Sermon -- Holy Trinity (May 31, 2026)

THE HOLY TRINITY IS AN ETERNAL MYSTERY.

MATTHEW 28:16-20

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Bible contains a number of hard teachings.  When people encounter them, they tend to want to make the hard teachings easier.  They rework the Biblical account to make it appealing to human reason.  So, for example, our Old Testament reading detailed the creation of the universe.  God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them in six 24-hour days.  You will not find that in any science text book.  So, how do you uphold the Bible and still say that you trust the science?

     The solution for many Christians is to interpret the first chapters of the Bible as a parable.  But here is the problem: Genesis is a historical account, and it is to be read as a historical account.  When Jesus told parables, he made it clear that it was a parable.  Many of Jesus’ parables begin, “The kingdom of God is like” and so forth.  It is clear that Jesus is making a comparison, and that is how we understand it.  We find no such literary device regarding the creation. 

     It is only when people do not believe God’s word that they argue it is to be understood as a parable.  They trust the science, but they do not trust the word of the Lord.  They read that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, but they follow up by insisting, “Well, that’s not what it means.”  That is unbelief.

     This evolutionary mindset continues with doctrine as well.  Many theologians argue that Christian doctrine developed over time.  They will say that the resurrection of the body was a later addition to the faith.  They will also claim that the doctrine of the Trinity was a later innovation.  For example, some contest, “Did Noah or Abraham think the Lord is a Triune God?  Look at the Bible and you will see they never said ‘Father, Son, and Holy Spirit’!”  That sounds persuasive.  But just because they did not use the phrase, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” does not mean they did not confess the Lord rightly. 

     Jesus gave us the most vivid revelation of God.  He regularly referred to God as his Father.  He also made it clear that he is the Son.  Jesus declared, “All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23).  If they are to share equal honor, then they are equally God—Father and Son.  Jesus also told his disciples, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).  If the Holy Spirit is the source of truth, then he, too, is God.  That is why Jesus told us to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  It is not in the names, as if there are three gods.  It is in the name, because God is one, just as Scripture says: “Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God.  The LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4)!  And yet this one God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     This is a hard teaching.  In fact, it is an eternal mystery.  It did not develop over time.  God is unchanging.  Even if the revelation of God became clearer over time, God did not change who he is.  The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  It is not a secret, however.  It cannot be a secret because you know what it is.  You know that God is one, just as we confess in the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God.”  And God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  That is no secret.  God tells us that plainly about himself.  We, however, cannot understand it.  That is what makes it a mystery.  Every effort to logically explain this mystery ends up destroying the teaching—either resulting in three gods or melding the three persons into one.  Rather than try to make a hard teaching easier by changing it, we marvel at it. 

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  But the world did not have to wait for the coming of Jesus to reveal it.  Since the Lord is eternal and unchanging, we find the same God on page 1 of our Bibles as we do in Jesus’ command to baptize.  This is what we hear at the foundation of the world: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was undeveloped and empty.  Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).  First, there is the mention of God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  Then there is the Holy Spirit, hovering over the waters.  He is the Lord and giver of life, since the Holy Spirit plus water equals a new creation, just as he did in your baptism.  So, where is God the Son?  The Apostle John calls him the Word.  “In the beginning was the Word.  …Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made” (John 1:1,3).  So, when God the Father spoke, the Son was at work.  The Holy Trinity was there—as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  Something else which is a mystery is how people who are without sin and in harmony with God’s will can rebel and choose what is evil.  That happened with Adam and Eve.  Satan had convinced them that taking what God had forbidden would produce happiness and freedom for them.  He sold it this way: “God knows that the day you eat from (the forbidden tree), your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). 

     To this day, this desire to be like God is the root of all sin.  We want our own way.  When God presents us with a hard teaching, we conclude that God is the one with the problem or that he did not really mean it.  We reject God’s word when it corrects or condemns us.  We pray, telling God to bend his will to our will.  When God tells us “No,” we look for someone who will tell us, “Yes!  Go and do it!  You’ll be happy you did!” 

     Not only is God’s word rejected, God himself gets re-created.  People have always crafted gods who are just like they are.  Canaanite gods promoted sexual promiscuity.  Guess why they were popular.  Going to the altars of Roman gods promised prosperity.  Guess why they were popular.  And anyone who is spiritual crafts a god who is just like he is.  Who wouldn’t love a god who agrees with you on everything?

