1292. The Beauty of God Revealed in the Tri-Unity of God

Welcome to The Daily Platform or program prepare sermons from travel services Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Every day students are blessed by the preaching and teaching of the Bible from the University Chapel platform today on The Daily Platform were continuing a series called our great God. Today's message will be preached by seminary professor Dr. Billy Goucher, the title of the sermon is the beauty of God revealed in the tri-unity of God was enjoying me with you this morning and opened up God's word and this grand theme of the greatness of our God… Mentioned I was testing Trinity Baptist Church like I was only about is only fitting that they asked me to speak on the tri-unity of God or the Trinity of God this morning, so my wife and I moved down in November of this year. Our Lord was very kind that we got to enjoy the beautiful Vermont fall and escape before all the snow fell.

That was a blessing. I thought this morning with things I like to do is just start out by sharing a little bit of the beauty of Vermont fall with you because you might not ever get to go to my and this is just some pictures from this fall in Vermont. Some of the foliage that we get spoiled to that's very quintessential Vermont bear self fact it was just a few years ago when the number of people out based number of cows in Vermont literally just a few years ago the business of the glory of the scenery and even the winter scenery that follows behind it just the winter itself can be a captivating member Of falls ago my daughter came to visit us in Vermont and we went and it was in the fall and it was just as snow started falling in the mountains and we went up and this actually picture then and it was like walking into a nice castle. It really was. Everything was just perfectly encased in ice.

I was a gorgeous scenery.

We wandered around for hours taking pictures from all kinds of angles. I just a stunning beauty and the majesty of what we're beholding you just didn't even notice the cold they may be thinking why what is showing us all these pictures for what is this all about, well part of it is I can show you a picture but I can tell you this.

You've only seen a little bit of its beauty. There's a radical difference between seeing it in a picture and being present a radical difference between actually being there being present in the seven years that we enjoy the falls of Vermont we would go every year you'd wait and you can evaluate the color season, but you would go and you would go out to your favorite spots take pictures go each year. I think I've thousands of pictures at this point and continue to get more pictures and I can you want to see them afterwards can see me. I got probably more than couple thousand pictures Vermont fall one way why do we do that, why does never grow old.

Why do we just love to go and stand in awe and I think that's the answer right there.

We were made for worship. We were made for worship.

We long for it and we see that which is just greater than us in a positive pause and look at something far beyond us. We just stand it all and we don't grow tired we go to see it again and again and again in a dream driving in that reality, we were made for some. It also appoints another issue I think an issue that we all face is that we been captured in many ways by the beauty of the gospel, who hasn't been captured by the beauty of the gospel in the gospel means were delivered from sin and from hell and from judgment now no condemnation. We take great glory and that, and rightly so the question is and here's the fundamental shift in difference is having been captured by the beauty of the gospel without being captured by the beauty of God whose gospel it is. It's easy to make the gospel about us. It's easy to focus on all the benefits we receive in the gospel and feeling really make the gospel back were kinda spring-loaded that way in our own fallenness that we want to make it about us, but the gospel is not fundamentally about you is about the glory of God not worth the cross of Calvary does not declare how valuable you are. It declares how glorious guidance if all we are is is is guilty of being in love with the gospel. We may actually miss the fact that were supposed to be love of the God of the gospel. So this morning my burden is that we would glory would be really good, but look into be captured by the beauty of God. There's little booklet was put out by Michael Reeves, who wrote a book called how the joy of the Trinity Trinity inspires mission of the droit and the joy of Trinity inspires mission. He observed that most believers we think about Trinity or the tri-unity of God. We think it's something that theologians renovate on try to come up with an analogy to help us understand it encounters all the notion he declares this missions is rooted in the tri-in the Trinity. It is in the very being in nature and the heart of God. Their golden studying doctrine is not knowledge is not information the Golden beholding the beauty of God is ultimately transformation. The rise would be open to behold old who our God is and that we would be drawn into the beauty of holiness to worship, so that we be drawn towards full devotion that our affections would be captured by God that we would make much about God. The reality is that our engagement and what God has given us to do in the work of mission is really should be normative for the Christian because it should be an overflow of what we love. We like to speak out about what we love fact, if you asked initially pictures my grandchildren. I don't have as many of those I have fall pictures consider newer okay, but I have lots of pictures, my grandchildren, why, why do I care.

