As Janet mentioned earlier, if you are joining us tonight maybe for the first time
or if you haven't been around for the last few weeks,
we are in week five of a series in the Trinity
and it's a bit of a furphy that we're finishing tonight
because technically I'm going to drag it out for another week next week
just because we're all having so much fun.
So next week in the combined service we'll be looking at a particular aspect of the Trinity
but we will kind of wrap up tonight as well
and hopefully pull together some of the things that we have been wrestling with for the last four weeks.
So how about I pray because obviously this is a task beyond us
and we'll ask God to reveal himself to us.
Father God, we thank and praise you for bringing us here tonight.
We thank you for your word.
We thank you that you're a God who wants to be known
and Father we ask that now as we sit and we wrestle with you as Trinity
that you would show yourself to us in a way that we may love you more,
that we may see you more clearly,
that we may grasp more of your majesty
and that we might be better equipped to live lives in response to your glory.
Father we thank you for drawing us here tonight
and ask that you would send us out as different people for your sake.
Amen.
I went to a conference sometime last year
with a few people from this church, some musos
and there was some really great stuff we learnt that day
but there was one line that stuck with me that irritated me
and I couldn't figure out why.
The line that kept getting kind of put out there was that
the truth of God is in the in-between.
I get what the preacher was getting at
but it continued to annoy me more and more and more
and as we got to this series I think I understand why it's annoying me.
The premise that he was putting out there is that
that the Christian life is one of paradox.
So we are forgiven freely and completely
and yet we are called to work hard and do good works.
We are called to feel safe in God and called to fear God.
And so he was talking about how you can't stay at one end
or the other end, you need to be in between the two.
And again I see what he's getting at
but I think he's actually missing something.
I think if we jump in the middle we're actually reducing either extreme.
Whereas the Bible doesn't do that
and throughout this series we've been focusing on the distinction that is in God
that there is three persons that are unique and distinct
and have a unique role
and tonight we move to focus on the one God.
And so it would be dangerous for us to just kind of try and jump in the middle
because it's awkward for us to hold three and one at the same time.
But the truth is not found in the middle.
The truth is found holding firmly to what Scripture affirms that God is three
and firmly to what Scripture affirms that God is one.
And so just like I've begun the last few weeks of the series
except for last week
I want to begin by stating four things that are true according to Scripture.
The first one is there is only one God.
Second one, that God is also three persons
Father, Son and Spirit.
Each member of that Trinity is equally God
eternally God
and fully God
and lastly
each member of the Trinity is a distinct personal expression
of the one undivided divine nature.
There is a lot wrapped up in those four statements
and again I want to affirm that it is incomprehensible for us
but it's still important.
That it is difficult to wrestle with
but it's true.
And so we're going to have a go tonight.
So let's just quickly think back through where we've been throughout this series.
We've begun with the Father who is supreme
over the Son and the Spirit
and over all creation.
It is the Father who has absolute authority
authority and it is also the Father who shows love to the Son and the Spirit
who is generous in including the Son and the Spirit in His work
and is generous in including us in His work.
We looked at the Son who submits to the Father
who joyfully submits to the Father
even though He has been exalted.
We looked at the Son who reveals the Father
the Son who substitutes for us
so that we can know the Father
and last week Glenn Davies took us through
looking at the Spirit
who submits to both the Father and the Son
whilst at the same time empowers the Son
and also empowers us for the life that God has called us to.
So, so far all of our focus has been on the distinct persons of the Trinity
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
and on one level breaking it down like that
has made it much easier to stomach
because it's easy to say
the Father is supreme and has authority
if we stop there.
And it's easy to say the Son submits
and the Son reveals
and the Son does all this thing
if we stop there.
And it's easy to say that the Spirit is the one
who submits to both
and has a unique role to play
and He kind of brings the benefits of Jesus to us
if we stop there.
But the challenge is
or the tensions appear to become more stark
when we try and bring those three things together.
Because the Father is God
the Son is God
and the Spirit is God
and so immediately we have this uncomfortableness
how can one have authority and submit?
How can one send and go and remain one?
And so there are apparent issues for us
and this is the point where all the illustrations and analogies
that we come up with in the Trinity begin to fall down.