     But a god who has to be created is a powerless god.  A god who you can disagree with and who will not uphold his own commands is a useless god.  That is why Adam and Eve did not take their stand against the Lord and say, “Look now, we are gods, too!  Respect us!”  Instead they hid in fear from the Lord, knowing that they deserved the death God had threatened.  If you do not recognize your own sin, you might look brave as you boast about your importance.  But in the end, death comes to all.  All will be judged by God because he is God and we are not.  No sinner will stand before him.  Repent.

     The Triune God is unchanging.  Mankind had changed because of sin, but God is still merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.  So, the Triune God promised to save sinners—from the very first sinners.  He promised to destroy the devil’s work.  That means he promised to take away the curse of sin.  The Lord had warned what sin meant: “You shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).  But he promised to reverse death.  God’s work of salvation means, “You shall surely be delivered from death and live!”  So, you see, even the resurrection of the dead is not a doctrine that developed over time.  Our sin infected bodies will die, but the Lord himself assumed a body in order to rescue us completely from the effects of sin. 

     The eternal God entered our time as a mortal man.  This, too, is a great mystery that God became a man and yet remain unchanged.  We will confess that later in the Athanasian Creed, although we still will not be able to wrap our heads around it.  It remains an eternal mystery.  Just because it is a hard teaching does not make it untrue.  God became a flesh-and-blood man so that he could live in our place, perfectly obedient to God’s word.  He did not seize the world by force or consider equality with God as a thing to be grasped.  Rather, the Son of God lived in humility, perfectly dependent upon the goodness of his Father. 

     More than that, the Son of God willingly took from his Father the cup of wrath that was meant for the people of the world.  After all, we had earned it.  But out of love for mankind, the Father sent his Son to consume all divine wrath for us.  The Son willingly took the cup—first, out of love for his Father and then, out of love for mankind.  God the Son was slain on behalf of people who longed to be gods themselves.  Then he took up his life again to secure our own resurrection from the dead—a resurrection to life and light and glory and peace.  And to grant us the right to become children of God, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convert us from rebels to righteousness. 

     This is why Jesus tells us to baptize people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  The Holy Trinity made you his very own through baptism.  He cleansed you of all sin and set you apart for a godly life both now and in eternity.  While we glorify God the Son for our saving work, the Holy Trinity fully invested himself in saving and restoring what was ruined by sin.  God the Father sent his only begotten Son to save us.  God the Son became a man to unite himself to us.  He consumed all of God’s wrath so that we are not consumed by it.  He rose from the dead to eliminate death.  He exalts our humanity so that we will be restored to the perfection God had intended.  He will restore the Paradise he had created.  God the Holy Spirit works in us to believe even the hard teachings, to teach us “to keep all the instructions [the Lord has given]” (Matthew 28:19), and “to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

     The Holy Trinity is an eternal mystery.  It is a hard teaching; but just as I cannot tell you what you are like, so also God must tell us what he is like.  He reveals himself as one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You and I will never be able to unravel this mystery.  In fact, I wonder, will the Holy Trinity remain a mystery even when we see him in the glories of heaven?  I don’t know.  But rather than try to unravel the mystery, we will simply marvel at it. 

     Our greatest comfort comes not from what we cannot understand, but from what we do: The Holy Trinity is on our side and serves for our good.  He is the God who saves, who loves his children, and who longs for us to dwell with him forever. 

     “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Holy Trinity and Bad Analogies from Lutheran Satire

We will confess the Athanasian Creed this Sunday since it is Holy Trinity Sunday.  

Here you can enjoy St. Patrick "explain" the Trinity to our favorite Irish Lutherans, Conall and Donall.  From Lutheran Satire.  Enjoy.

Sermon -- Funeral for Lucy Chrsitiensen (May 29, 2026)

Christian Funeral for Lucy Christiensen

+ November 28, 1929 – April 19, 2026 +

THE LORD IS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW.

REVELATION 21:1-5

In the name + of Jesus.

     Lucy Christiensen lived to be 96 years old.  That’s a long time.  She had experienced a lot over her nine decades of life.  Some of it was good.  No doubt, she counted the birth of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren among the best things she got to experience.  Other parts of it were not so good.  Although she was blessed with a marriage of 55 years, it came to a sad end when she had to bid farewell to her beloved Don.  She also saw the heart-breaking loss of a son-in-law, Floyd. 

