Thursday June 13, 2019 Sermon Video - "The Trinity, Fatith, Justification, and Suffering"

Below please find the manuscript and video from last Thursday night's worship service.  Though I hadn't originally planned to preach over the 'Trinity' on the following Sunday, I ended up preaching over the Trinity.  I am want to change my mind on sermons and sermon topics after all.

I've also linked below the sermon I gave two years ago about the 'Trinity'.  It's linked as a reference for anyone wishing to know more about how I personally understand the concept of the Holy Trinity.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

This coming Sunday will be 'Trinity Sunday', now neither tonight nor Sunday am I planning to dive too deeply into the Theology of the Trinity.  Two years ago, I gave a sermon over the Trinity and if you'd like to know more about that I'd refer you to that sermon which is available on Youtube and in my blog post I will provide a link to that sermon.  Please take a listen to it, though it was a sermon given outside so you'll have to forgive the sound quality a little bit.

Tonight we're going to look at the verses found in Romans 5:1-5, that I just read for you all.  Please allow me to read them again and I am also going to show them on the screen:

Romans 5:1-5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Results of Justification
5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we[d] also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Footnotes:
a) Romans 5:1 Other ancient authorities read let us
b) Romans 5:2 Other ancient authorities add by faith
c) Romans 5:2 Or let us
d) Romans 5:3 Or let us

My only diversion in this sermon into the concept of the Trinity is to point out that Paul's belief in the Trinity is on display here.  We see in these five verses three references to God, one direct reference to Christ along with an indirect reference, and finally, we are told that God's love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Truly, the Spirit is within us... if only we would listen more attentively.

So the Trinity is there in these words of Paul in Romans. Jesus and the Spirit are both identified as being vital components of our ability to know the peace and the love of God. The roles of Christ and the Spirit are both discussed in these five short verses.

But, let's move on... I do, however, want to point something out about the translation in the NRSV.  In verse two we read the following; 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

The problem here is that the word 'sharing', is not there in the Greek.  For whatever reason, the Translators of the RSV inserted the word 'sharing' and the NRSV continued that tradition.  I don't know if any other translations use this word but if one references the Greek interlinear, it's just not there. 

1223 [e] 2   di’ 2   δι’ 2   through 2   Prep

3739 [e] hou οὗ whom RelPro-GMS

2532 [e] kai καὶ also Conj

3588 [e] tēn τὴν  -  Art-AFS

4318 [e] prosagōgēn προσαγωγὴν access N-AFS

2192 [e] eschēkamen ἐσχήκαμεν we have V-RIA-1P

3588 [e] tē τῇ by the Art-DFS

4102 [e] pistei πίστει faith N-DFS

1519 [e] eis εἰς into Prep

3588 [e] tēn τὴν the Art-AFS

5485 [e] charin χάριν grace N-AFS

3778 [e] tautēn ταύτην this DPro-AFS

1722 [e] en ἐν in Prep

3739 [e] hē ᾗ which RelPro-DFS

2476 [e] hestēkamen ἑστήκαμεν  ; we stand V-RIA-1P

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

2744 [e] kauchōmetha καυχώμεθα we boast V-PIM/P-1P

1909 [e] ep’ ἐπ’ in Prep

1680 [e] elpidi ἐλπίδι hope N-DFS

3588 [e] tēs τῆς of the Art-GFS

1391 [e] doxēs δόξης glory N-GFS

3588 [e] tou τοῦ  -  Art-GMS

2316 [e] Theou Θεοῦ  . of God N-GMS

Young's Literal Translation records it as such; 2 through whom also we have the access by the faith into this grace in which we have stood, and we boast on the hope of the glory of God.  

Though I have a great fondness for both the RSV and the NRSV, this translation is a seriously poor one in my opinion.  Both place into the mouth of Paul a hope that we all can 'share' in the glory of God.  Folks, we do not... we will never... share God's glory.  We can experience this glory, we can witness this glory... but... we are not co-equal to God and thus His glory is not something that we share with Him.  There is a difference... we can boast about the glory of God, we can hope to see and witness this glory... but, we will never share in it.  This is, in my opinion, a serious issue with the translation in the RSV and NRSV.  This is a prime example of the danger of translation, the insertion here of one word... a word that is not there in the Greek... nor is it implied either... and its addition creates the potential for some very, very bad Theology.