The water one
it's solid, gas and liquid
but it's not three and one at the same time
at least in our experience.
Again I give credit to Nicole Smith
who assures me that that is possible
but in my experience it's not.
But in God
as we wrestle with what is uncomfortable
and it's okay for us to acknowledge that
that it is awkward
in God we don't find tension.
I understand why we feel the tension
but we don't find tension.
If we look closely as we have been
what we find is majesty.
The difficulty of understanding the God that we follow
feeds our worship.
It shouldn't belittle it
it shouldn't put barriers in
what we do is we begin to understand
the depths of a God
who is beyond our understanding
but a God who wants us to know Him
and a God who has revealed Himself
sufficiently
so that we can know Him.
The tension that we feel
doesn't need to be tension.
It can be a gift
as we begin to see
the majesty of a God
that is bigger
and greater
and more complicated than us
and particularly tonight
as we see the love
that binds the three
into one.
Have John 17
open in front of you
and I want to fairly quickly
run through
and pick out a few things
that show us
the love of God
that makes the three one
and then I'm going to try
and leave a decent chunk of time
for us to all wrestle with it
with some questions.
When we look at God
the Trinity
when we look at God
Father, Son and Spirit
we can understand love
because in God
love is expressed
and even enhanced
by the distinction
that is there.
For us
the three
is a barrier
to being one
but in God
the three actually
is what supports
the oneness.
In music
there is
lots of terms
I'm not very musical
and I won't pretend that I am
but there are lots of terms
that describe
the way that you can
layer music
and add different effects
and that sort of thing
the vocalist
can correct me
if I'm wrong
but you can have unison
where everybody sings
exactly the same thing
and that has a value to it
and a beauty to it
and a power
and a force
but what you can also have
is harmony
where you have three people
singing slightly different things
but to the same song
which actually gives a breadth
and a depth
and a layering
and a complexity
to the same song.
I'm not going to try
and demonstrate
because that would not work
but in God
we could have
a father who does something
a son who does the same thing
and a spirit who does the same thing
but what we have instead
is a harmony
of purpose.
They read the same song
but they sing different parts
and what we see at the end
is not
not a barrier
but it is something
that opens up
to see the beauty
of the oneness
that is God.
I'm aware that that's a word
that I'm making up
but it is a good word.
There is threeness
and there is oneness
in God
and when we look
at the three
and their different roles
we find them
very intertwined
and we find them
following the same tune
the same purpose.
In the threeness of God
in the Father, Son
and the Spirit
we find an equality
with submission
and authority.
We talked about this
when we looked at Father
and when we looked at Son
and when we hear submission
or we hear authority
we instantly think
that is a barrier
to us being equal.
For us submission
means being lesser
but God unveils
that submission
and authority
can exist between equals
because Father
and the Son
are the same God.
They are equally God
they are fully God
they are eternally God
and yet the Son
joyfully submits
to the Father.
And so we see
that these layers
these three
can actually contribute
to us getting
a full understanding
of the complex God
that we follow.
The love of God
is expressed
and enhanced
by the distinction
that exists in him.
If it was just God
doing the same thing
it would still be love
it might still be impressive
but it is not
as beautiful
it is not
as majestic
as God managing
to express himself
in the three persons
in differing roles
in relationship
in perfect harmony.
In God
we find a love
that unifies.
Look at John 17
with me
beginning where Jesus
begins his prayer.
Father the time has come
glorify your Son
that your Son
may glorify you.
You granted him
authority over all people
that he might give
eternal life
to all those
you have given him.
Now this is eternal life
that they may know you
the only true God
and Jesus Christ
whom you have sent.
I have brought you glory
on earth
by completing the work
you gave me to do
and now Father
glorify me
in your presence
with the glory
I had with you
before the world began.
There is this amazing picture
in these first five verses
and if you look back
through John chapters 15
and 16 as well
where the Trinity
is so committed
to one another
that they are
giving themselves
to one another.
So Jesus' prayer here
is that he would be glorified
but to what end?
That the Father
would be glorified.
