The Trinity in Worship: Equal in Glory, Distinct in Role Jonathan Blackmon, Ph.D.

Transcription

1 The Trinity in Worship: Equal in Glory, Distinct in Role Jonathan Blackmon, Ph.D. I. Introduction The greater our appreciation and apprehension of the majestic God whom we say we worship, the greater will be our reverence, adoration, and service. Alan P. Ross A. To Know the Lord our God 1. Humans naturally seek meaning in the world Ps. 19:1-4; Eccl. 3:11 2. How important is the knowledge of God? Hos 6:6; Col. 1:10; 2 Pet. 1:2 The knowledge of God is the heart of salvation and of all true spiritual experience. Sinclair Ferguson 3. How can God be known? 4. Can humans reach God? B. God's Self Revelation 1. God's Wisdom vs. human wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18-31) 2. God's Thoughts vs. human thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9) 3. True worship requires right knowledge of God (Jn 4:22; Acts 17:23) 4. God has revealed himself as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit II. Who God Is The Essential Trinity A. God is One 1. monotheistic Dt. 6:4 Hear, O Israel Ps 50:1; Ps 68:35; Isa. 42:8; Isa. 45: calls for exclusive loyalty Ex. 20:3 Ex. 22:20; Ex. 34:14 3. no images Ex. 20:4 B. God is Tri-personal in no other subject [than the Trinity] is error more dangerous, or inquiry more laborious, or the discovery of truth more profitable. Augustine of Hippo 1. Difficulty of analogical language 2. The need for extra-biblical terms 3. OT Glimpses Gen. 1:26; Ps. 33:6; Ps. 51:1 1 Cor. 10:4; Jn. 12:41

2 4. NT Teaching Heb. 9:14; Rom. 8:11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Mt. 3:16-17 & 28:18-19; Eph. 1:3-14 & 4:4-6; Gal 4:4-6 John last section of John s Gospel the Book of Glory 2. Jesus reveals himself himself as the Son of God in ch Twin themes of Mutual Indwelling & Glory 4. The Spirit is another just like Jesus 5. The Spirit serves as Teacher, Advocate, & Homemaker [Jesus] wanted us to know God in his eternal glory and to recognise [sic] how great he is; but he also wanted us to see that the God whose being we cannot comprehend is also the God who is a Father who loves us, a Son who came to die for us, a Spirit who brings us into God s heart and who brings God into our hearts. Sinclair Ferguson 6. Each of the 3 persons is fully God 7. The Tri-Personal God as seen in John 13-17: FATHER Holy Father, righteous Father to be believed b/c His word is truth Resources cattle; dwelling has many rooms Father in relation to the Son eternally Gives his name to the Son Dwells in the Son & is Indwelled by the Son loved the Son before the foundation of the world Loves the Son & is loved by the Son One with the Son Speaks to the Son & Listens to the Son Sends the Son & Receives the Son with Jesus commands Jesus Gives the words that the Son speaks Unknown by the world but Revealed in Jesus only accessible through Christ ineffable, mystery, unknowable Works through the Son gives the Son authority over all flesh authority to give eternal life to all who believe in Christ gives to the Son all of the remnant of the nations (Ps 2?) All that the Father has belongs to the Son Authority, gives authority to the Son Glorifies the Son & is Glorified in the Son glorified by Jesus life and mission on earth Sends the Spirit Sends the Spirit in the name of Jesus; Gives the Spirit

3 SON the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15) the exact imprint of his nature (Heb. 1:3) In fact, the only image that ever did [God] justice, which truly portrayed who he is and what his character is like, was given to us in the incarnation. David F. Wells to be believed (he is the truth) speaks the words of the Father does the works of the Father accomplishes the Father s work manifested the Father s name & communicates the Father s words consecrates himself for the ones who believe in him The way, the truth, the life the only way to the Father (Mediator) The exact imprint of the Father (v. 9) in the Father & indwelled by the Father existed with the Father before the foundation of the world glorifies the Father & glorified by the Father has eternal glory Abides in the Father s love loved by the Father before the Foundation of the world in the Father, indwelled by the Father not alone, but the Father is with him prays to the Father knows the Father Sent by the Father not of the world overcame the world came from God Goes to the Father (when his work on earth was complete) Makes the Father Known revealer has all authority over everything on earth the source of eternal life & gives eternal life Sends the Spirit from the Father glorified by the Spirit continues to make known the Father s name HOLY SPIRIT Holy proceeds from the Father Sent by the Father asked for by Jesus Sent by the Father in the name of Jesus sent by Jesus from the Father the Helper paraclete; intercessor, advocate