     At one point in her life, Lucy enjoyed country dancing and throwing baseballs to her little friend, Bobby.  As time went by, she was reduced to a wheelchair.  It is something you might have expected when she hit her 90’s.  It may have been expected, but it is hard to watch people get old.  For that matter, it is hard to get old.  Lucy’s time on earth ended on April 19, 2026.  It also was somewhat expected, but it, too, is hard to see.

     The Bible reminds us of the reason why death comes to us all.  It says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Whenever Lucy came to the chapel services at Pomeroy Living, we had a confession of sins: We are by nature sinners, and we prove it by our thoughts, words, and actions.  Lucy freely confessed that.  Sin is the reason death reigns in this world.  No one escapes death because no one is sinless.

     Our confession is an honest assessment of who we are.  Lucy was beloved by many, and you all have fond memories of her.  I am not here to tell you to forget them.  You love your loved one for a reason.  In the same way, you have a fondness for one another.  But I am willing to bet you’ve had your share of spats and fights over the years, too.  This happens with sinners.  Lucy was one of 13 siblings.  There is no way they lived perfect lives amongst each other.  Siblings prove their selfishness with fighting and rivalry.  So, rather than try to convince God that we are better than we are, we confess the truth: We are sinners.  The judgment against us is deserved.  The wages of sin is death.

     Lucy freely confessed it because her hope was not in herself.  Her hope was in her Savior, Jesus.  Jesus came into the world to restore everything that sin has corrupted.  Jesus has come to make all things new.  To do that, he had to take away the sin that has corrupted everything.

     Jesus made himself accountable for the sins of all people.  If Jesus bore our sin, he had to die; for the wages of sin is death.  Jesus was put to death on the cross.  Though he was innocent and holy, Jesus died the death of a sinner.  He received the punishment that sinners deserve—the wrath of God.  That is where your sins were dealt with.  Jesus suffered God’s damning judgment so that you would receive God’s blessed favor.  Jesus suffered divine punishment so that you would receive a divine pardon for all your sins.  That is where Lucy found her comfort, and it is the only place you will find yours, too.

     Jesus has taken away our sins, but we still see the reality of death.  That is because these bodies of ours are still stained by sin.  They get old.  They experience pain and frailty.  Eventually, they give out.  These bodies of ours are not eligible to enter the heavenly kingdom because nothing sinful can enter in.  So, Jesus is not done with Lucy yet.  The Lord will make all things new. 

     This body has been reduced to dust and ashes, but it will be raised up new.  St. Paul wrote, “The Lord Jesus Christ ... will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).  The Savior who died to save us also rose from the dead.  Jesus lives forever, and death has no mastery over him.  In fact, Jesus has authority over death and the grave.  On the Last Day, Jesus will raise up all the dead and will judge all people.  Lucy, of course, knew what her judgment was already.  She is covered in Jesus’ innocence; for she was cleansed of all sin through her baptism.  In baptism, Lucy received a new status—child of God.  So, when Jesus raises up her body, it will be restored and renewed.  In fact, it will be made perfect.  And like Jesus’ risen body, she will never die again.  That’s because Jesus is making all things new.

     Lucy had told me many times that her favorite hymn is “In the Garden.”  She liked the idea of Jesus walking with her and talking with her.  The hymn retells the story of Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus immediately after his resurrection.  Jesus appeared to her in the garden where the empty tomb was.  In that garden, Jesus consoled Mary who thought that death had killed the Lord.  But Jesus lives, and he lives to comfort us in our sorrows.  Our Lord, however, does not tell us to find him in a garden.  He tells us to find him in his word and sacraments.  That is where Jesus delivers the benefits of his death and resurrection.  That is where Jesus comes to comfort, encourage, and sustain us in the Christian faith.  It is why Lucy came to our chapel services every week.  Lucy knew she needed it.  You need it, too, if you desire to enter the heavenly kingdom.

     Now, Lucy actually does walk and talk with Jesus.  And it is not a momentary visit.  It is an eternal conversation.  St. John tells us about the glories that await God’s people: “Look! God’s dwelling is with people.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).  The former things are sin and sickness, pain and sorrow, guilt and grief, and every problem that we endure in this world.  But not in heaven.  All sin will be taken away.  All things will be made new.  The Lord will bring his redeemed to the perfect Paradise he has prepared for us.

     While Lucy’s body awaits the resurrection, her soul dwells with the Lord in peace and joy.  The joys of heaven will never get old.  The glories of heaven will never fade.  The peace of heaven will never be interrupted.  It is the kind of life that everyone longs for.  It is the life that Jesus Christ has won for us.  Lucy longed for it.  And now she has it.

     The one who was seated on the throne said to me, “‘Look, I am making everything new!’  He also said, ‘Write, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5).  These words are trustworthy and true.  They are your hope in times of grief.  They are your confidence in the face of death.  They guarantee an eternity of peace and joy in the presence of a Savior who loved you enough to live for you, die for you, and conquer death for you.  Jesus loved Lucy-Goosey, too.  And now he tells her face-to-face. 

     Death will have an end.  Life will not.  The former things will pass away.  The goodness of God will remain.  Jesus will make all things new.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (May 28, 2026)

Greetings!

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class will resume on Sunday, September 13.  

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

OPEN FORUM / VOTERS’ MEETING
          We will have our summer Open Forum after church on Sunday, June 21. The Voters’ meeting will follow to ratify any actions that need to be made.

FAREWELL / OPEN HOUSE FOR PASTOR AND LAURA
Good Shepherd will be hosting a farewell open house on Sunday, June 7 from 12pm until 3pm. We are inviting area congregations as well. We will be getting a food truck but also need members to help with dessert. If every family could bring a minimum of one dessert on that day that would be great. We will have tables set up for desserts in the WEF. We also need help on Saturday (June 6) and Sunday after church to set up. Ask Mary Mitchell or Dan Rauchholz how you can help. Please RSVP to Carol by May 31 at goodshepherdnovimi@outlook.com so we can have an idea of how many people will be attending.

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from May 24, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, May 24, 2024.  Note: The YouTube title says 2024, but this was, indeed, in 2026.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (May)

>          On Thursday, June 4, Good Shepherd will host a table at Novi’s Community Day.  Community Day will be held at the Novi Civic Center.  Feel free to stop by between 4:00-8:00 PM and say “Hi” to us. 

>          Payment has been made on a Smart TV to replace our projector and screen in the fellowship hall.  We are still waiting for its delivery.  It will be installed shortly after that. 

>          We have had issues recording the service and uploading them on our YouTube channel.  We will be looking at replacing some equipment and running new wiring to improve our recordings.  When the new equipment is in place, we will begin to live-stream our services again.

>          We are hoping to have the chairs in the sanctuary reupholstered.  One estimate has been received at a cost of $450 per chair.  We are attaining a few other estimates before we begin this project.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
          The pastor will be a little looser in observing formal office hours in the summer (usually, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). During the summer months, it is more enjoyable to read outside than in the office, weather permitting. Call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

SUMMER SCHEDULE (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

YouTube -- Pentecost (May 24, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, May 24, 2026.  Note: The YouTube title says 2024, but this was, indeed, in 2026.

Worship Notes: The Athanasian Creed

            The Athanasian Creed is one of the three catholic creeds.  The word catholic means universal, as in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  The word creed comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.”  Luther said of this creed, “I doubt whether the New Testament church has a more important document since the Apostolic age.”

            Although named for Athanasius, the bishop of Alexandria (ca. 296-373), it is almost certain that he did not write it.  Neither Athanasius nor his contemporaries ever refer to it.  But even if Athanasius did not write the creed, he certainly would have ascribed to it.  Athanasius was one of the bishops at the ecumenical Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) which opposed the heresy of Arius (ca. 250-336).  Arius denied the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching that he is of a similar substance to God the Father, but not of the same substance.  In essence, Arius claimed that Jesus Christ is not the eternal God.  This belief has resurfaced in modern-day cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.  The Council of Nicaea adopted the Nicene Creed to affirm that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from True God” and “of one being with the Father.”

            The Athanasian Creed first appeared in Gaul (France) late in the 5^th century.  Early in that century, Europe was invaded from the east by barbarian tribes, notably the Vandals and Goths.  This event marked the beginning of the Dark Ages.  During this time, the people and the clergy lapsed into illiteracy and ignorance of the Scriptures.  In addition, some of the invaders were Arian in their beliefs.  Out of this confusion came the need for a clear statement of faith.  The result was the Athanasian Creed.

            The Athanasian Creed quickly assumed an important role in the orthodox church.  (Much of the visible church was overrun with Arianism.)  Emperor Charlemagne (ca. 742-814), in order to preserve the true Christian faith, decreed that all churchmen had to learn this creed and to be able to teach it to the laity.

            The second portion of the Athanasian Creed reaffirms the Nicene Creed regarding the person of Jesus Christ.  However, it begins with a most excellent presentation on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  It says no more and no less than Scriptures say, letting the paradox of God’s nature stand (i.e., God is one; God is three).

