GRACE, LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

Introduction

Today marks our celebration of the Trinity Sunday. Our messages everyday has been void of the Trinity meanwhile, today is a lectionary special dedication. We are looking at the Triune God in "Grace, Love and Fellowship".

In Proverbs 8, the wiseman speaks of the presence of companions when the world was being created (Proverbs 8:22-31). I know and have heard the ills some persons declare about the Trinity. Some even go to the extent of accusing Christians of worshiping three gods. Paul counsels that, the things of the Spirit cannot be fathomed by the non-Christians saying, "...the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone." (1 Corinthians 2:14-15 HCSB)

Throughout the Bible, the Triune God - God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit demonstrate to us that each Person of the Godhead participates in mutual and voluntary submission to one another to accomplish our redemption (John 16:12-15).

Apostle Paul concludes His final exhortation to the Corinthian church by admonishing them to rejoice and mature as they live at peace in the same mind. He ends with a statement so popular with us Christians "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with of you." Amen!

This is indicative of the mutual existence of the Trinity. That is why Jesus prayed for us saying, "That they all may be one."

1. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace is described as undeserving favour rendered. It is by grace we are saved and therefore no man or woman has no right to boast in pride for who we are. Jesus graciously demonstrated this to us, "whiles we yet sinners, Christ died for us".

The church in Corinth was flooded with pride and Paul addressed this devilish attitude.

We learn that, Christ aimed for our perfection and did not treat us as we deserved. We must seek to embrace and tolerate everyone as build each other into Christ maturity.

Being conscious of Christ's grace on us despite our persistent failings of all His "thou shall nots" and "thou shalls" should encourage us not to remain in guilt and shame. "What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2 HCSB)

Beloved in Christ, treat others as Christ would treat them, graciously.

2. The Love of God:

Through the grace of Christ we see the manifestation of God's love for us (John 3:16).

The agape love of God brings us to one mind. It is about unity with regards to love and devotion to the Word and above our personal preference.

Living at peace with each other is made easy when we have the consciousness God's love towards us. "For God so loved the world..." We are expected to show this same love of God to us.

3. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit:

Our togetherness without ceasing is made possible by the Holy Spirit in us. The counsellor, gives us the needed direction and tolerance for each other (PH 597).

With our individual differences, the Holy Spirit mediates to enable us to humbly tolerate each other in our fellowship.

Paul advised that we show appropriate felicitation towards each other, "greeting each other with holy kiss".

The Holy Spirit is tasked to carry out Jesus’ prayer that we would all be one even as He and the Father are One (Jn. 17).

Conclusion

The Christian God is One in three person, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we were baptised into One God, so are we expected to love one another always. Amen!

Shalom aleichem...