June 16,2019 Trinity Sunday

“1 ¶ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 ¶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:1-10 NKJV)

The book of Romans teaches the meaning of the Gospel and how to guide others to Jesus within a pagan society. Pagans worshiped and served gods they created and made images of. Paul teaches the uniqueness of God as Creator rather than a god created as seen in paganism.

Some do not like Paul because his letters contain things they do not agree with and do not like. In the writings of Paul we see a very painful description of who we are without Jesus and who we can become in Jesus. All of this culminates in what is one of the greatest works of history, 1 Corinthians 13.

The Bible reveals itself as the ultimate truth and guide and even if we do not agree or like what it says as Christians we must accept its authority. There are some teachings in the Bible that trouble each of us but we must accept God is God and we are not. This is pointed out when Jesus declares if you love me you will obey me.

We will never understand or appreciate the meaning of Jesus dying for us until we understand how undeserving we are. Our willingness to accept our sinfulness will be the measure of our understanding of the love of Jesus!

In a world in which bullies and despots bring misery and destruction, Jesus came in love riding in on a simple donkey and surrounded by worshipers rather than a war horse and an army. The world forces obedience but Jesus offers the love revealed by sacrifice so we can offer obedience as a sacrifice of our love.

We can assume God’s love means we can do what we want and God will still accept us but that is untrue! Indeed: God loves us enough to accept us as we are but also loves us enough to not leave us there. The Bible not only reveals God to us but also is our guide to living in Jesus!

In the first part of this passage God through Paul reveals to us the progression of not just believing in the Gospel but grow to be to live it! The struggles and persecution of this life now have meaning as an opportunity to grow up as God’s redemption empowers us.

We are shown the fullness of the Gospel in which the fullness of the Trinity works as one to allow us to be reconciled to God. The greatest statement of our value is that the Father sacrificed His Son revealing the depth of God’s love for us and the value God places on us!

We were created for love and by Love we are recreated to love!