INTRO The Church as The People of the Triune God

The Church as The People of the Triune God: Introduction

Transitions can be a bit challenging. There is often a mixture of both excitement and fear—excitement for what God will do and fear for what may change. Whatever becomes of it all, transitions are almost always weird. It is like dancing with someone for the first time and that awkward moment of trying to anticipate the next movement but occasionally stepping on each other’s toes. Despite all the awkward moments, this season of transition has been wonderful for our family, adjusting to life in Central Maine—quite a long way from home for a Florida boy!

Before arriving in our new home, I had a few days drive to reflect on all the Lord has done in this season of our lives and how we might best navigate the ‘dance’ of the transition. One of the things that I knew I wanted to figure out was how to approach my first few opportunities to preach before getting into a series on seeing Christ throughout the Old Testament. I went back and forth with a few different ideas before coming to settle on a 3-part series through Ephesians 1:3–14. 

The motivation here was that we begin our time with focusing on what makes us who we are as a church, as a people of God. This emphasis would allow us to cut through some of the awkwardness by focusing on what unites and defines us as a church. Ultimately, from the most basic foundation, we are who we are because of who our Triune God is and what he has done—nothing more, nothing less. 

That basic foundational statement of our identity is the thesis of the series and it is fleshed out in three parts, focusing on Paul’s tripartite division of the one sentence that is Ephesians 1:3–14, each successive portion ending with a similar phrase (“to the praise of his glory” or “glorious grace”) and each section pointing to the works appropriated to Father, Son, and Spirit, respectively. Before getting into each of these parts, this article will briefly address some of the foundational ideas that will be grappled with, by looking to the doctrine of the Trinity.

Trinitarian Orthodoxy

Throughout history, the church has wrestled with understanding the God of creation by moving from the explicit revelation of the Scriptures to the development of language that communicates theological truth while remaining faithful to the text of Scripture. That is not to say that the Bible is insufficient. Indeed, the Scriptures are breathed out by God and are not only profitable but sufficient for teaching, correction, rebuke, and training in righteousness, that we may be complete, lacking in nothing (2 Tim 3:16-17). 

However, the Bible does not say everything that can be said on a given theological topic. Some theological truths that conform to Scripture require the development of theological language consistent with Scripture as faith seeking understanding. 

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of these truths and it is foundational to our faith. In it, we assert that the one true God, creator and covenant Lord, eternally subsists in the three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-equal and consubstantial; of one essence in power, authority, glory, and all divine perfections; distinguished by personal relations. Still, it took some time before there was agreement on this theological terminology that explains clearly and faithfully the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the Triune God of creation and redemption. That agreement over the span of the ages has been summarized in various creeds and confessions, a prime example of which is the Nicene Creed, which reads:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, 

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, 

begotten of the Father before all worlds; 

God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; 

begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, 

by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, 

came down from heaven, 

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, 

and was made man; 

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; 

He suffered and was buried; 

and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; 

and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; 

and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; 

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; 

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; 

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; 

who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. 

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; 

and I look for the resurrection of the dead, 

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Conclusion

In seeking to better understand who we are as a people there is no greater subject to attend to than understanding our Triune God as creator and covenant Lord. The doctrine of the Trinity is not an isolated theological category. What we say about God and what we believe about his nature have ramifications for all other aspects of life and theology as well. In fact, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Misunderstanding the Triune God of creation and redemption amounts to misunderstanding everything in his creation and the works of his redemption as progressively revealed in the Scriptures. Only when we view God rightly, prioritizing his own self-revelation, will we rightly worship the Triune God of creation and redemption and truly understand who we are as a people of God.

We exist to the praise and glory of God. We were created to glorify God and enjoy him forever, to the praise of his glorious grace! We are who we are because of who our Triune God is and what he has done—nothing more, nothing less. In the course of this series of sermons and the corresponding series of articles, it is my hope that we will grow in understanding these truths for greater and more joyful devotion as the people of the Triune God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Coram Deo.