The Holy Trinity
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
Isaiah's experience in the temple occurred in 742 B.C., the
year King Uzziah died. For the nation it was a time of mourning
as well as confusion and concern, for the king was considered a
"son of God," God's vice-regent. At the same time the Assyrians
were on a rampage and changing the map of the area. In the midst
of these troubled times, Isaiah went to worship in the temple and
had an experience with a sovereign God who caused him to confess
his sins, receive forgiveness and to respond to service. Here we
have a holy, majestic, glorious and transcendant God whose power
and majesty far outshine any earthly king.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17 (C, E); Romans 8:14-17 (L, RC)
This lection is appropriate for Trinity Sunday because the
three persons of the Trinity are mentioned. A child of God cries,
"Abba Father," the Father-God. He is a child through the saving
work of Christ on the cross and made so by baptism. As a child of
God, a person becomes an heir with Christ. Thus, the Trinity is
an essential part of a Christian's experience: God accepts him as
a child of God at baptism because Christ died for sinners. This
relationship is confirmed by the presence of the Spirit in the
believer's life.
Gospel: John 3:1-17 (C, L); John 3:1-16 (E)
The three persons of the Trinity appear in this passage. Jesus
tells Nicodemus that it is necessary to be born of the Spirit to
enter God's kingdom. (vv. 3-8) God the Son speaks in verses 9-15
regarding the necessity of the cross so that believers may have
eternal life. In the last two verses of the pericope God the
Father is revealed as one of love in giving his Son that the
world may not be condemned but have eternal life. Eternal life is
a gift of the Spirit through faith in the Son whose death on the
cross demonstrates God's great love for the world.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 29 (C) -- "Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength." (v.
1)
Psalm 93 (E); Psalm 149 (L)
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty and ever-living God, you have given us grace, by the
confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the
eternal Trinity and, in the power of your divine majesty, to
worship the unity. Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship,
and bring us at last to see you in your eternal glory."
Hymn Of The Day
"Father, Most Holy, Merciful And Tender"
177
Theme Of The Day: One God In Three Persons
Gospel -- God the Son gives eternal life to believers.
Lesson 1 -- The holiness and majesty of God the Father.
Lesson 2 -- God the Holy Spirit witnesses to our being children
of God.
Today is the Festival of the Holy Trinity symbolized by the
use of the liturgical color white. Appropriately our theme is
"One God In Three Persons." Since the Old Testament does not know
the Trinity, Lesson 1 deals only with the glory of God the Father
seen by Isaiah in the temple. In the Gospel, the three persons
are involved in being born again. Lesson 2 emphasizes God the
Spirit who witnesses to the fact that we are children of God and
heirs with God the Son. The Psalm extols the glory, majesty and
power of God, akin to Lesson 1. The prayer reflects our faith in
the Trinity. The Hymn enables us to sing praise to the Trinity.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 3:1-17
1. Ruler (v. 1). Nicodemus was a ruler of his people by being
a member of the Sanhedrin, a supreme court of 70 elders who had
power to rule under the Romans except to impose the death
penalty. Nicodemus' visit to Jesus indicates that Jesus appealed
to all classes and conditions of people. He attracted people of
position and power as well as publicans and sinners, the rich as
well as the poor, the educated as well as the unlearned. Jesus
has meaning and a message for all people.
2. Night (v. 2). It was "night" when Judas Iscariot went from
the upper room to betray Jesus. Nicodemus came by night to
converse with Jesus. Was he ashamed to be seen talking to Jesus
during the day? Was he afraid of losing his position as a ruler
and teacher by being associated with a revolutionary peasant
preacher? Maybe it was night in Nicodemus' life -- a life of
doubt, confusion, meaninglessness? The account shows that
Nicodemus was in the dark when it came to understanding the birth
of the Spirit.
3. Cannot (vv. 3, 5). The word is final. There is one thing a
person cannot do. He cannot enter the kingdom of God unless
certain conditions are met. No amount of knowledge, no amount of
money, no amount of power can get one into God's kingdom. It is
an absolute fact that a person must be born again, born of water
and of the Spirit. It is a "must," an essential, an indispensable
requirement in the same sense that it is necessary to be
physically born to exist on earth. The question is how, when and
where the birth of the Spirit takes place.
