2 Corinthians 13:11-14
It’s a new season
in the Christian year. We call it Trinity Sunday. We enter into the “season
of Trinity”. It’s that season in the life of the church when we turn to the
mission of the church. It is fitting then, that we have a Sunday designated
to God who gives the church its purpose.
Our texts for the
day represent the Bible teaching about a concept for which there is no specific
word. The idea is clearly there — just never a word for it. Taken for granted
at least until heresy demanded it, belief in the Trinity has become a mark of
orthodoxy.
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Warren Wiersbe
captures the heart of Trinity Sunday in his comments: “The closing benediction
in 2 Corinthians 13:14 is one of the most beloved used in the church. It emphasizes
the Trinity (see Matt. 28:19) and the blessings we can receive because we belong
to God. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ reminds
us of His birth, when He became poor in order to make us rich (see 2 Cor. 8:9).
The love of God takes us to Calvary
where God gave His Son as the sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16). The communion of the Holy Ghost reminds us of
Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came and formed the church (Acts 2).1
On this Trinity
Sunday, we encounter God who is one, yet three. We encounter God, who within
Himself is complete, yet chooses to share Himself with those of us who are not
complete without Him.
We see the character of God in Jesus
Christ.
Jesus is present
in creation (John 1; Heb. 1; Col. 1). He is yet willing to become one of us
(John 1:14, 18; Heb. 2:14-18). We have the privilege of seeing the activity
of God first hand in Christ. We travel with disciples through stormy seas,
up puzzling mountains, in amazing encounters, and we see God. Jesus is indeed
Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).
In all of his majestic
deity, He brings us grace. Peter voices the dreams of the disciples when he
offers “you are the Christ.” But within sentences he rebukes Jesus, only to
be told “get behind me, Satan.” Mark tells us there was 6 days of silence following
that encounter. But at the first opportunity, “Jesus took with him, Peter,
James and John…” That is spelled G-R-A-C-E.
Worship on Trinity
Sunday reminds us not to take the grace of God for granted. Professor R. C.
Sproul tells the story of three seminary students late with their papers. They
asked for grace, which was extended. A week later they were still without their
assignments. Again they sought grace, and received it. The following week,
the story repeated itself. Only this time Professor Sproul refused to extend
grace. The students left angry at the professor. His conclusion, we have stopped
“being surprised by grace.” May this Sunday remind us of grace.