Now, on to our 'justification'.  Right away in verse one, we are told that we are 'justified' by our faith, thus obtaining the peace of God... and then at the beginning of verse two, we are told that we have gained access to this grace through Christ.  By the workings of Christ, we have not only gained justification but by His sacrifice, we have been made righteous in God's sight and we have been sanctified as well.

Let's look at the meaning of these words and the blessing and grace that they hold for us.

Justified - adjective
1. having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason.
"the doctors were justified in treating her"
2. THEOLOGY - declared or made righteous in the sight of God.

Righteous - adjective
1. (of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous.
"feelings of righteous indignation about pay and conditions"
synonyms: good, virtuous, upright, upstanding, decent, worthy; More
2. INFORMAL • USA
very good; excellent. "righteous bread pudding"

Sanctify - verb
1) to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.
2) to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.
3) to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding:
to sanctify a vow.
4) to entitle to reverence or respect.
5) to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.

Through the sacrifice, the life, death, and life again of Christ, we are all justified before God.  We have been declared righteous, virtuous, upright, decent... worthy.  We have been purified and sanctified with the love of God Himself:

John 3:16-17 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Through Jesus, who was and is the Christ, we have the hope... and remember that when we say hope here it's not like gosh... I hope I get a passing grade on my test... no, it's the faith that we have in the grace obtained for us by Christ... through Christ, we have faith that we will one day witness the full glory of God the Father.

Because we have this faith of this coming glory, we are able to gain through the hardships of this life here in this world.  The pain and suffering of our lives will not and cannot make us weaker... rather we gain strength through all that life throws at us by our faith that through Jesus we have been made righteous in the eyes of God and we are worthy of receiving His grace and witnessing His glory.

Praise be to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...
Amen.

Sermon, Sunday June 9, 2019, John 14:1-27, Pentecost Sunday

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday and the date which we often call the 'Birthday' of the Church.  I chose to preach over the traditional verses found in Acts on Thursday night and so I utilized the verses found in John's Gospel on Sunday morning.

Often times we can wonder why the Spirit isn't more active in our lives; in the sermon, I use a garden hose as an illustration for the activity of the Spirit in our lives.  Very nearly all of us have had the experience of turning on a hose to do some watering or to wash our vehicle.  You have a spray handle on the hose so you turn it on at the spigot and drag the hose to where you're working.  As it often seems we're working on the opposite side of the house, shed, or barn we traipse around the corner get to where we're going... and squeeze the spray handle... nothing... there's no water (or perhaps a trickle) flowing.  So we follow the hose back and find a kink, we straighten it out and go back to our spray handle... still nothing.  We go back and forth undoing kinks until finally, the water flows.  

The activity of the Spirit in our lives can often seem like that garden hose.  You see the Spirit is there within you, (just like the water being there in the hose) it's just that those sins you're holding onto are blocking the flow of the Spirit in your life.  We simply must go back and forth straightening out those kinks in order to maximize the 'flow' of the Spirit.  Of course, the reality is that we'll never get all of the kinks... it seems as soon as we find one... another develops... kind of like when you move that hose around and suddenly you find more kinks.  Though often it's just the same kink manifesting itself again... like those sins that come back to haunt us over and over again.

Let us try today and every day to undo these blockages, to free ourselves from that which prevents us from doing the work of the Spirit.  One of the major blocks may well be our fear, ego, and laziness that we allow to prevent us from hearing and listening to the urgings of the Spirit.  There is none so blind as those that will not see, nor any so deaf as those that won't hear.

Be a blessing to someone today!  (listen to the Spirit)

In Christ,
Roy

John 14:1-27 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus the Way to the Father
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe[a] in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know[d] my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me[e] for anything, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, you will keep[f] my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[g] to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in[h] you.

18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,[i] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Footnotes:
a) John 14:1 Or You believe
b) John 14:2 Or If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
c) John 14:4 Other ancient authorities read Where I am going you know, and the way you know
d) John 14:7 Other ancient authorities read If you had known me, you would have known
e) John 14:14 Other ancient authorities lack me
f) John 14:15 Other ancient authorities read me, keep
g) John 14:16 Or Helper
h) John 14:17 Or among
i) John 14:26 Or Helper


John 15:1-16:11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus the True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed[b]by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become[c] my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants[d] any longer, because the servant[e] does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

The World’s Hatred
18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world,[f] the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants[g] are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “When the Advocate[h] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
16 “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. 4 But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

The Work of the Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate[i] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about[j] sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.