4. Eternal life (vv. 15, 16). Eternal life is a gift of God to
those who enter the kingdom of God. It is a life in God and with
God. Since it is identification with God, the believer shares the
eternal quality of that life. Popularly, "eternal life" is
believed to start at physical death. The Bible teaches that
eternal life begins before death at the moment one is born again
of the Spirit and when one accepts Christ in faith. When physical
death comes, there is no break in that relationship with God or
that membership in the kingdom. Thus, life in the Spirit is
eternal regardless of physical death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8
1. Saw (vv. 1, 5). What do we see when we are in church to
worship? Do we see people, the leaders, the symbols, the flowers?
If that is all we see, we have not worshiped. The one to see is
God. Isaiah saw God sitting on a high throne. Worship begins with
vision. When we see God, we at the same time see ourselves. To
see God requires a spiritual perspective, a sensitivity to God's
presence. Upon entering church for worship, our prayer might well
be, "Open my eyes, illuminate me."
2. Unclean (v. 5). Isaiah's vision gave him an understanding
of the holiness, glory and majesty of God. This sight resulted in
seeing himself and his society for what they were. "I am a man of
unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips." A sight of God's holiness enables us to see our sin and
holiness. In a former liturgy, we prayed in the
178
confessional, "We are by nature sinful and unclean." Our lack of
consciousness of sin today is not that we do not sin, but that we
do not see the purity and perfection of God.
3. Forgiven (v. 7). A sense of sin brings one to a state of
despair, "Woe is me." Here we have an Old Testament case of
justification by grace. Isaiah did nothing to get forgiven. He
did not even plead for mercy. Forgiveness was totally God's doing
according to his grace. He took a burning coal from the altar and
Isaiah's sin was burned away. God did not become merciful and
forgiving until Jesus died on the cross. Always God has been
ready to forgive those who confess their sin and seek
forgiveness.
4. Send (v. 8). Most Christians are content to stop with
forgiveness in their experience with God. Worship to be true must
result in consecration, dedication and commitment. When the
gospel is heard, a normal reaction is, "What must we do about
it?" At the close of the experience, God asks, "Whom shall I
send?" Isaiah quickly responds in commitment to God, "Here am I!
Send me." Unless worship ends in action, worship becomes an end
in itself and religion turns into religiosity.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17
1. Children (v. 16). The text declares that we are Christians,
children of God. Are all people or just Christians children of
God? Because we are human, some claim that all are children of
God. Indeed, we are all creatures of God because God is the
Creator of all. To be a child of God calls for a relationship of
a Father and a son. This relationship is established by adoption
which occurs at baptism. In today's Gospel, Jesus claims that a
creature must be born again to be a child of God. It is the
missionary task of the church to convert creatures into children
of God.
2. Spirit (v. 14). A child of God possesses the Spirit of God
who comes at baptism, as he came to Jesus at his baptism. The
Spirit is an indispensable part of being a Christian. The Spirit
leads a child of God. (v. 14) There is an internal confirmation.
This is possible because the Spirit resides within the believer.
The Holy Spirit is God-in-you. Thus, the Spirit within us and our
own spirits are in peace and harmony. Only a child of God has the
Spirit. Possession of the Spirit gives us an assurance that we
belong to God.
3. Heirs (v. 17). Because we are children or "sons" of God, we
are heirs to the riches of the kingdom. Jesus as God's Son
received his inheritance: glory, power, authority as King of
kings. Upon his ascension Jesus received the riches of God's
kingdom, was given dominion and the absolute authority to reign.
As children of God, we too, can look forward to a heavenly
inheritance -- the riches of grace in Christ.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
You And The Trinity
Need: For many the Trinity is an incomprehensible doctrine of
the church. Few can imagine that it has anything to do with one's
daily life. The need is to make the Trinity a living reality in
people's lives.
Outline: The Trinity's part in the Christian life --
a. God the Son incorporates you into the Kingdom by rebirth
-- Gospel.
b. God the Spirit confirms you as a child of God -- Lesson
2.
c. God the Father's glory leads you to worship -- Lesson 1.
