Feast of the Holy Trinity

John 3:1-15 Today's feast differs from the other three high festivals of the Christian Church. For while in them the mighty works of God for the salvation of mankind are festively celebrated - at Christmas the sending and incarnation of his dear Son, at Easter, the resurrection of Christ and justification of all people on the part of God, at Pentecost the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and establishing of the Christian Church - on the other hand, the theme of today's Trinity Festival is no such divine fact, but rather an important and mysterious article of the Christian faith, namely, that the true God is one in unity and triune in persons. Do not be surprised that the Christian Church has arranged for a special feast to celebrate; because the doctrine of the Triune God is the focal point of Christian faith. The three articles about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the symbol of the Christian Church, she recognizes it and is distinguished from all other fellowships; therefore redemption and salvation of all mankind rests in the true knowledge of the Triune God; not in the knowledge that there is a triune God, but in the actual knowledge of how the Triune God has revealed Himself in the work of our redemption. Therefore the purpose of today's feast and our current Gospel is to encourage and reinforce this knowledge. The true knowledge of the Triune God: the foundation of our salvation; it consists in that a man recognizes 1. God, the Father, in the sending of His dear Son; a. false knowledge of the Father, . the Jews, heathens, unbelievers, merely as the Creator and Sustainer of the world, as the earthly Provider of his creation, as the affectionate but weak Father of His naughty children of men, to whose sins he cannot sourly see1; . even Christians who, like Nicodemus, consider God as their dear Father, because He has done them much good, blessed their nation, given great prophets, Christ Himself, the great Master and Sage2, as the Rationalists preach about Him; b. true knowledge of the Father, namely as, . a holy and righteous God, to Whom all sin is an abomination, . but Who, full of love for sinners, has sent His Son for their salvation3, . Who in Christ reconciled the Father, Who for the sake of Christ, His Son, accepted me as His child and has declared Himself as my Father4;
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Deuteronomy 32:5. John 3:2. 3 John 3:16. 4 Ephesians 3:14-15.

2. God, the Son, in acquiring salvation; a. false knowledge of Christ, . of Nicodemus, who probably considered Christ as a great prophet sent by God, someone like Elijah5, but not anything more, . of the Rationalists, who even call Christ God's Son and Savior, but still hold Him only as a mere man who has shown the way to salvation by teaching and example; b. true knowledge of Jesus Christ . according to His Person, not merely sent by God, but . God Himself6, . true Man - Son of Man7; . according to His Office, as He redeems by His life, suffering, death of sin and has earned salvation8; the one who has this true knowledge of the Son can say with Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" 3. God, the Holy Spirit, in appropriation of the earned salvation; a. false knowledge of the Holy Spirit - the Rationalists, who merely leave the power of God alone, b. true knowledge, . very God with Father and Son, third Person, co-eternal, majestic and glorious, Who with the Father and the Son actively engages in the salvation of men, and . works powerfully in the hearts of men through Word and Sacrament, enlightens them and regenerates them into children of God by faith9, teaching them to speak in firm faith: Abba, dear Father. This is the only true knowledge of the Triune God. No man can give it to himself, it is an incomprehensible mystery to him, even to Nicodemus10; man can no more contribute something to himself as to his physical birth; he is born flesh of flesh. God alone works it from grace and He wants to work it in everyone, moreover He lets His Word be preached. Ask Him then, and He will give to everyone. O.H.

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John 3:2. John 3:13; Romans 9:5; 1 John 5:20; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9, 10:30. 7 John 3:13. 8 John 3:14-15. 9 John 3:3, 5-6. 10 John 3:4, 7-12.