Text: So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)
Catechism: Question: How are these articles divided?
Answer: Into three parts: God the Father and our creation; God the Son and our deliverance; and God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.
Question: Since there is only one divine being, why do you speak of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Answer: Because that is how God has revealed Himself in His Word: these three distinct persons are one, true, eternal God.
Intro:
God the Father and our creation;
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
God the Son and our deliverance;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
and God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
I. One God
Shema - Hear Oh Israel, YHWH is our God; YHWH is one.
II. Three persons
Jesus: John 20:31; Rom. 10:9
the Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3-4
III. Why do you believe this?
For one reason
No analogies; Love?
A contradiction?
A fence around a mystery
Application 1: Mission
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. (1 John 2:20)
As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (1 John 2:27)
Application 2: The Heart of God
“Thou hast set My heart upon them, and hast loved them Thyself as Thou hast loved Me, and Thou hast ordained them to be one in Us, even as We are one, and therefore I cannot live long asunder [apart] from them; I have Thy company, but I must have theirs too; ‘I will that they be where I am,’ (v24) If I have any glory, they must have part of it.” --Goodwin
Application 3: A Word for the Children
The Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit…