’re Eternally Blessed When Three Equals One!

1st Sunday after Pentecost, 5/27/18
Romans 8:14-17


You’re Eternally Blessed When Three Equals One!
I. Influenced by God the Holy Spirit
II. Adopted by God the Father
III. Made heirs with God the Son


What’s the first thing you do when the McDonald’s associate behind the counter hands you the bag that contains your order? You take the bag and open it up, don’t you? You’ve learned, like I have, that occasionally, in spite of their best efforts, the employees don’t get your order filled correctly. You ordered a large fries, but they aren’t in the bag. You wanted a McDouble, not a Big Mac.

It can even happen at restaurants in which the server brings you your order on a dinner plate. You ordered mashed potatoes, not a baked potato. You wanted your steak medium-rare, not medium-well.

Likewise, you check bank statements and match your deposit slips with what your bank statement is indicating. Do they match exactly? Or, have you been shorted?

Today marks the Sunday in which we celebrate the Holy Trinity. Even though we can never understand it, the Bible’s truth is that we worship the Triune God who is three distinct persons but only one God. That’s who our God is. That’s the God whom we believe and adore. That’s the God of our salvation. He is three persons but only one God.

But notice, we’re not declaring that we expect God to be three but he is only one. If that were the case, we’d ask for God to check our order and his numbers again, because, apparently, we’ve been shorted. In every other aspect of our lives, if we’re expecting three but only get one, we’re disappointed at best and upset at worst.

But not in this case. Not when we’re speaking about the Holy Trinity because when we’re discussing the Holy Trinity, three equals one, in a manner of speaking. We believe in three persons and they are one God. And instead of being shorted by that divine truth, we’re actually blessed, eternally blessed.

That’s the truth the Apostle Paul shares with us this morning. He declares how the Triune God blesses us here in Romans 8. You are eternally blessed when three equals one. As people who profess our faith in the Triune God, let’s remind ourselves how blessed we are as we ponder these words this morning.

Part I.

The public service announcements for this Memorial Day Weekend began several days before the weekend started. Millions of Americans will travel this weekend, most of them using the highways of our country. State patrols will make their presence known, trying their best to keep travelers safe. And one of the things they’re watching for is impaired driving. Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous and even deadly. This year’s warnings state, “If you’re in doubt, there is no doubt. Don’t drive.” Don’t drive under the influence.

But make sure that’s the way you live your life. No, I’m not encouraging alcohol or drug abuse. But I am encouraging you to live your life under another influence—that of God the Holy Spirit. Listen to these words again: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Being “led by the Spirit” involves an amazing transformation in your life. First, the Holy Spirit brought you from death to life. Spiritually speaking, the Bible tells us we come into this world spiritually dead, unable to do anything on our own to please God or have a relationship with him. But the Holy Spirit brought you to life—spiritual life—when he brought you to faith in Jesus as your Savior. You’ve been under his influence ever since.

And when he gave you faith in Jesus he brought you great blessings. No, he didn’t snap his fingers and make you instantly rich and famous. He did something much better. He brought you the forgiveness of sins. How many sins have you committed in your life? Are you aware that just one of them is punishable by death in hell? But you have forgiveness for all your sins. By faith in Jesus you’re a child of God, not a minion of hell. And you have eternal life in heaven. Those are the great gifts that are yours since you are under the Spirit’s influence.

And now, the Holy Spirit wants to guide you as you live your life. Have you ever been confused about what you should do about something you’re facing in your life? Perhaps it’s how to seek a resolution to a problem that’s caused friction between you and a friend. Maybe you have two paths you could go with your life and you’re not sure which one to take. Situations like these can cause you days and nights of angst. What’s a Christian to do? Look to the Holy Spirit to guide you.

But what if he’s not speaking to you? Don’t look for him to whisper something in your ear. Instead, pick up your Bible and read it. Talk with a trusted Christian friend who will share pertinent truths from God’s word with you. And try this one: talk with your spiritual advisor, your pastor. You see, the Holy Spirit’s goal is to increase his influence in your life every day. Give him that opportunity by searching his word.

You’re eternally blessed when three equals one! You’re influenced by God the Holy Spirit.

Having difficulties in your life as a Christian? Does it seem at times like you’re missing something that other Christians have? Are there times when God seems a little distant? Do you ever wonder what good your Christianity is as you bounce from situation to situation in life? It sounds like you could use a little more of the Holy Spirit in your life. Thank God that’s exactly what he wants for you. Our natural sinful opinion is that we don’t need his help, but we couldn’t be more wrong. The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers and guides every aspect of your Christian life. He does that through his word. He comes to you through his Sacrament. Could you use a little more of his influence in your life? He promises it to you through word and sacrament. Take him up on it!

Part II.

About a week ago I heard a news report that stated that adoptions from Russia are decreasing. The report chronicled one family’s difficulties to have their adoption finalized. Sad, isn’t it? Adoption is such a beautiful thing.

Especially when the adoptive parent is none other than our heavenly Father. That’s exactly what our text declares to us. “You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Do you realize what a big deal that is? In a vast, global world in which we often wonder who we are and if we matter, your God tells you that you belong to him right now. There are times when you might feel as if you don’t matter to your employer, your children, or even to your spouse. But you do matter to your God because you belong to him right now. And he made you his possession not so that he could use you and abuse you, but only and always so that he could bless you.

In fact, you belong to him forever. Can you fathom that? Not likely. Everything in our lives comes with a beginning and an end. We live in a world filled with expiration dates. But there’s no expiration date in your relationship with your heavenly Father. He wants to be a blessed part of your life every day. He wants to bless you forever.

You’re eternally blessed when three equals one. You’ve been adopted by God the Father.

Life is filled with uncertainties: your health, your current position, your finances, your earthly relationships. You may even be insecure about where you stand with the people who share your last name. Nothing seems certain. But there is one relationship in your life that’s rock-solid. It’s your adoption into the family of God. Your heavenly Father’s love for you is eternal. He knew you by name before he created the world. And now he’s made you his own by faith in Jesus. When everything else in your life seems to be shifting constantly, hold on to the One who holds on to you forever—God the Father. He showed his love for you when he sacrificed his Son for you. Nothing will ever change his love for you. You’re eternally blessed when three equals one!

Part III.

Have you ever been notified that you have been named a beneficiary in a will of a person who recently died? If so, it can be a pleasant surprise. You had no idea, but now you’re entitled to a share in the person’s estate.

Your God leaves nothing to surprise you. He tells you right up front, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his suffering in order that we may also share in his glory.”

You are an heir of eternal life. Your name appears on the Triune God’s will. It’s been written not with ink, but with the blood of Jesus which he shed to redeem you, to make you his own. That means that everything Jesus won with his perfect life and his innocent sufferings and death, he won for you. Just as Jesus is now living in eternal glory, so will you. It’s not something you earn. It’s something he gives you because you are his heir. You belong to Jesus by faith in him. By faith in Jesus you are a member of God’s family and what Jesus now possesses he will share with you. In fact, that’s what he wants to do more than anything else.

When your God brought you to faith and brought you into his family, he didn’t do so in order to take something from you. He did so in order to give something to you, something eternal. Jesus wants to share his eternal riches with you. Without a doubt, you’re eternally blessed when three equals one. You are made an heir with God the Son.

God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. Three persons but only one God. When three equals one you’re not being shorted; you’re being blessed. Believe and adore the Triune God! Amen.