4 teaches the disciples all things brings to their remembrance all that Jesus said to them the Spirit of truth cannot be received by the world known only by believers; indwells believers bears witness about Jesus with Jesus from the beginning guides believers into all truth does not speak on his own authority, speaks what he hears continues the ministry of Jesus cannot come unless Jesus returns to the Father declares to the disciples the things to come glorifies the Son takes what belongs to the Son and declares it to the disciples convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement sin because they do not believe Jesus righteousness because he vindicates Jesus judgement because Jesus has judged the ruler of this world 5. A Working Description of the Triune God of Grace III. What God Does The Economic Trinity A. Creation 1. God made all things 2. God made all things for His own glory 3. God created all things as the Triune God of Grace God s ultimate goal therefore is to preserve and display his infinite and awesome greatness and worth, that is, his glory. God has many other goals in what he does. But none of them is more ultimate than this. They are all subordinate. God s overwhelming passion is to exalt the value of his glory. To that end he seeks to display it, to oppose those who belittle it, and to vindicate it from all contempt. It is clearly the uppermost reality in his affections. He love his glory infinitely. John Piper a. in the Mind of the Father b. spoken through the eternal Word c. formed & fashioned through the Spirit 4. God created people for worship a. How should we respond to our Creator? Ps 148; Rev 4:16-17; 1 Chron 16:23-34; Ps 103:22; Mark 16:15; Ps 86:8-12; Isa 66:1-2; Amos 4:13; Ps 96 b. What does Creation tell us? Rom 1:18-25; Ps 19:1-5; Isa 45:7-18; Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:15-20 c. What happened to creation as a result of the fall? Gen 3:1-13; Isa 59:2; Rom 8:18-25; Ecc 7:29; Gen 9:6-7; Gen 35:9-15 For as creation shows forth various aspects of God s character, to that extent he takes delight in it. Wayne Grudem

5 5. God Made Eden a Garden Temple (Gen 1-2; Ezek 28:12b-16; Isa 51:3) The whole world of our experience is constituted by the creative will and wisdom of God, and that will and wisdom that is, his law is everywhere in principle knowable by virtue of God s creational revelation. Albert M. Wolters B. Covenant from Abraham to Christ 1. Definition of Berith 2. Covenant Characteristics (Deut 10:12-13; Ex 24:7-8; Heb 9:18-22; Isa 43:1-7) 3. Covenant formula (Ex 6:6-8; 2 Cor 6:16) Jn 15:1-5; Ezek 37: The New Covenant (Heb 12:18-29; Jer 31:31-34; Gal 3; Rev 12) Mark 14:22-26; Dt 18; Rom 5:6-21 C. Communion the new Temple John 4:1-26 Phil. 3:3 [cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-10] 1. Trinitarian Worship a. From the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit b. By the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father c. Communion, New Covenant d. The role(s) of the Triune God in worship e. The role(s) of God s people in Worship Christ is presented to us as the Son living a life of union and communion with the Father in the Spirit, presenting himself in our humanity through the eternal Spirit to the Father on behalf of humankind. By his Spirit he draws men and women to participate both in his life of worship and communion with the Father and in his mission from the Father to the world. James B. Torrance 2. Worship is communion with God a. Father, Son, & Holy Spirit Trinitarian b. Worship cannot be Trinitarian without being Christ-centered 3. The Difference Between Unitarian and Trinitarian Worship a. Unitarian 1. What we do before God 2. Starts to look like works-based salvation work instead of grace b. Trinitarian 1. Shekinah Glory The defining characteristic of the worshiping congregation (Exod 25:8, 33:16, 40:35) 2. the context of covenant--god only tabernacles with his own people 3. God' indwelling presence 4. Seeing the invisible God (Deut 4:14 20; Col 1:19; 2:9; Heb 1:3; John 1:1 5, 14; 2 Cor 4:4 6)