            Confessors of the creed should not be put off by the second to last article which says: “Those who have done good will enter eternal life, but those who have done evil will go into eternal fire” (cp also John 5:28,29).  The article does not teach salvation attained by human works, but simply reflects that our good works (or lack thereof) are evidence of God-given faith (or unbelief).  When we remember that our good works are actually God’s work through us, then we will understand this article correctly (cf Ephesians 2:8-10).  In addition, we remember that are judged based on Jesus’ merits, not our own.  We have been given the credit for Christ’s righteousness.  Therefore, we are heirs of eternal life.

            This creed ought to bring us great comfort, as it speaks clearly about our God and his plan for our salvation.  Its clearness and boldness are refreshing in this age of doctrinal confusion.  This is no wishy-washy confession.  It states what the Scriptures teach – there is no God but the Lord revealed in the Scriptures, and there is no salvation outside of the name of Jesus Christ.  All who deny this deny the truth; and all who deny the truth forfeit salvation.

            Finally, a study of this creed and the history which surrounds it shows how important it is for us to be familiar with the history of the Christian Church.  When we understand how Christians who have gone before us identified error and combated it, then we will better be able to do the same.

Sermon -- Pentecost (May 24, 2026)

THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES GOD KNOWN.

ACTS 2:1-21

In the name + of Jesus.

     How do you know where to find God?  People have crafted many ideas about where and how to find God.  Some tell you to look within yourself to hear the voice of God, either through meditation or trusting your feelings.  This is appealing because we end up crafting God in our own image.  Others tell you that you can see the face of God in a newborn baby, in a homeless person, or in any stranger.  These are objects of our compassion, but they are not God.  You may be told you can find God in the beauty of creation.  If you can marvel at the grandeur of a mountain range, at the serenity of a brook, or at the vastness of space, they say, you can catch a glimpse of God.  While all created things bear witness to God’s existence, they are not God.

     God, however, has made himself known; and he tells us where to find him.  In the Old Testament, God was quite specific about this.  He spoke to Moses and told him, “(The Israelites) are to make a sanctuary for me, so that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).  He promised that that is where the people would find him.  Eventually, King Solomon constructed a permanent dwelling for the Lord.  Once again, God gave a promise about Solomon’s Temple: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house for sacrifice.  …Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer from this place.  I have chosen and consecrated this house for my Name to be there forever.  My eyes and my heart will be there every day” (2 Chronicles 7:12,15,16).  The Lord had made it clear where he would be found.  He fixed one place where he put his name, where he would meet his people, and where he would bestow his favor upon them.

     Even though the Lord was very clear about where he would be found and how he was to be worshiped, people still proved themselves sinners and turned to their own inventive ways.  They did not come before God as he had directed.  They wanted God to be the way they thought and felt.  God had first created man in his own image.  But men became sinners and chose to craft God in their own image.  This invented god is not God.  There is no life or mercy or hope in any fabricated God.  To find those, you need to know who the true God is and cling to him.  To find God, God must reveal himself to us.  The Holy Spirit makes God known to us. 

     God is made known most vividly in Jesus of Nazareth.  He is God in the flesh.  In him, we see how God speaks and acts.  In Jesus, we see how God interacts with other people—in mercy on those in need, in patience with sinners and those slow to understand, and in diligently upholding God’s commands—both in his life and in what is expected of us.  We see it especially in his redeeming love in which he gave himself as the ransom payment for our sins.  Jesus rescued us from the consequences of approaching God according to our desires, of crafting a god who is just like us, and of living to please ourselves rather than God.  Jesus delivered us from the curse we deserve.  He bore our curse and revealed God’s blessing.  He has won our place in the kingdom of God.

     After completing his work of paying for the sins of the world and conquering death by his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven.  So, it’s not like we can travel to one place to find Jesus and to see the face of God.  We cannot meet Jesus to receive his blessing and his benefits.  So, how does he deliver those to us?    

     In the second part of the Apostles’ Creed, we confess who Jesus is and what he has done to save us.  The Apostles’ Creed does not get to the blessings that Jesus won until we get to the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the blessings Jesus won.  So, our confession about the Holy Spirit includes these things: “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”  Jesus won those benefits, but they are delivered you to by the Holy Spirit. 

