Sermon Snippet – One God in Three Persons – Part II
INTRODUCTION – As part of our study of the “simplicity [singleness of purpose] that is in Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3), last week we considered the doctrine of the Trinity, One God in Three Persons. This Biblical teaching tells us that God – to be truly God – must be utterly different from us (see last week’s message for a number of verses on this subject) and that He must be Triune if He is to be relational to us (again, see last week’s message). Because analogies do not work well in explaining this Scriptural teaching – indeed, cannot work well because of God’s distinctiveness – let us contemplate the greatest example of Trinitarian teaching found in Scripture – the Cross (Luke 23:44-46).
1. WE SEE THE WORK OF GOD THE SON AT THE CROSS
It is an obvious historical fact that Jesus Christ, God the Son, died on the Cross. He was fully human – “made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4c-5). God, as an eternal, infinite spirit being, cannot die. Only as He takes on Himself human flesh – full humanity – does death become a possibility.
Unfortunately, His death is not only a possibility but also a necessity if we are to be saved; “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Hebrews 12:2 says of Jesus that He “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” Suppose I asked you, “How was your wedding?” If you responded, “Oh, I endured it,” well, you have not given the right answer! To endure denotes both hardship and necessity. Certainly the Cross was a hard necessity for Jesus – my puny vocabulary pales and fails to find the words to express how hard, for we are dealing with the death of the Everliving One.
Some might still question whether Jesus is fully God. John 1:18 states, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, [Who] is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” “Declared” does not mean merely that the Son talked about the Father (although He frequently did do that); rather, it means that He revealed God by being God. Jesus, fully God, demonstrates the characteristics of God (what theologians call His perfections) because He is God.
Last week, we spent some time on the characteristic of love (“God is love” – I John 4:8, 16). Jesus states in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We would all agree that this kind of sacrificial love is powerful – but Jesus did even more. Romans 5:8b says with awe, “While we were yet sinners [decidedly not friends!], Christ died for us.” Romans 5:10 employs an even stronger word to describe us – “enemies.” This is love in the most absolute sense, and it is ours if we simply thrust in Jesus, as did the thief (Luke 23:42-43).
Jesus, fully God, fully expresses all other characteristics (perfections) of God. For example, His holiness is displayed openly as He took the punishment for our sins but never sinned Himself (as both the thief and the centurion observed – Luke 23:41, 47). When Jesus cried from the Cross, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46b, quoting Psalm 22:1), He was suffering the punishment for our sins. He then used the word “commend” (commit – Luke 23:46) as He dies. If our sins had tainted Jesus in any way, He would not be God and His substitution for us would be utterly ineffectual. Instead (and in our stead), He retained His absolute holiness and could thus with confidence commit Himself to the hands, the holy hands, of His Holy Father.
Another attribute (perfection) of God that Jesus demonstrates on the Cross is sovereignty, His supremacy and rulership over all things. “He gave up the ghost [Spirit]” (Luke 23:46). Theologically, this is more than a statement of Jesus’ death (we will discuss this in greater detail at another time), but it certainly does include His death. Even to the exact nanosecond of His death, Jesus was in full control. Only One Who is God, fully God, can exercise such absolute authority.
CONCLUSION – I intended for this message to have three points, but it became clear to me that my original sermon concept would be far too long (and all of God’s people said, “Amen!”). What we have covered today, though, is essential to the Christian faith. Only if Jesus is fully God can His sacrifice on the Cross pay for our sins entirely and provide salvation everlastingly. He is God, and He did precisely what He had promised to do. We can now be certain that He will continue to keep all of His promises.