The Father's agenda
has always been
making himself known
he is the ultimate
he is the supreme
and in the Son's request
to be glorified
is actually a request
for the glory
of the Father.
So close is the relationship
between Father and Son
that what matters most
to the Father
has become
what matters most
to the Son.
It's the same as
when we experience
relationships here on earth.
You begin a relationship
there may be things
that you've never thought
about pouring your time
or interest
or energy into
but the joy of relationship
is that your care
for the other person
enables you to learn
to love and care
for the things
that they love
and care for.
One of Sal's passions
as a younger girl
was gymnastics.
Now I'm not there yet
but I'm convinced
that eventually
I might be able
to love that
out of my love for her.
In our own relationships
as we get to know
one another more.
As we give access
to ourselves increasingly
we learn to love
what the person
we are in a relationship
with loves.
And here we see
a picture of the Son's
love for the Father.
His desire
his prayer here
when he asks
to be glorified
is
put me on the cross.
That's what he's asking
the Father to do
in this prayer.
That is the ultimate
glorification of the Father
is Jesus dying
and so he prays
please Father
kill me
so that you
get glory.
It is no sense
of divine child abuse.
It's not God
please don't.
It's God
I want
what you want.
Father
I know
this is your plan
and I want it.
I love you so much
and I know
your love in my life
so much
that I want
what you want.
Within the Trinity
what matters to one
matters to the others.
and so we see
this unifying love
that draws them
into a common purpose
to see the Father
glorified.
Now we're going to unpack
glorifying the Father
a little bit more
next week
so I'm going to leave that
to the side
just for now.
But I want you to see
that as you look
at the different members
of the Trinity
and we've found this
as we've gone through
each week
as you look at one
you can't help
but look at the others.
So close
is their relationship
that as you look
at the Son
all he does
is point you
to the Father.
All he does
is say
the Father
is the one
that matters
it's not about me
the object
of my love
the purpose
of my life
is the Father.
As you look
at the Spirit
all he wants
to do
is point you
to the Son
because the object
of his love
the object
of his desire
is that the Son
be glorified.
If you look
at the Father
all he wants
to do
is point
to the Son
and say
here is my Son
whom I love
this is the one
I delight in
this is the one
I will glorify
and raise
above every other name
so connected
are the three
that the distinction
almost disappears
almost
it's still there
and it still matters
but so close
are they
that in one
you begin
to see
the others
the fancy word
that theologians
use for
the closeness
of the Trinity
is a word
called perichoresis
and the best
illustration
anyone can come up
for is
a dance
those of you
who were on kick
last year
will remember
that we learnt
that
dancing
is a funny
illustration
for a
white
male
the only
experience
of dancing
that I can
think of
is usually
forced upon me
it usually
happens towards
the end
of a wedding
reception
and I remember
at my own
wedding
there's this
description
on the order
of service
that we're
going to have
a bridal waltz
ours was at
best
was a bridal
shuffle
and from all
the weddings
that I've been
to that's
the general
pattern
most dancing
that we experience
isn't particularly
beautiful
isn't particularly
unified
but when it is
it's amazing
to watch
when two people
can move
in perfect unity
knowing where
the other person
is going to go
and when they're
going to go there
and not stepping
on each other's
toes
it is a beautiful
thing
and that is
the picture
we have
of the Trinity
and just to make
it extra complicated
there's a third
member
the Trinity
dances in
perfect unity
in perfect timing
in perfect harmony
completely joined
in purpose
joined
in love
that is the
picture
that scripture
gives us
of the oneness
that we find
in God
we find a love
between father
son and spirit
that brings joy
and delight
in John chapter
15
Jesus prays
that his disciples
might remain
in the father's
love
because by
remaining in his
love
they'll know
the joy
that the son
knows
in the father's
love
the son
has been
obedient
to the father
and he
wants them
to experience
the full joy
that he
has
in Luke
chapter 3
as Jesus
is baptized
the father
expresses
his delight
in his son
and even
though the spirit
