Isaiah 6:1-8
Revelation 4:1-11
John 16:(5-11)12-15
"I didn't tell you this earlier," Jesus said, "because I was with you every day. But now I'm on my way to the one who sent me. And not one of you has asked 'where are you going?' Instead, the more I have talked, the sadder you've become. The truth is, it is really better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will expose the godless worlds view of righteousness and judgment. He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin. That righteousness comes from above where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control. That judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted. I still have many things to tell you but right now you can't handle them right now. But when the Friend comes, the spirit of the truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth that there is. He's not going to draw a lot of attention to himself but will make sense out of what is going to happen and all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the father has is mine also. That's why I have said, He takes from me and delivers to you."
I would like to think that the disciples were wondering if things could get any worse? Jesus was soon to leave them forever and they still didn't understand what to do. How were they going to get done all that Jesus wanted? How were they going to help bring in the kingdom of God? Who is going to help us? Who is going to lead us? We can't do this without you. And what does Jesus say? "You're better off without me. You'll be better off when I'm gone because then someone will come that will answer your questions, calm your fears and lead you through all the obstacles in your way."
Who is this "someone" Jesus refers to? This Friend, Advocate, Counselor, Spirit of Truth, Paraclete. Words describing what we refer to as the Holy Spirit. Sent from the risen Christ to help the disciples cope after His departure. From the Greek paracletos, it means someone who would function as an advocate, helper or intercessor to those in need of support.
The advocate's role will be crucial in enabling the fledgling church to make it's case to the world regarding sin and righteousness and judgment. The greatest sin is the failure to recognize Jesus as God's agent in the renewal of god's people and the world. And with Jesus taken from their presence, the Holy Spirit is sent to finish the instruction, to guide them into the truth. The message comes from what he hears in the presence of God and the risen Christ. All three together. These insights and promises are inherent in who Jesus is and in what god is doing through him to bring about the divine kingdom. All that god is doing through Christ is to be conveyed to the people by the Spirit.
The concept of God through Christ through the Holy Spirit is difficult to understand. According to Basil of Ceasaria, the Trinity is of one nature in three modes of existence or persons. Or could it be one person in three natures. Or as Doris puts it: the Trinity is the singer, the music and the words. The belief in this Trinity, however we verbalize it, this cornerstone of our faith.
The fourth and fifth centuries are the age of the great theological debates over the Christian doctrines of the Trinity. Debates over the nature of Jesus and his relationship to the Father and the Spirit. These were bitter, sometimes violent debates that lasted dozens and dozens of years. Total agreement , in fact, has not been realized even in our own time. After all, we're talking about our deepest beliefs and convictions. And these arguments usually involved everyone. Not just the bishops and priests. Truly political-of the people-debates. A consensus of sorts or compromise was reached through councils of Bishops meeting at Nicea, Chalcedon and Constantinople in the fourth century. The creeds that came out of these meetings did not presume to answer all the questions but rather were compromise documents that set boundaries on interpretation.
The Nicene Creed we say today comes from agreements made at a Council in Constantinople in 381. Our heritage is anchored as much in this process of reflection as in the formulas of the creeds. I learned a long time ago, two of the arguments one can never win involve politics and religion. Everyone believes themselves to be right and will argue vehemently for their beliefs. Compromise and boundaries are the key words here. Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can have dire consequences.
A religious weight loss program called Weigh Down created in 1992 by a woman named Gwen Shamblin grew from a small business conducted out of a home garage to a multimillion-dollar Nashville corporation with over 30,000 churches and organizations participating. But last year the whole movement was threatened and her business placed in jeopardy when Shamblin, on August 10th made comments regarding her beliefs in the Trinity.
Here is what she said, "As a ministry, we believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. However, the Bible does not use the word 'trinity,' and our feeling is that the word 'trinity' implies equality in leadership, or shared Lordship. It is clear that the scriptures teach that Jesus is the Son of God and that God sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not send God anywhere. God is clearly the Head."
Her comments sent shockwaves through her community of followers and business partners. She was removed from the Women of Faith Web site, influential evangelical churches dropped her program, even some key employees left. Thomas Nelson, her publisher, quickly canceled the publication of her book that was then scheduled for release in one month. All of this because she trifled with the Trinity. If you are confused as to why her words got her into so much trouble, that is quite understandable. The church has struggled to explain how God can be both One God and three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Where Mrs.Shamblin went wrong was in her statement that God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit were not equal in leadership. In an interview, she agreed that Jesus was both Lord and God but she maintained that Jesus held only a secondary and unequal relationship to the Father. Mrs. Shamblin was concluding that Jesus is not fully God. This cuts at the very heart of the church's historic teaching that Jesus Christ, in his very nature, was both fully God and fully man. It's a mystery which we accept through faith.
So my brothers and sisters, let us pray:
Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, revealed to the prophets of old as the giver of life and to us as the Lord who leads us into all truth and enables us to grow in the likeness of Christ. May the Spirit always blow through us like a healing wind, bringing us forgiveness of our sins and comfort in our times of need. Through God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. AMEN