00:10:20.800 He overcame sin and death and Devil for us. 203 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.200 But there is more here 204 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:24.400 because 205 00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:29.100 Peter sermons is not at the end yet verse 206 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:31.800 32 33. He says this Jesus 207 00:10:31.800 --> 00:10:32.700 God raised up 208 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:38.300 and of that, we all are witnesses being there 209 00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:41.300 for exalted the right hand of God in having 210 00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:44.800 received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. He has 211 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:47.100 put out this that yourselves are 212 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.400 singing and hearing. 213 00:10:49.900 --> 00:10:51.400 No, God is not an abstraction. 214 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:53.200 He's an action. 215 00:10:55.400 --> 00:10:57.400 The Triune God make things happen among us. 216 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:03.000 And Jesus Promised his disciples I'll never leave you as orphans. 217 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:07.000 I'll ask the Father and he will give you another counselor to be 218 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:08.400 you with you forever. 219 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:12.500 And God he granted Jesus request. 220 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:16.100 Because Peter says that he was pour out his 221 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.600 Holy Spirit in us. 222 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.800 So that we can see and hear. 223 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:23.500 Because by Nature we cannot see and we 224 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:25.500 cannot hear the spirit of things of God. 225 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.600 Yes, we need help. 226 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:29.700 A lots of help. 227 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.800 Holy Spirit help 228 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:35.200 because by my own reason and strength we cannot believe in 229 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.500 Jesus Christ or come to him. 230 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:41.200 But the Holy Spirit has called us by the gospel. Enlighten us 231 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:44.000 with his gift and sanctify us in the true faith. 232 00:11:45.900 --> 00:11:47.700 Our God is a god of relationships. 233 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:51.400 God the Father Son God God the Father Son and 234 00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:52.700 the Holy Spirit work together. 235 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:56.100 They're united one God in three persons. 236 00:11:57.100 --> 00:12:01.400 And God brings us into this Fellowship that we call the Christian church, and 237 00:12:00.400 --> 00:12:03.600 now you're in relationship not only vertical 238 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.500 relationship with God but also in horizontal relationship with 239 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:09.200 one another because we're delivering Church of 240 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:09.400 Christ. 241 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:14.200 And then Paul said Peter says quoting King 242 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:17.200 David in some 16. Therefore my 243 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:19.300 heart is glad and my tongue rejoice. 244 00:12:19.300 --> 00:12:21.300 My body also will live in Hope 245 00:12:21.900 --> 00:12:24.400 because you not abandoned me on the grave. 246 00:12:24.400 --> 00:12:27.900 Nor you let your Holy One see decay. 247 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:32.200 You have made known to me the paths of Life. You feel 248 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.600 me with joy in your presence. 249 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:38.800 David, Peter and all the other Apostles on 250 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:41.200 Pentecost. They all knew that 251 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.400 the Triune God 252 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.500 is not an abstraction. 253 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:47.400 That God is indeed of reality in our lives. 254 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.800 As Trinity happen among them in Pentecost, 255 00:12:53.400 --> 00:12:55.700 Trinity is also happening among us today. 256 00:12:57.400 --> 00:13:00.200 Our God Is Not An abstraction, but God is 257 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:01.300 the God of action. 258 00:13:03.400 --> 00:13:06.700 There is a law firm in San Antonio Texas that pretty 259 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.900 much they sponsor 260 00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:10.800 all the professional teams in town. 261 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:14.200 They are everywhere on radio, 262 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.600 newspapers, 263 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:17.900 TV commercials. 264 00:13:19.400 --> 00:13:22.800 Jeff Davis is the owner of this Law 265 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:23.000 Firm. 266 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.700 And he has a very interesting commercial 267 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:29.000 on TV when he talks about his work. 268 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.200 And he comes and he says if you have 269 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.700 been involved in a car accident 270 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:37.100 you have been injured or hurt. 271 00:13:38.400 --> 00:13:41.000 Call Four four four four four 272 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:44.200 four four four four four and Jeff is here for you. 273 00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:49.600 As we celebrate Trinity 274 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:52.600 I would recommend you to call the three. 275 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:58.000 If you have been injured hurt, brokenhearted, 276 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.100 sinful. 277 00:14:00.400 --> 00:14:01.400 Just call the three. 278 00:14:02.400 --> 00:14:05.600 Because God is here for you. 279 00:14:06.900 --> 00:14:09.500 He created you. He redeemed you. 280 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:11.300 He sanctifies you. 281 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:13.400 Call the three. 282 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:15.200 Amen.