Gospel: John 3:1-17
1. An existential experience of the Trinity. 3:1-17
Need: The Trinity is not taught specifically as a doctrine in
the Bible, but the Trinity is experienced first-hand. Out of this
existential dealing with the Trinity comes the doctrine that God
is in three persons. In this passage the persons are seen and
heard. They can be seen and heard today.
179
Outline: Where you can meet the Trinity --
a. Experience the love of God the Father -- vv. 16-17.
b. Learn the truth of God the Son -- vv. 11-15.
c. Be born of God the Spirit -- vv. 1-10.
2. Why can't you understand? 3:10-12
Need: When it comes to spiritual truth, we are like Nicodemus.
We do not understand. Jesus was amazed that professor and scholar
Nicodemus did not understand the need and method of spiritual
birth.Why are we so dull and dense that we cannot see the meaning
of the scriptures?
Outline: Can you understand --
a. That God the Father loves you? -- vv. 16-17.
b. That God the Son died for you? -- vv. 13-15.
c. That God the Spirit re-creates you? vv. 5-8.
3. Are you in the kingdom? 3:1-17
Need: The kingdom of God is a mystery to many. What is the
kingdom? Where is it? Is it past, present or future? Who is in
it? Jesus discusses the kingdom of God with Nicodemus and tells
him how he can belong to it. This sermon should clarify the
mystery of the kingdom.
Outline: Consider the truth of the kingdom of God --
a. God the Father has a real kingdom -- v. 6.
b. God the Son brings the kingdom to us -- vv. 13-15.
c. God the Spirit inducts us into the kingdom -- vv. 3-7.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8
1. A God worthy of worship. 6:1-8
Need: Worship of God is the Christian's highest privilege and
the church's chief function. For many, worship is not that great.
For some, the worship hour is the dullest hour of the week. Only
30 percent of church members attend regularly. Add to this the 40
percent of the American population that does not belong to a
church. Why is worship not appreciated? Is it because we get
nothing out of worship? Do we get nothing because we do not know
how to worship? In our text, Isaiah is a model for us to follow
to get a maximum worship experience.
Outline: To get the most out of worship --
a. Open your eyes to the presence of God -- vv. 1-4.
b. Confess your sins -- v. 5.
c. Receive forgiveness -- vv. 6-7.
d. Volunteer for service -- v. 8.
2. O say can you see? 6:1-8
Need: An experience with God begins with a vision. Before
beginning their ministry, God asked the prophets, "What do you
see?" When we go to church, do we, like Isaiah, see God in all
his majesty, power and glory? Or do we see the preacher, the
choir, the ushers, the flowers and the people seated ahead of us?
To see God is to have an awareness of his presence. His holy
presence causes us to be humble and reverent. His glory leads us
to bow down and adore him. Is that the way it is in your church's
worship service?
Outline: As servants of God, we need to --
a. Look up -- "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up."
b. Look in -- "I am a man of unclean lips."
c. Look forward -- "Send me."
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17
1. The Trinity in your life. 8:14-17
Need: For some the Trinity is a theological proposition, a
mystery, or a doctrine of the church. Seldom is the Trinity
related to the average person's life. In this sermon we need to
show that all three persons of the Trinity have a vital and
necessary part in a Christian's life.
180
Outline: What the Trinity has to do with your life --
a. God the Father made you his child -- v. 15.
b. God the Son shares an eternal inheritance with you -- v.
17.
c. God the Spirit leads you in daily living -- v. 14.
2. Are you sure you're God's child? 8:14-17
Need: "Are you saved?" When an average church member is asked
this question, there is usually hesitancy and uncertainty about
the answer. To be saved means you are a child of God by faith in
Christ.How can one get to the point of answering the question
with "Of course, I am?" The need for assurance of salvation is
expressed in the hymn, "Blessed Assurance." In this lection, we
have reasons to be sure that we are God's children and destined
for heaven.