6 5. God still tabernacles with people in the context of the covenant community (2 Cor 6:14 18) 6. Characteristics of the covenant community filled with God s glory: Worship is communion with God the foundation is God s Word the prerequisite is union with Christ the nature is holiness and purity because God s presence requires it the objective is the glory of God the heart is Christo-centric worship and jubilant song (Col 3:16) the outcome is joyful obedience that grows from the knowledge of God V. Summary A. God Desires that We Know Him 1. God is One 2. God is Triune B. God Desires to Bring Us into Union with Christ 1. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in God's Work 2. God is actively Triune in His Creation & Covenant with Us C. God Desires to Draw Us into Holy Communion with Him 1. To Share in the Son's Communion with the Father by the Spirit 2. To Become, like Jesus, true image-bearers of God 3. So our Joy May be full 4. So God will be glorified To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul s paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too easily satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart. A. W. Tozer, Phil. 3:7-10

7 Selected Bibliography Burroughs, Jeremiah. Gospel Worship. Orlando: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, Calvin, John. Commentary on the Gospel According to John, Vol. 2. Trans. Rev. William Pringle. Calvin s Commentaries 22 Vol Set. Grand Rapids, MI Baker, Card, Michael. John: The Gospel of Wisdom. The Biblical Imagination Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Chappell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Dawn, Marva J. Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Due, Noel. Created for Worship: From Genesis to Revelation to You. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, Edgar, Brian. The Message of the Trinity. The Bible Speaks Today. Ed. Derek Tidball. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Ferguson, Sinclair B. A Heart for God. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, The Holy Spirit. Contours of Christian Theology. Series Ed. Gerald Bray. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, The Westminster Directory of Public Worship: Discussed by Mark Dever and Sinclair Ferguson. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Heritage Books, Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Hendriksen, William. Exposition of the Gospel According to John. Two Complete Volumes in One. New Testament Commentary. Twentieth Printing. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Hill, Andrew E. Enter His Courts with Praise!: Old Testament Worship for the New Testament Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, Hustad, Donald P. True Worship: Reclaiming the Wonder & Majesty. Carol Stream, IL: Hope Publishing Company, 1998.

8 Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, Kidd, Reggie M. With One Voice: Discovering Christ s Song in Our Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, Leafblad, Bruce H. Music, Worship, and the Ministry of the Church. Portland, OR: Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, The Priority of Worship: Key Biblical Texts Examined. Lecture delivered to Music and Worship class at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, September 21, Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. John s Gospel. Minneapolis: Augsburg, Kuyper, Abraham. Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art. Trans. Nelson D. Kloosterman. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian s Library Press, Letham, Robert. The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, Liesch, Barry. People in the Presence of God: Models and Directions for Worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Longman III, Tremper. Immanuel in Our Place: Seeing Christ in Israel's Worship. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, MacArthur, John. Worship: The Ultimate Priority. Chicago: Moody Publishers, Man, Ron. Proclamation and Praise: Hebrews 2:12 and the Christology of Worship. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, Martin, Ralph P. Worship in the Early Church. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, McGrath, Alister. Glimpsing the Face of God: The Search for Meaning in the Universe. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind. Downer s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Owen, John. Communion with the Triune God. Ed. Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007.

9 Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Downer s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press: Peterson, David. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Piper, John. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Tenth anniversary expanded ed. Sisters Oregon: Multnomah Books, Ross, Allen P. Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, Torrance, James B. Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Trade paper ed. Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, Wainwright, Geoffrey. Doxology: The Praise of God in Worship, Doctrine, and Life. New York: Oxford University Press, Warden, Michael D., ed. Experience God in Worship. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, Webber, Robert E. Worship and Spirituality. Reformed Liturgy and Music 20:2 (Spring 1986): Worship Is A Verb. Waco, TX: Word, Worship Old and New, rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Wells, David F. God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-love of God Reorients Our World. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, What Is the Trinity? Basics of the Faith Series. Series Ed. Sean Michael Lucas. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, Westermeyer, Paul. The Heart of the Matter: Church Music as Praise, Prayer, Proclamation, Story, and Gift. Chicago: GIA Publications, Te Deum: The Church and Music. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Wilkinson, David. The Message of Creation: Encountering the Lord of the Universe. The Bible Speaks Today. Ed. Derek Tidball. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Willimon, William H. The Bible: A Sustaining Presence in Worship. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press: 1981.

10 . Word, Water, Wine and Bread: How Worship Has Changed Over the Years. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, Witvliet, John D. Worship Seeking Understanding: Windows into Christian Practice. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Wohlters, Albert. Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview, 2nd ed. Postscript Michael W. Goheen. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2005.