     When the day of Pentecost came, the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised was poured out upon his apostles.  The signs of his coming were obvious—the sound of a violent wind which filled a house, the flames of fire resting upon their heads, and the ability to speak in many unlearned, foreign languages.  The crowds who heard the violent wind also acknowledged the languages.  They also acknowledged the content of the apostles’ preaching: “We hear them declaring in our own languages the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11).   This is where the Holy Spirit was at work.  This is where life in God’s kingdom is given.  This is where the Holy Spirit makes God known. 

     The day of Pentecost produced a seismic shift in where God said he would be found.  In the Old Testament, God confined himself to one location where he put his name.  There, the sacrifices were made.  There, God listened to his people’s cry for mercy. The day of Pentecost changed where God would be found from one place to many places.  If God wanted to have his disciples lock into one place on earth, he would not have blessed the apostles to speak in languages which were spoken around the world.  Rather, he would have converted all the people to speak Hebrew so that they would find him in one location—his temple. 

     But now, the Holy Spirit makes God known wherever his word is preached.  Through that word, the Holy Spirit makes God known to all people.  And the Holy Spirit does more than impart knowledge.  Just knowing Bible facts does not save anyone.  Rather, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21)—whether they call upon the Lord in Hebrew, Russian, Hindi, German, or English.  God has chosen to bless all languages to carry the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  As St. Paul declared, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).  The message of Christ was given by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets.  They wrote it so we can hear and read it.  The Lord does not tell us that we have to learn Hebrew or Greek if we want to know what God has to say.  Rather, God’s word has been translated into almost every language on earth so that everyone can call upon the Lord in their own native language and be saved.  Through the word, whether in Greek, Farsi, Finnish, Urdu, or even in Braille, the Holy Spirit makes God known to all people. 

     While the Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself, you cannot get far into the Bible before you find him at work.  You have to make it to verse 2.  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was undeveloped and empty.  Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).  The Holy Spirit was connected with the waters.  The Holy Spirit plus water results in a new creation.  And isn’t that what happened to you?  When you were baptized, the Holy Spirit connected to the water made you a new creation. 

     Not only did he change your status from sinner to saint, but the Holy Spirit also took up residence within you.  As a result, you are now the temple of God.  St. Paul wrote: “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.  For God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are” 1 (Corinthians 3:16-17).  So, rather than command you to go to one place where God has placed his name, such as the temple in Jerusalem, now God has put his name upon you.  God dwells in you and is with you at all times and in all places.  That means that God’s favor always rests upon you.  Your sins are continually forgiven.  Your place in God’s kingdom is certain and constant.  There is nothing for you to fear—not war or pestilence, not loss of health or wealth, not unfaithful friends or bitter enemies, not death or the devil.  You are the Lord’s and the Lord is yours.  The Holy Spirit has made all of this known to you.

     As we had considered earlier, it is not merely the knowledge of God and the Bible that saves you.  It is by faith that you are saved.  It is through faith that you receive the forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation.  And to sustain this faith, you and I gather together where the word is preached and the sacraments are administered.  This is where God is found to strengthen and sustain us in this saving faith.  In order for anything to remain alive, it needs to be nourished.  If you stop providing nourishment, whatever is living will starve and die.  Consider a bouquet of flowers.  When they are delivered to you, they look and smell beautiful.  You can put them in a vase, and that will keep them looking and smelling beautiful for a while.  But since they have been cut off from their root, it will not be long before they wither.  They dry out.  Their petals fall off.  Eventually, they are tossed in the trash.  Faith is the same. 

     St. Peter assured the Pentecost crowd, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).  Those who do not hear the word of the Lord and who are not fed by the body and blood of the Lord will eventually stop calling upon the name of the Lord.  It does not mean they forget who Jesus is.  Knowledge won’t die, but trust in the Lord and in his promises fades and dies when it is not being nourished.  You neglect God’s word and sacrament at the peril of your faith and your salvation.  St. Paul declared, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).  That is a present tense.  Faith comes.  It continues to come and it grows and it is strengthened, because the Holy Spirit comes through the words he gave to the apostles and prophets.  That’s how he makes God known to you.  This is where God is found for your benefit.

     The Holy Spirit has enlightened you to see Jesus as your Savior.  The Holy Spirit has called you to know God as a merciful and faithful Father.  The Holy Spirit has gathered you and people from around the world with their various languages into the kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit has set you apart from sin and death and sanctifies you for lives of godliness and holiness.  For, the Holy Spirit does not only make God known to you, he works in you the desire to live according to the word of the Lord.  In this way, the Holy Spirit also makes you known as God’s people.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit, God is known to you.  You are known to God.  God is yours.  You are God’s.  And you will be forever.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.