Holy Trinity

The Feast of the Holy Trinity, 2022

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The saved video will be linked here, after the service is over and the file converted.

Bethany Lutheran Church 

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics are linked from the Bethany Hymnal site.

The Hymn # 246               Holy, Holy, Holy               

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity: let us give glory to Him because He hath shown His mercy to us.

Psalm. O Lord, our Lord: how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Colllect

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity - and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity, we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst lump us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities; who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who beholdest the deep; 

and who dwellest between the cherubim.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: 

and greatly to be praised forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers: 

and greatly to be praised and glorified forever. Hallelujah!

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Athanasian Creed             p. 53
The Sermon Hymn #250      Holy God We Praise Thy Name
       

Hidden in Plain Sight

 

The Communion Hymn  #297  The Gospel Shows

The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660               I'm But a Stranger Here  

Enchanted Peace Rose

            Prayers and Announcements

• Lynda Roper is undergoing diagnostic tests; Pastor Jim Shrader and Christ Shrader; Virginia Roper is being tested.
• We have a flock of KJV Bibles, books about the KJV Bible; doctrinal books, and CPH commentaries to give away.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

Luther’s Trinity Sermons Linked Here

Romans 11 33 ω βαθος - O the depth

1. πλουτου 0f the riches
2. και σοφιας  and of the wisdom
3. και γνωσεως θεου and of the knowledge of God.

ως ανεξερευνητα τα κριματα αυτου και ανεξιχνιαστοι αι οδοι αυτου.

34 τις γαρ εγνω νουν κυριου η τις συμβουλος αυτου εγενετο

35 η τις προεδωκεν αυτω και ανταποδοθησεται αυτω

36 οτι 

1. εξ αυτου και - from Him and
2. δι αυτου και - through Him and
3. εις αυτον τα παντα αυτω - in Him are all things.

 η δοξα εις τους αιωνας. αμην.

KJV Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

KJV John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Hidden in Plain Sight

KJV Romans 11:33 O the depth of the (1) riches both of the (2) wisdom and (3) knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 

We can begin with the denial of the Holy Trinity, within the Christian Church, and see how much this has influenced our Western culture.

There is a distinction. The Scriptures are the revelation of God through the Holy Spirit, so the Bible is unique, written down by many but unified by the guidance of the Spirit. God Himself directed this unity - and also the preservation of the Word. This revelation does not change, though many try their best to do that, mostly by removing verses they do not like and by scoffing at what remains.

What we teach and preach about the Scriptures is our witness to the Christian Faith. In many cases we use short-cuts, which condense the meaning of hundreds of passages. The word Trinity is not in the Hebrew or Greek original texts, but the concept of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is found throughout the Bible.

This section from Romans reveals the Trinity, using different terms to show the Unity of the Three Persons and the Threefold nature of the One God. Paul is guided by the Spirit to show a way of expressing the Trinity without suggesting something pagan. 

ELCA and the LCA did that long ago by changing the Trinitarian blessing at baptism - making it Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Lately the ELCA bishops talked about the Spirit being locked up and "She" would soon be getting out. For pagans, especially pagan false bishops, creating and worshiping false gods is a special cause, the platform for their unbelief system.

But in one verse alone we can see and hear two expressions of the Trinity while also revealing the unity of God.

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

As soon as people begin judging the Scriptures as not equal to their wisdom, they start hardening themselves against the Word. My best professor in the Scriptures said, "Don't buy those commentaries. They are packed with opinions, not with studying the text itself."

When people do well, they say, "I worked hard and I was smart."

When calamity falls upon them, they say, "God is punishing me, but why?" Having a shallow opinion about God, they are quick to desert Him. Many cult leaders and outright Satanists are glad to help out. I do not doubt that Satan has great power and uses it, but the Holy Spirit's power is 1000 times greater.

We can collect wisdom from every part of the Bible, and we can concentrate on a few of the greatest parts. 

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For (1) of him, and (2) through him, and (3) to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

People can argue the grammar (as Lenski does) and yet we can hardly exterminate the Trinity from our language. Just count how many times people use groups of threes to describe something! Why is that so pervasive? And why do we stick with a seven-day week when freedom allows us to use a format different from the Six Days of Creation plus a day of rest and worship?

The Holy Trinity is explicit (plain as the nose on your face) in hundreds of places and implicit (subtle, like a hint) in hundreds more. Just as Jesus promised, the Spirit has preserved the Word of God and guided Christians.

We should not ever downplay the grace of God the Father, the love of God the Son, or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God is with us through the Word and keeps His promises.

This is clearly defined in the Old Testament - including especially the Trinity from Day One - Genesis 1. God did not need to give us the New Testament, but like all the Promises, one proof after another is revealed to us. If we only study the Word of God and honor His Day, all this will come together for our benefit, blessings, forgiveness, and fruits of the Spirit.

 By Norma A. Boeckler