"To Believe in the Trinity"

 

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

 

            What does it mean to believe in the Trinity? Our catechism or building-block answer is "To believe in the Trinity is to confess that God is one, and that he continually and personally makes himself known to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." It does not say that the Tri-Unity of God is something we need to understand intellectually. But to confess is to say, with heart and mind, what the Bible reveals to us about God.

           Isaiah shows us that when we experience God in truth, we are led to worship. Isaiah does not share his vision of God with us. He does not tell us what God looks like. Rather he describes his worship of God when he saw God in the temple. In this passage in Romans in which Paul is speaking of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, he does not direct us to an intellectual understanding of God, but he points us to a new way of living. Christianity is a moral religion, and not all religions or spiritualities are moral. But when you believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit you are given a new way of life, you are directed to live in a new way.

            Some Christians these days are separating a personal biblical morality from their spiritual practice. In their behavior they take their cues from the surrounding culture, they do as the people around them do or as the TV tells them what to do, and they keep that separate from their spiritual life.

            But Paul says that if we are in Christ, then we have an obligation in terms of how we live. Grace and obligation do fit together. Grace does not hide obligation nor does obligation crowd out grace. But how can that be? It is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings grace and obligation together, and that gives power for us to live a new life.

            Paul speaks about two powers or influences in life. There is the sinful nature, often translated as "flesh," and there is the Holy Spirit. "Flesh" (sarx) does not mean that the physical body is bad or corrupt, or that our physical bodies are held in contrast to a higher spiritual nature. "Flesh" is actually a way of thinking, a way of living where God is left out. It has been called that which is "narrowly human." It is living according to what you desire and doing what the world tells you to do.

 In Galatians 5, Paul lists the works of the flesh as "sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, envy, drunkenness and orgies." Notice these include both attitudes and behaviors. "Flesh" carries the influence of rebellion against God and also the influence of idolatry, especially a life turned in upon the self. We tend to get trapped in these ways of thinking or behaving.

            In contrast is life in the Spirit. This is the power of God which puts us in right relationship to God and results in obedience to God and in righteousness. Life in the Spirit is filled with hope of the final victory of God. It does not always express itself with the immediate power that "flesh" does; but  it is in fact much stronger and will be victorious. Although at first it may seem to limit the freedom of the individual, the Spirit leads us to true freedom as it sets people free from the entrapping power of sin and sets people free to enjoy a relationship with God the creator. Paul Achtemeier writes, "To be led by God's Spirit means to have changed our future from death to life, to have changed our relationship with God from rebellion to obedience, and our status from enemy to child."

            In Romans chapter 8 Paul points out that when we are in the Spirit we are free from God's condemnation, we are indwelt by God's own Spirit, we are adopted into his family, we are destined for resurrection and glory and we are filled with hope. The Holy Spirit gives us power to live in a new way. The obligation that we are given to live a new life is carried out in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not left alone to simply try our best. We do carry a responsibility for the kinds of choices we make, for carrying out the central commitments of our lives, for practicing spiritual disciplines, and for conforming our will to God's will. But we realize that there is a power from the Holy Spirit that makes each of those possible. We are neither prideful in our moral commitments, nor do we live by a kind of "cheap grace," simply not trying very hard to do what is right because we feel whatever we do will after all be forgiven. Paul says if you are in Christ; don't live as if you are not. There is a power to help you.

            But if there is a moral life to be lived in Christ, just what is the obligation? I grew up in a setting where the obligation was spelled out in a variety of rules designed to keep us from potentially harmful situations. No drinking, smoking, dancing or movies. We lived farther from the culture than most of us live today. So what does this look like today? I think Paul speaks specifically about the obligation in chapter 12 and following of Romans. Notice how he talks about the obligation to live in the Spirit. He begins with the general principle "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is." He begins with attitude. The new life in Christ begins in how we think of ourselves. That means not more highly than we ought, but willing to use our gifts from God both cheerfully and generously. There is an attitude we are called to that says, "I do not have to be in control, but I am willing to help."

            Then he moves on to how we care for each other. The influence of the flesh is so strong these days to only look after yourself and your family and maybe a few close to you. The world tells us to live in small, protected cocoons. But Paul says the obligation is to "be devoted to one another in love." So during VBS last week on one morning a group of our women invited the moms of the kids in VBS to come and spend the morning, and just cared for them. They had coffee and pastries and back massages and hand massages and talked to them. Mothers of pre-schoolers need to be cared for, need to be honored, need devoted love. The obligation we have in Christ is to care for one another.

            Then Paul says, "Never be lacking in zeal, serve the Lord, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." That is what Brian is doing with the high school group this week. He is taking them on a road trip to South Dakota, to the Badlands, so they can look at the stars, and so they can experience quietness for a few days and get recharged. This culture we live in is so noisy, so demanding, so full of things to do, that you can lose your joy and your hope and have no time to pray. So our high hchool students are going off to pray and to be quiet before God.

            Then he talks about relationships: to those who persecute you, and to people of low position, and to the government. This may be a difficult part of the obligation for us. We know what he world tells us. It is pretty easy to slide by these verses. But that is why we have a Benevolent Fund. That is why we go to Winchester House the first Sunday afternoon of each month. That is why we work at PADS and go to the food pantry. These are small ways to help us develop our relationships with people of low position. We have an obligation to do so.

            Finally in chapter 13 Paul deals with decent behavior. That is an area that is sliding in our world. He says pay your taxes, pay your debts. In other words be honest in your business dealings. Be people of integrity. And then behave decently, not in carousing and drunkenness, sexual immorality and debauchery. Rome was moving towards a time when people didn't care anymore about what they did at night. They were falling asleep on the way to dying. When you fall asleep morally you lose your close relationship with God, you really struggle to be in the light.

            We come from a heritage of temperance and moderation as regards alcohol in our Covenant Church. That position moved to one of abstinence as the movement was influenced by the revivals in America. Now the pendulum has swung back to some degree to moderation. I think moderation is generally accepted in practice in our churches, but it is not officially stated. It's worth talking more about, especially the theological reasons for our practice. And Paul reminds us that morality always takes into consideration the weak and vulnerable in the society. Drunkenness is the biblical issue, and it was connected to idolatry in the ancient world. People got drunk in order to have experiences with spirits and demons. Paul is concerned that drunkenness leads a person away from the worship of the true God and makes it more difficult for people to pray.

            Sexual morality is also an issue with the culture. What I have seen is that both alcohol in excess and sexual experience outside of marriage draw people away from Christ and the church. There are exit doors, not only in the church, but also in the faith. We should be honest about their presence. There is in Christ both a concern for the neighbor and for the common good.

            We have an obligation, not to the sinful nature, because it has no right to control our lives. The cross of Christ has won a victory, and the presence of the Holy Spirit sets us free from the demands of the flesh. But we have an obligation to the Spirit, to walk in the light, to live in a new way. Let us walk in the light of the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

            Amen.