Bound in the Name
Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsThe doctrine of the Trinity is not simply abstract knowledge that we assent to. It is the nature of the eternal God-- creator and ruler of the universe-- extolled by the angels in His very presence. In Christ, the fullness of the godhead dwelled in the flesh. On the cross, the singular will of the triune God was expressed and enacted for the purpose of saving you. Bind unto yourself-- today and every day-- that strong name of the trinity.
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Text: ““Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
This day of the church year comes with the same disclaimer that we give each year. Last Sunday I pointed out that holidays— in our daily lives or in the church— are important for the people or events that they commemorate. But today is not about a person or an event, per se. It is about a doctrine.
But to say that it’s about a doctrine does it a disservice. The trinity is not simply abstract knowledge that you and I assent to. It is a description of the very nature of the eternal God— the creator and ruler of the universe— extolled by the angels in His presence singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3).
It is an eternal mystery that we cannot comprehend: three persons— the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not the Father— and yet there is one God. And yet, in Christ, the fullness of the godhead dwelled in the flesh. (Col. 2:9). The Father did not become incarnate— He did not take on human flesh— only God the Son did. And yet, to ‘have’ Christ is to have all three.
In fact, in Christ, you not only have, but know all three. Our minds can not comprehend the trinity, but the will and purpose of the Triune God has been revealed to you. All three persons share one eternal will. And that will is to save you.
On the cross, the singular will of the triune God was expressed and enacted for the purpose of saving you. Before creation, the Father, the Son, and the Holy determined to save you from your sin. To paraphrase John 3, “For God [the Father] so loved the world, that he gave [God the Son], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
We can’t be faulted for not understanding the Trinity— it is beyond human reason— but you and I certainly are guilty of rebelling against the one true God, the creator and ruler of the universe. In fact, arguably one of the strongest pieces of evidence for our rebellious nature is our disdain for doctrine— our ambivalence toward the truth of who God is. “1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength,” the psalmist writes. “2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” But us? We might just sleep in. Forget about atheists for the moment, God’s own people can hardly be bothered to learn to know Him.
And yet, to paraphrase Galatians 4, "4 ...[W}hen the fullness of time had come, God [the Father] sent forth [God the] Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). The incarnate Son of God took your sin and, as He hung on the cross, He was forsaken by God the Father in order to reconcile you to Himself. On the cross, the singular will of the triune God was expressed and enacted for the purpose of saving you.
It is not abstract knowledge. The Triune Name of God is the power behind everything we do. Here, today, we invoke the Triune Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, calling Him to be present in our gathering and joining our voices in the songs of angels, archangels and all the hosts of heaven.
You are baptized in the Triune Name of God. ““9 For in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” St. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Col. 2:9-10, emphasis added).
We gather in the Triune Name of God. You are baptized in— and into!— the Triune Name of God. You are absolved in the Triune Name of God. You are blessed in the Triune Name of God.
It is far from abstract knowledge about God. It is the power in which we gather each week. And it is the power in which you live each day. To quote St. Patrick:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
(St. Patrick)
There is your “doctrine” of the Trinity in all of its fullness. The eternal mystery sung by the angels in God’s presence. The fullness of the godhead present in Christ. The power of God at work for you.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Arise and bind unto yourself today the strong name of the Trinity.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.