Outline: How you can be sure you are God's child --
a. The assurance of God's Word -- v. 15 (God the Father).
b. Adoption by God through baptism for Jesus' sake -- v. 14
(God the Son).
c. Acknowledged by the Holy Spirit -- v. 16 (God the Holy
Spirit).
181
year King Uzziah died. For the nation it was a time of mourning
as well as confusion and concern, for the king was considered a
"son of God," God's vice-regent. At the same time the Assyrians
were on a rampage and changing the map of the area. In the midst
of these troubled times, Isaiah went to worship in the temple and
had an experience with a sovereign God who caused him to confess
his sins, receive forgiveness and to respond to service. Here we
have a holy, majestic, glorious and transcendant God whose power
and majesty far outshine any earthly king.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17 (C, E); Romans 8:14-17 (L, RC)
This lection is appropriate for Trinity Sunday because the
three persons of the Trinity are mentioned. A child of God cries,
"Abba Father," the Father-God. He is a child through the saving
work of Christ on the cross and made so by baptism. As a child of
God, a person becomes an heir with Christ. Thus, the Trinity is
an essential part of a Christian's experience: God accepts him as
a child of God at baptism because Christ died for sinners. This
relationship is confirmed by the presence of the Spirit in the
believer's life.
Gospel: John 3:1-17 (C, L); John 3:1-16 (E)
The three persons of the Trinity appear in this passage. Jesus
tells Nicodemus that it is necessary to be born of the Spirit to
enter God's kingdom. (vv. 3-8) God the Son speaks in verses 9-15
regarding the necessity of the cross so that believers may have
eternal life. In the last two verses of the pericope God the
Father is revealed as one of love in giving his Son that the
world may not be condemned but have eternal life. Eternal life is
a gift of the Spirit through faith in the Son whose death on the
cross demonstrates God's great love for the world.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 29 (C) -- "Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength." (v.
1)
Psalm 93 (E); Psalm 149 (L)
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty and ever-living God, you have given us grace, by the
confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the
eternal Trinity and, in the power of your divine majesty, to
worship the unity. Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship,
and bring us at last to see you in your eternal glory."
Hymn Of The Day
"Father, Most Holy, Merciful And Tender"
177
Theme Of The Day: One God In Three Persons
Gospel -- God the Son gives eternal life to believers.
Lesson 1 -- The holiness and majesty of God the Father.
Lesson 2 -- God the Holy Spirit witnesses to our being children
of God.
Today is the Festival of the Holy Trinity symbolized by the
use of the liturgical color white. Appropriately our theme is
"One God In Three Persons." Since the Old Testament does not know
the Trinity, Lesson 1 deals only with the glory of God the Father
seen by Isaiah in the temple. In the Gospel, the three persons
are involved in being born again. Lesson 2 emphasizes God the
Spirit who witnesses to the fact that we are children of God and
heirs with God the Son. The Psalm extols the glory, majesty and
power of God, akin to Lesson 1. The prayer reflects our faith in
the Trinity. The Hymn enables us to sing praise to the Trinity.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 3:1-17
1. Ruler (v. 1). Nicodemus was a ruler of his people by being
a member of the Sanhedrin, a supreme court of 70 elders who had
power to rule under the Romans except to impose the death
penalty. Nicodemus' visit to Jesus indicates that Jesus appealed
to all classes and conditions of people. He attracted people of
position and power as well as publicans and sinners, the rich as
well as the poor, the educated as well as the unlearned. Jesus
has meaning and a message for all people.
2. Night (v. 2). It was "night" when Judas Iscariot went from
the upper room to betray Jesus. Nicodemus came by night to
converse with Jesus. Was he ashamed to be seen talking to Jesus
during the day? Was he afraid of losing his position as a ruler
and teacher by being associated with a revolutionary peasant
preacher? Maybe it was night in Nicodemus' life -- a life of
doubt, confusion, meaninglessness? The account shows that
Nicodemus was in the dark when it came to understanding the birth
of the Spirit.
3. Cannot (vv. 3, 5). The word is final. There is one thing a
person cannot do. He cannot enter the kingdom of God unless
certain conditions are met. No amount of knowledge, no amount of
money, no amount of power can get one into God's kingdom. It is
an absolute fact that a person must be born again, born of water
and of the Spirit. It is a "must," an essential, an indispensable
requirement in the same sense that it is necessary to be
physically born to exist on earth. The question is how, when and
where the birth of the Spirit takes place.