I'm a grandfather now. Why do I delight in my five grandchildren and one on the way and we have pictures begin this just that because I love them.

They've captured my affections. I enjoy spending time with them and I am glad to tell you about that was true in your relationship with God witnessing would not be hard. We love to talk about what we love. We love to talk about our God what to those who know us best believe about our God based on how we speak. Spurgeon said this most excellent study for the expansion sold is the science of Christ and him crucified in the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity so it is my burden, as Paul would say here in second Corinthians and two tax initially in second Corinthians really just pointing out the tri-unity stands out in each of these tacks that we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed or transformed the same image from glory to glory, even by the spirit of the Lord. And so here's the work of God and really setting forth the beauty of God. The glory of God in the spirit open set up through the word of God as we actually behold the beauty of God. We are changed we are being transformed same in chapter 4 verse six for God, who commanded the light shine of the darkness shine in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. So here we see father, son and Spirit all come into the picture so fathers commanded like this knowledge of God shines forth from the father, the spirit of God illumines our hearts that we would know Christ and in Christ, we behold the glory of God and that beholding the glory of God. There is a capture of the hearts affection so that we would truly love God supremely without competition for our affections. So were looking to fundamental to tax that I hope just open a window into the beauty of the tri-unity of God the go back so started to have your Bibles and look their mission was on the stream and also the Revelation chapter 5 see my want to slip in your Bibles. There I can cite the longer tax and put it up on the screen for you. But as we look at this time to try any of God. What does it reveal about the beauty of God. The glory of God and one of the things it reveals is the nature of God. God's love. We know that it is revealed in the tri-unity of God and over think about that is revealed in the tri-unity of God, and it really then does enable us to love even as reliable see them just a moment just stop and think before all eternity. God's existence father-son spirit one has since never mix never combined in any way existing in perfect harmony and perfect oneness.

In fact, the declaration of God is one is more than just St. Louis is not a plurality of God's is our God is one and that there is one essence. Three persons are to be dwelled in this perfect fellowship of oneness forever in the beauty of God dwelling in this perfect oneness is that he then comes out of that creation.

What did God do before there is a creation God is for ever existed is in this is a triune God. There's never been a time when there was not a God before time, space, matter for everything we know that finite was created, God existed finalized existed as father-son in spirit is why that's important what is fundamentally important for love if God was one is in one and only one not three persons, but one there would be no one else to love that Jesus tells us in John 17. Father and I will I will that they also who knows given me, be with me where I am, that they may became my glory that thou has given me without love is me before the foundation of the world is an amazing state in its amazing reality that declares here. God has always been a father. He's always been a father who is delighted in his son. God in his grace gave my wife and I three sons and four children, three sons and one daughter, and night.

Now we have three granddaughters, two grandsons and one grandson on the way.

I'm simply saying is apparent.

One of those amazing things of all this being that experience of that gift of life that God gives in the love you have for your child that you know you would lay your life down in a moment for your child and that I am going to hold on to reflect and understand the God is a father. In fact, my understanding of fatherhood. While I understand that not all fathers actually really are worthy of emulation or perhaps you had a father that was actually abusive. Just don't ever let your father paint the picture of God as a father. The reality is God's fatherhood teaches us what we ought to be. As fathers we ought to be. As parents, God is always existed as a father loving his son in this perfect relationship of love and harmony so mentioned before, is there was not a triune God. God would be alone. He would somehow we need in order to love others and just being narcissistic, you have to create something to love. In fact, most pagan god stories you could go all the way back to the Babylonian account with her dog Marmaduke had to create order to have servants. You can move forward in the modern today and to come to Islam and Mohammed in his declaration of Allah and all I was alone in solo God.