seems to not
get much of a run
through much
of the bible
the spirit
in no sense
feels like
it's missing
out
there is no
hint
anywhere in
scripture
that the spirit
wishes it had
a bigger
billing
the spirit
joyfully
points to
the son
1 John 4
tells us
this is how
we know
that it's
the spirit
of God
because it
testifies
that Jesus
is Lord
the proof
that it's
the spirit
is it's
pointing to
the son
there is
an absolute
unity
and there is
a delight
in the
relationships
between
the father
son
and spirit
there is
love
in perfect
relationship
that
opens a
challenge
for us
I think
because
we like
to believe
and we
like to
be told
that God
made the
world
because he
wanted a
relationship
with us
but if the
father son
and spirit
are already
in perfect
relationship
he doesn't
need to
God is
already
absolutely
complete
within himself
the father
is being
perfectly
loved by
the son
and spirit
he is
expressing
perfect
love
towards
the son
and spirit
everything
is unified
it is
joyous
it is
delightful
it is
fantastic
God
doesn't
have to
there is
no need
in God
that warrants
creation
let alone
salvation
and yet
it happens
the creation
of which we
are a part
and the salvation
for which we
are thankful
is an overflow
of the love
and delight
and unity
that exists
within God
creation
is an expression
of that
perfect love
creation
is designed
to be
a delight
to the
creator
and the
creator
is a delight
to creation
when we're
willing to
see him
creation
is an
overflow
of the
loving
relationship
within
the God
head
love
breeds
love
God's
perfect
love
breeds
love
it's like
when you
go to
a wedding
and suddenly
every person
that's been
dating longer
than three
weeks
is feeling
a pressure
to also
get married
something about
the romance
at a reception
but the love
that is on
display at a
wedding
suddenly stokes
the fire
in at least
one member
of every
couple
in the
room
God's
love
produces
creation
is an
overflow
of who
God
is
and it's
more than
just a
model
of what
love
should
look
like
have a
look at
John 17
verse 20
Jesus gets
to the end
of this
prayer
and he's
had prayed
for his
disciples
and he
turns
as Glenn
told us
last week
to pray
for us
he says
my prayer
is not
for them
alone
I pray
also
for those
who will
believe
in me
through
their
message
that all
of them
may be
one
father
just as
you are
in me
and I
am
in you
may they
also be
in us
so that
the world
may believe
that you
have sent
me
I have
given them
the glory
that you
gave me
that they
may be
one
as we
are one
I
in them
and you
in me
may they
be brought
to complete
unity
to let
the world
know
that you
sent me
and have
loved
them
even
as you
have
loved
me
love
has
drawn
us
in
the
relationship
that God
has
desired
and desired
for you
is not
something
other than
the relationship
he has
within
himself
Jesus
comes
to draw
you
into
the
perfect
delightful
love
and joy
and unity
that is
the Trinity
that is
God's
design
for you
not that
you might
know him
over here
on the
side
while they
continue
to have
perfect
unity
the prayer
is
may
they
also
that's
us
be in
us
the
father
and
son
so
that
the
world
may
believe
that
you
have
sent
me
God
wants
to
draw
you
into
that
kind
of
love
he
wants
you
to
know
him
the
way
the
son
knows
him
he
wants
to
love
you
the
way
he
has
loved
the
son
and
revealed
himself
to
the
son
and
shown
himself
to
the
son
we
were
chatting
about
this
in
staff
meeting
this
week
and
Steve
I think
he read
it
somewhere
but we
gave him
credit
as a
wise
man
said
that
it's
a bit
like
a
group
hug
the
father
son
and
spirit
are
enjoying
each
other's
company
and
affection
and
through
what
Jesus
has
done
the
spirit
draws
us
in
so
that
we
are
in
that
group
hug
so
that
we
are
not
next
to
it
we
are
not
near
it
but
we
are
part
of
the
incredible
love
of
God
we
are
drawn
into
who
he
is
now
in
part
but
eventually
completely
and
eternally
that
is
the
picture
of
heaven
is
all
of
God
all
of
his
goodness
all
of
his
love
with
no
barrier
forever
what a
gift
that
a
complete
God
would
do
everything
that
he
has
done
in
creation
in
sending
his
son
in
giving
us
his
spirit
simply
to
draw
us
into
a
love
that
was
already
complete
what a
generous
and
gracious
God
but
that
has
challenges
that
go
with
it
as
well
I
was
reflecting
this
week
and
I
do
feel
a
slight
sense
of
awkward
ness
I
feel
less
awkward
because
I
believe
it's
the
testimony
of
scripture
but
I
do
feel
a
slight
sense
of
awkwardness
as
we
reflect
on
what
that
means
for
us
as
a
community
what
that
means
for
me
as
a
pastor
and
for
you
as
members
of
St.