4. Eternal life (vv. 15, 16). Eternal life is a gift of God to
those who enter the kingdom of God. It is a life in God and with
God. Since it is identification with God, the believer shares the
eternal quality of that life. Popularly, "eternal life" is
believed to start at physical death. The Bible teaches that
eternal life begins before death at the moment one is born again
of the Spirit and when one accepts Christ in faith. When physical
death comes, there is no break in that relationship with God or
that membership in the kingdom. Thus, life in the Spirit is
eternal regardless of physical death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8
1. Saw (vv. 1, 5). What do we see when we are in church to
worship? Do we see people, the leaders, the symbols, the flowers?
If that is all we see, we have not worshiped. The one to see is
God. Isaiah saw God sitting on a high throne. Worship begins with
vision. When we see God, we at the same time see ourselves. To
see God requires a spiritual perspective, a sensitivity to God's
presence. Upon entering church for worship, our prayer might well
be, "Open my eyes, illuminate me."
2. Unclean (v. 5). Isaiah's vision gave him an understanding
of the holiness, glory and majesty of God. This sight resulted in
seeing himself and his society for what they were. "I am a man of
unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips." A sight of God's holiness enables us to see our sin and
holiness. In a former liturgy, we prayed in the
178
confessional, "We are by nature sinful and unclean." Our lack of
consciousness of sin today is not that we do not sin, but that we
do not see the purity and perfection of God.
3. Forgiven (v. 7). A sense of sin brings one to a state of
despair, "Woe is me." Here we have an Old Testament case of
justification by grace. Isaiah did nothing to get forgiven. He
did not even plead for mercy. Forgiveness was totally God's doing
according to his grace. He took a burning coal from the altar and
Isaiah's sin was burned away. God did not become merciful and
forgiving until Jesus died on the cross. Always God has been
ready to forgive those who confess their sin and seek
forgiveness.
4. Send (v. 8). Most Christians are content to stop with
forgiveness in their experience with God. Worship to be true must
result in consecration, dedication and commitment. When the
gospel is heard, a normal reaction is, "What must we do about
it?" At the close of the experience, God asks, "Whom shall I
send?" Isaiah quickly responds in commitment to God, "Here am I!
Send me." Unless worship ends in action, worship becomes an end
in itself and religion turns into religiosity.
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17
1. Children (v. 16). The text declares that we are Christians,
children of God. Are all people or just Christians children of
God? Because we are human, some claim that all are children of
God. Indeed, we are all creatures of God because God is the
Creator of all. To be a child of God calls for a relationship of
a Father and a son. This relationship is established by adoption
which occurs at baptism. In today's Gospel, Jesus claims that a
creature must be born again to be a child of God. It is the
missionary task of the church to convert creatures into children
of God.
2. Spirit (v. 14). A child of God possesses the Spirit of God
who comes at baptism, as he came to Jesus at his baptism. The
Spirit is an indispensable part of being a Christian. The Spirit
leads a child of God. (v. 14) There is an internal confirmation.
This is possible because the Spirit resides within the believer.
The Holy Spirit is God-in-you. Thus, the Spirit within us and our
own spirits are in peace and harmony. Only a child of God has the
Spirit. Possession of the Spirit gives us an assurance that we
belong to God.
3. Heirs (v. 17). Because we are children or "sons" of God, we
are heirs to the riches of the kingdom. Jesus as God's Son
received his inheritance: glory, power, authority as King of
kings. Upon his ascension Jesus received the riches of God's
kingdom, was given dominion and the absolute authority to reign.
As children of God, we too, can look forward to a heavenly
inheritance -- the riches of grace in Christ.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
You And The Trinity
Need: For many the Trinity is an incomprehensible doctrine of
the church. Few can imagine that it has anything to do with one's
daily life. The need is to make the Trinity a living reality in
people's lives.