This is one God, he is not characterized by love. In fact, he had to create Something he could love and then he can manipulate his creation. So we has a unique people he loves, and others. He destroys God of Islam is not a God of love can't be only if there is a triune God got existence father-son in spirit. We have a God who actually has that characteristic is a God of love that then reveals love to us, Dr. Benson, preaching the first of the series and from Jeremiah 10 reminded us there is none like the award, your grade in my name is great and might this. One essence three persons eternally living are giving the father turning giving love and taking pleasure in the sun and the spirit and it is out of the overflow of God's satisfaction ability is that he creates he did not create us because he needs us. He created us because he loves and out of the overflow of love. God creates creation in his image now has the capacity of worship and has a capacity of oneness. They can actually brought from all kinds of meaning, backgrounds, and then been joined together even with another human being and experience a sense of oneness with somebody which is just as an amazing gift. It is a foretaste of the reality that one day as a child of God, you're going to experience oneness with God. The joy that God is eternally in that oneness existing as a trial is God three persons, one essence God has always enjoyed the fellowship with the father son and Spirit in perfect harmony and perfect unity and he out of the overflow of that created the creates in order to share himself of his creation, which alone has the capacity for worship so he has created us in this way. In fact, we come to a taxing job first John the tells us, beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and know with God he did know with not God or he that loveth know if not God, for God is love in the grand declaration of God. Beloved, just notice it. Also it says if you notice God not know about you know him as your God. You will love the very impact of his life and yours creates love flowing out of your heart infected.

Jesus said it in John 17. The text we were in John 17.

He said verse eight, 26, he said, I have declared to them by name, and will declare it the love wherein thou has loved me may be in them, but the love that God has for his own son is now in the people of God and as we experience his love. We cannot help but reflect it. God had us in Florida for 11 years after their important things in Florida. Obviously the larger populace of seniors guess they could come to bingo tonight, but that larger populace seniors your wits and your saints of the Lord and walk with the Lord for many years. One of the joys of pastoring and was spending time with them because they're the love they had for Christ.

Their love been reflected in love for others and just being with them impacted your own outlook on life on the Lord on other people. We there were crazy old seniors. Don't get me wrong, but there were those of just reflecting radiated what God had done in their life and you love to be around them because it impacted even your Outlook or how you responded to others how much more should be that we get the privilege of coming the chapel being a Christian college having a Christian worldview being in Bible class being surrounded by the word of God that we actually select the character of God and how we treat one another. If you actually entered the presence of God and worship you will not remain the same. It is impossible we come in the presence of God, our eyes open by the spirit of God. Behold the character the glory of God is transformational. You do not come here to get information you came here for life to be changed by the reality of the presence of God. The June then as a reflector of the glory of God would take that love to world desperately needs to see what love really is not how they define so it is the love of God that enables us to love his having entered the presence of God.

Knowing God that his love pervades all of us in older being that close out and love for others as it does in love and John 17. He says in verse 22 E. of the glory which thou gavest me I have given to them to listen to this tax that they may be one, just as we are one. Some amazing tax thing about all the ways Bible speaks of being one man woman joined together with the two might be one that marriage portrait, which we know is a bigger picture than just the love of a couple actually portrays the love of God for people for church. The church is oneness, the church were called to come together and actually be one united in purpose and we have one spirit, one baptism, one more where to be like-minded with Chrysler, the growing oneness and the more we know our God, the more one we become and I just tell you it's a glorious blessing in the number of years my wife and I been married for 37 years that growing oneness is an incredible blessing.

So thank you for the gift of God and that experience because it really is a foretaste of the oneness that one day all enjoying the presence of God is a foretaste of glory. I mentioned not have ascend here if we go to Revelation chapter 5 in this grand scene is a grand scene of worship. It points to something this future. The reality that's coming as part of our hope in our home is our hope. So here's a reality for everyone in here. This part of the family of God.

This, we will experience, John is given a glimpse into this glorious evil worship and you cannot miss the triune God in this text and so we look at this text we see, but it also is a text that ends with this glorious scene of worship, but it began begins with the crisis summary from Revelation chapter 5 will read the chapter and common to close I saw the right hand of him and sat on the throne book written in on the backside, sealed with seven seals the straw songs saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book to use the seals thereof. No man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book, neither to look therein, and I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and read the book neither delete they are in. So the scene is set God's on his throne, and then this book comes as will for worship.