Paul's
I
want to
suggest
two
things
firstly
we
are
the
community
of
God's
people
God
who
is
relational
who
loves
relationship
who
loves
serving
and
loving
and
giving
Ange
and
Rob
had
the
joy
of
beginning
their
new
family
very
recently
I
promise
I
won't
pick
on
you
all
the
time
but
you're
just
the
most
recently
married
an
important
thing
that you
guys
figured
out
in the
lead
up
to
your
marriage
is
that
you
need
a
second
person
for
it
would
be
a
significantly
less
exciting
marriage
if
it
was
just
one
person
down
the
front
making
some
promises
to
themselves
and
yet
that
is
the
way
that
so
many
of
us
approach
following
Jesus
God
has
called
us
to
be
in
relationship
not
just
with
him
but
with
all
of
those
that
he
has
called
to
himself
and
yet
so
often
our
version
of
relationship
means
turning
up
on a
Sunday
and
then
knowing
a few
names
that
are
sitting
around
me
we
were
not
saved
to
be
individual
or
to
be
isolated
now
I
understand
some
people
are
introverted
some
people
are
out
there
but
we
are
called
into
the
relationship
that
is
God
and
we
are
not
called
alone
if
you
are
called
and
I
are
called
we
are
called
into
one
relationship
the
God
relationship
that
is
ever
expanding
as
he
draws
people
into
himself
we
are
called
into
community
the
second
thing
is
that
community
needs
to
be
more
than
just
proximity
more
than
just
being
near
one
another
I
was
in
Chatswood
Chase
yesterday
the day
before
it was
raining
there was
a lot
of
people
there
I
was
very
close
to
a
whole
bunch
of
other
people
in
their
cars
but
you
can
rest
assured
there
was
nothing
loving
about
the
way
that
we
were
relating
to
one
another
I
saw
two
all
the
way
around
the
corner
connected
because
neither
one
wanted
to
give
in
the
point
is
just
because
you're
next
to
someone
maybe
even
touching
them
that
doesn't
mean
that
you
are
in
a
relationship
in
the
way
that
God
has
called
you
to
if
we
are
to
be
God's
people
if
we
are
to
reflect
the
relationship
that
he
has
called
us
into
then
we
need
to
love
like
he
loves
weeks
need
to
become
marks
of
this
community
not
instantly
not
completely
not
perfectly
but
by
the
power
of
God's
spirit
in
us
they
need
to
increasingly
become
the
mark
of
who
we
are
is
this
a
place
where
mutual
love
exists
where
people
just
love
to be
honest
and
transparent
and
open
themselves
up
and
invest
in
the
lives
of
others
can
we
recognize
that
we
are
equal
even
though
some
of
us
may
have
authority
can
we
rejoice
in
lowly
roles
or
lowly
positions
because
we
know
that
we
are
equal
in
Christ
can
we
be
just
as
excited
about
being
asked
to
work
in
the
car
park
on
a
Sunday
morning
as
we
are
about
being
asked
to
lead
the
service
because
we
know
that
we
are
equal
in
Christ
can
we
rejoice
in
the
fact
that
we
are
distinct
just
like
God
is
yet
we
are
unified
by
the
same
love
that
unifies
him
it
is
God's
love
that
draws
us
together
and
that
is
why
we
can
be
confident
that
we
are
equal
whatever
role
you
may
have
whatever
job
you
may
do
within
our
church
family
you
are
still
an
adopted
child
of
God
you
do
not
exist
in
so
much
as
you're
the
usher
or
you're
the
supper
person
or
you're
the
you
are
a
child
of
God
one
with
the
blood
of
Christ
and
drawn
into
the
group
hug
by
the
spirit
and
so
we
can
serve
wholeheartedly
and
enthusiastically
and
behind
the
scenes
and
without
thanks
because
we
know
that
we
are
loved
by
God
imagine
