In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

Well, the final installment of the Star Wars movies has come out and it seems that many people are noticing. I probably can't fake my true feelings anyway. I just don't care that much. Three years ago, on Trinity Sunday, I mentioned in a sermon that I had fallen asleep every time I tried to watch Star Wars. Some people could not understand how that could be. I can't explain it. It's just not my thing. But, I managed to stay awake long enough to hear this phrase, "May the force be with you." You don't have to be a great theologian to know that this is not a Christian blessing. The "force" of Star Wars is not the Triune God. It seems fitting to me that this very week is Trinity Sunday, and this very portion of God's Word is our sermon text for today. When the apostle Paul was inspired to write these words, he did not write, "May the Force be with you." He wrote, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." Or, in other words:

1. WHO HE IS

We believe that there is only one God. That is emphasized all through the Bible. There is only one God. The closest thing to a Creed in Judaism is Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." That is the truth of Scripture. There is only one God!

When I was in the Seminary, I read a very interesting book written by a Jew on the doctrine of the Trinity. He not only claimed that the doctrine of the Trinity was taught in the Old Testament, he claimed that the Jews should have realized it, and that some did. He was very detailed in his evidence, and we could be too, but let us consider just a few examples. In our first lesson for today, from Genesis chapter one, we see a plurality of persons in the one true God. (Just glance at the bulletin cover.) The one God said, "Let US make man in OUR image." Now, that is a peculiar phrase. The one true God says, "Let us." Then he says, "OUR image," not my image or our images. There is one God with a plurality of persons. We find a number of these allusions in the Old Testament. In the well-known Aaronic benediction that we often use at the end of the service, "The LORD" is mentioned exactly three times. In Isaiah chapter six, we read that the seraphim called out, "Holy, holy, holy." These are just some of the allusions to the Triune God in the Old Testament. Now, it makes sense that we Christians today would see these allusions, but what amazed me was that some scholars among the Jews seemed to realize them too.

In the New Testament, we see the three persons of the Trinity mentioned much more clearly. In John's gospel we see the three persons mentioned in the same context again and again. Jesus instituted Baptism, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That is as plain as can be. And we see the three persons here in our text as well. So, we know who the Triune God is. He is the one true God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We confessed all the detailed truths today in the Athanasian Creed. This might have been rather difficult, but it is also very important to know and confess the truth and reject false teaching. The early Christians had to stand up for God's Word against false teachers. And we see their fine confessions in the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. But the battles of theology are not done. No, there are still false teachers out there. Perhaps not many people are following "the Force" of the Star Wars movies, but there is a very similar concept in the New Age Movement. Many millions of people today worship Allah, but that is not the Triune God. The false "god" of the Lodge, and of many liberal churches today, including the Unitarians, is not the Triune God. So many people today urge us to put down the sword of the Spirit. They want us to say, "Aw, shucks, we all worship the same God." But it isn't true. If they are not worshiping the Triune God, they are not worshiping the true God. It was Jesus himself who said, "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him" (Jn 5:23). Now that we know, from Scripture, who the true God is. Let us now consider...

2. WHAT HE IS LIKE

In this week's sermon notes, there is a summary of God's attributes or characteristics. These apply to all three persons of the Triune God. We see from this list that God is eternal, without beginning or end (Dt 33:27; Ps 90:2). He is omnipotent (almighty, Gen 17:1). He is omniscient (all-knowing, John 21:17). He is omnipresent (present everywhere (Jer 23:24; Eph 4:10). God is holy and sinless (Lev 19:2). So, in Revelation 4:8, God is praised with the words, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." God is faithful (2 Tim 2:13). God is good (Ps 145:9). And, God is love (1 John 4:16). Now, somebody might be sitting back and thinking, "That's nice to know," but I've held back two of God's characteristics for right this moment.

God is just (Dt 32:4). He demands that every sin must be punished. He will not compromise. He will not just overlook a sin. Every sin and every sinner must be justly punished. And that is bad news, friends. If that was the end of God's attributes, we would be in serious trouble. We have all sinned, and if all God had to offer was justice, we would be justly condemned forever! But thanks be to God, there is another attribute.

God is gracious and forgiving (Ex 34:6-7). Though he didn't have to, God graciously wanted to save us from sin and condemnation. And yet, because God is just, he had to save us in such a way that every sin is paid for, every just penalty must be paid in full. Today's sermon text comes from 2 Corinthians. In this inspired letter, Paul lays all of this out beautifully in chapter five. It says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us." Jesus had no sin at all. He was holy and sinless. He lived a perfect life. But then God placed all of our sins on him! God the Father laid the load of sin on God the Son. And Jesus paid for every one of our sins on the cross of Calvary! He rose from death on the third day. He took our sins away! And so, now, whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but have eternal life! Isn't that great? Believe in Jesus, and you will go to heaven!

The Triune God has completely worked out salvation for us. Salvation is not about what we do, but about what God has done for us. Let's take a few moments now to review...

3. WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU

I could, and probably should, go on and on about all the great things the Triune God has done for you and me. But let's limit ourselves to just three for today. First, God created this universe. That fact is denied by evolutionists, and I fear, often taken for granted by too many Christians. If God had not created you, you would not be here. If God had not created the animals, we would not have any! If God had not made everything in the universe, it would not exist! May we praise our Triune God for doing this work.

The reason why creation isn't perfect today is because mankind fell into sin. When sin entered the world, all of the problems we face came right along with it. But the second great thing God has done for us is redeemed us from sin. Jesus has redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death! And yet, that would not benefit us, if it were not for the third great thing.

The third great thing God has done for us, is that he has given us faith to believe in Jesus. Scripture says, (1 Cor 12:3) "no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." Luther put it this way, "I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Ghost has called me by the gospel..." Thanks be to the Triune God for creating us, redeeming us, and giving us faith to believe! Certainly, the Triune God has already blessed us, yet consider finally...

4. HOW HE BLESSES YOU

It says here, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." May the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, bless you with his grace, his "undeserved love" for sinners. May God the Father bless you with his selfless, giving love. And may the Holy Spirit bless you with a dual fellowship. May you have fellowship with the Triune God, by trusting him and believing everything his Word says. And may you have fellowship with one another, as you believe everything that Holy Scripture teaches.

And may the Triune God be with you "all." May every one here believe in the Triune God, trust in Jesus the Savior, and receive eternal life. Certainly God has blessed us. Certainly God is blessing us. And at the end, may he bless us with eternal joys in heaven. But, as you are on your way... "May the Triune God be with you!" Amen.