No one can open it within the elder said to me, we've not behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, David, has prevailed to open the book to loosen the seven seals thereof, and I beheld in low in the midst of the throne and the four beasts in the midst of the elders to the land as it is enslavement having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth from all the earth, the seven spirits of God is referred to earlier in the book and in chapter 1 actually ties to a prophecy in Zachariah deal with God's on the omniscience, knowing all his eyes are everywhere and here it should be a reference to the very spirit of God sent forth to accomplish the purpose of God, and he, Jesus came and took the book out of the right hand of him sat on the throne from the father when you taken the booking. The four beasts of four and 24 elders fell before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and the Golden veil and orders which were the prayers of the saints, and they sang a new song though worthy to take the book open the seals thereof, for that was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and peoples and nation is made unto us our made us unto our God cheese and priest, and we shall reign on the earth. I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was 10,000 times and thousands and thousands and thousands saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as in the sea and all that are in them. I heard saying blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto him, sit upon the throne known to the Lamb forever and ever in the 4B said a man in the 24 elders fell down and worshiped him that live forever and ever. When he is seen worship the father on the throne and the sun coming and he's opening the scroll and emblematic to hold that it is the sun that enables that will of the father be accomplished is a son who was sent forth by the father to live that life of perfect righteousness and give it the cross of Calvary.

He is the one side is settled that he is the one that pays for the sin he is the one that removes the burden of guilt.

She is the one who set you free from the bondage and slavery of sin.

He is the one that brings life to your dead souls, and you might have everlasting life.

So the father and the son and the spirit and sent forth in the accomplishment of all of God's purpose in taking the atonement and all the accomplishment of Christ and taking it implying it was lost man an opening blinded eyes and taking out a heart of stone and putting a heart of flesh.

So we see in this principles set forth by God's love is manifest in this way were getting to really start to appear. Father, he wills the worship he wills worship the son of God enables the worship in the spirit of God and empowers our worship and so we worship the triune God who is forever dwell together in perfect unity and a perfect relationship of love and he out of the overflow that love has created us that we might know him we might revel in that love ourselves we would experience it now foretaste of glory.

And then in his presence forever more. We will be in this worship thing.

You will either be there rejoicing that you were been bought by the Lamb. You will be on bended knee, declaring that the Lamb is just in your eternal condemnation.

Psalm eight Psalm 16. The psalmist said in Psalm 16, verse eight. I set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I'll not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad of my glory rejoices. My flesh also shall rest in hope and so does Yahweh have my habit-forming and it is before me is and this is one I follow it is before me and this is one I aspire to be more like this. Yahweh said in the forming and that one who is then set before me is, in whom I delight. My heart is glad, but he is also Yahweh beside me that he is never left me, nor will he forsake me he is the strength of the journey through broken world is a strength for the journey onward to the glorious day of worship.

We will all be joined together in creation is going to declare worthy art thou receive glory and honor like they've always along toward God minute ends with probably one of verse that's a favorite to many of us. Psalm 1611. It says in my presence is fullness of joy at the right hand are pleasures for evermore reality. As many of your love.

The Gospels declaration, no condemnation, but you find more pleasure in the world around you than the God who supposed to dwell in you Gospels about the glory of God.

When our hearts are captured by the glory of God.

We love God supremely.

Our life begins to reflect his glory and we find in his presence. Fullness of joy. While we can say will execute a reality. I will grieve the fullness of joy as a future reality, but I don't think the presence of God. This is not been limited to then. In fact God so intends for you to know him, that when you come to Christ.

The very spirit of God comes to dwell in you. God is with you. He dwells with you that you might know him and knowing changes everything. I can show you pictures of the beauty of Vermont, but I promise it has not captured your attention to go and see. I can tell you to my face as Rick read probably the God's glorious and you need to behold is a radical difference between me telling you about it and you experiencing two of the God of the gospel is a glorious, do you know joy now. Do you long for more of his presence now, and if we don't perhaps still just in love with herself and not the God who gave the gospel but sporadic father with our hearts to be and we ask that you would take these truths in wrapper mines were finite sister so difficult for us even begin to fathom all that it means that you are trying.

What an amazing reality that is you love. You don't manipulate you don't need but out of love.

You have created and you have shared yourself, that we might know the love that you have one with another, and thank Jesus prays that way that we would growing that oneness with one another, but most importantly with you and the love by which you have loved her son eternally using shed abroad in your heart that the women might love you truly, supremely Lord we love to talk about what we love. Some may from our mouse sound forth the declaration that there is none like you, you alone are great price and we pray you been listening to a sermon preached by BJ you seminary professor, Dr. Billy goat your which was the second message in the series called our great God. Listen again tomorrow is we continue the series on The Daily Platform