if
this
community
looked
like
the
community
that
is
God
imagine
if
this
community
just
tripped
over
itself
to
love
and
serve
one
another
imagine
if
not
just
on
Sunday
but
every
minute
of
our
days
we
were
thinking
of
how
we
could
love
one
another
we
were
desperately
praying
for
one
another
that
we
might
grow
in
our
godliness
that
we
might
continue
to
wrestle
with
sin
in
our
lives
imagine
if
we
were
completely
unified
around
the
purpose
of
being
the
image
of
God
imagine
not
just
the
impact
it
would
have
out
there
but
the
impact
it
would
have
on
us
suddenly
we
get
to be
the
image
of
God
for
one
another
we
get
to
show
them
what
it
means
that
God
loves
them
unconditionally
we
get
to
show
them
what
it
means
that
God
gave
his
son
imagine
what
kind
of
a
difference
we
would
make
for
one
another
what
kind
of
an
impact
we
would
have
on
Chatswood
and
Sydney
and
Australia
and
the
world
if
we
reflected
our
God
who
is
three
in
one
that
is
my
heart
for
us
I
believe
that
is
God's
heart
for
us
and
the
amazing
joy
of
a
challenge
like
that
is
that
God
empowers
us
to
be
that
God
gives
us
his
spirit
to
transform
us
and
to
run
over
the
top
of
our
weaknesses
so
that
we
can
love
when
we
don't
feel
like
it
so
that
we
can
love
when
we
are
tired
so
that
we
can
put
honest
about
the
fact
that
we
are
struggling
even
though
we
are
scared
about
what
other
people
will
think
God
by
his
spirit
will
empower
us
to
do
that
if
we
would
just
depend
on
him
trust
in
the
love
that
he
has
shown
us
let
me
finish
by
reading
a
passage
from
1
John
1
John
4
verse
7
says
dear
friends
let
us
love
one
another
for
love
comes
from
God
everyone
has been
born
of
God
and
knows
God
whoever
does
not
love
does
not
know
God
because
God
is
love
this
is
how
God
showed
his
love
among
us
he
sent
his
one
and
only
son
into
the
world
that
we
might
live
through
him
this
is
love
not
that
we
love
God
but
that
he
loved
us
and
sent
his
son
as
an
atoning
sacrifice
for
our
sins
dear
friends
since
God
so
loved
us
we
also
ought
to
love
one
another
no
one
has
ever
seen
God
but
if
we
love
one
another
God
lives
in
us
and
his
love
is
made
complete
in
us
we
know
that
we
live
in
him
and
he
in
us
because
he
has
given
us
of
his
spirit
and
we
have
seen
and
testify
that
the
father
has
sent
his
son
to
be
the
savior
of
the
world
if
anyone
on
the
love
God
has
for
us
let's
pray
father
god
we
want
to
acknowledge
that
even
as
we
reflect
on
the
wonder
of
your
unity
and
your
love
we
still
feel
that
tension
god
give
us
hearts
to
trust
in
the
bits
that
we
struggle
to
understand
help
us
to
know
and
experience
your
love
in
our
relationships
with
one
another
in
such
a
way
that
we
see
you
more
clearly
God
please
work
in
each
and
every
person
in
this
room
that
we
may
be
a
community
that
reflects
you
help
us
to
joyfully
confess
sin
to
one
another
confident
that
we
are
loved
and
not
judged
help
us
to
eagerly
desire
that
one
another
would
grow
help
us
to
be
invested
in
seeing
godliness
increasingly
in
each
and
every
one
beyond
father
thank
you
that
it
begins
with
your
love
for
us
thank
you
that
it
begins
with
Jesus
on
the
cross
and
that
by
your
spirit
we
know
your
love
is
working
in
us
please
transform
our
hearts
that
we
might
love
what
you
love
that
we
might
love
you
as
you
deserve
that
we
might
love
your
people
as
you
do
God
please
use
us
for
your
purpose
and
your
glory
amen