Outline: The Trinity's part in the Christian life --
a. God the Son incorporates you into the Kingdom by rebirth
-- Gospel.
b. God the Spirit confirms you as a child of God -- Lesson
2.
c. God the Father's glory leads you to worship -- Lesson 1.
Gospel: John 3:1-17
1. An existential experience of the Trinity. 3:1-17
Need: The Trinity is not taught specifically as a doctrine in
the Bible, but the Trinity is experienced first-hand. Out of this
existential dealing with the Trinity comes the doctrine that God
is in three persons. In this passage the persons are seen and
heard. They can be seen and heard today.
179
Outline: Where you can meet the Trinity --
a. Experience the love of God the Father -- vv. 16-17.
b. Learn the truth of God the Son -- vv. 11-15.
c. Be born of God the Spirit -- vv. 1-10.
2. Why can't you understand? 3:10-12
Need: When it comes to spiritual truth, we are like Nicodemus.
We do not understand. Jesus was amazed that professor and scholar
Nicodemus did not understand the need and method of spiritual
birth.Why are we so dull and dense that we cannot see the meaning
of the scriptures?
Outline: Can you understand --
a. That God the Father loves you? -- vv. 16-17.
b. That God the Son died for you? -- vv. 13-15.
c. That God the Spirit re-creates you? vv. 5-8.
3. Are you in the kingdom? 3:1-17
Need: The kingdom of God is a mystery to many. What is the
kingdom? Where is it? Is it past, present or future? Who is in
it? Jesus discusses the kingdom of God with Nicodemus and tells
him how he can belong to it. This sermon should clarify the
mystery of the kingdom.
Outline: Consider the truth of the kingdom of God --
a. God the Father has a real kingdom -- v. 6.
b. God the Son brings the kingdom to us -- vv. 13-15.
c. God the Spirit inducts us into the kingdom -- vv. 3-7.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8
1. A God worthy of worship. 6:1-8
Need: Worship of God is the Christian's highest privilege and
the church's chief function. For many, worship is not that great.
For some, the worship hour is the dullest hour of the week. Only
30 percent of church members attend regularly. Add to this the 40
percent of the American population that does not belong to a
church. Why is worship not appreciated? Is it because we get
nothing out of worship? Do we get nothing because we do not know
how to worship? In our text, Isaiah is a model for us to follow
to get a maximum worship experience.
Outline: To get the most out of worship --
a. Open your eyes to the presence of God -- vv. 1-4.
b. Confess your sins -- v. 5.
c. Receive forgiveness -- vv. 6-7.
d. Volunteer for service -- v. 8.
2. O say can you see? 6:1-8
Need: An experience with God begins with a vision. Before
beginning their ministry, God asked the prophets, "What do you
see?" When we go to church, do we, like Isaiah, see God in all
his majesty, power and glory? Or do we see the preacher, the
choir, the ushers, the flowers and the people seated ahead of us?
To see God is to have an awareness of his presence. His holy
presence causes us to be humble and reverent. His glory leads us
to bow down and adore him. Is that the way it is in your church's
worship service?
Outline: As servants of God, we need to --
a. Look up -- "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up."
b. Look in -- "I am a man of unclean lips."
c. Look forward -- "Send me."
Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17
1. The Trinity in your life. 8:14-17
Need: For some the Trinity is a theological proposition, a
mystery, or a doctrine of the church. Seldom is the Trinity
related to the average person's life. In this sermon we need to
show that all three persons of the Trinity have a vital and
necessary part in a Christian's life.
180
Outline: What the Trinity has to do with your life --
a. God the Father made you his child -- v. 15.
b. God the Son shares an eternal inheritance with you -- v.
17.
c. God the Spirit leads you in daily living -- v. 14.
2. Are you sure you're God's child? 8:14-17
Need: "Are you saved?" When an average church member is asked
this question, there is usually hesitancy and uncertainty about
the answer. To be saved means you are a child of God by faith in
Christ.How can one get to the point of answering the question
with "Of course, I am?" The need for assurance of salvation is
expressed in the hymn, "Blessed Assurance." In this lection, we
have reasons to be sure that we are God's children and destined
for heaven.
Outline: How you can be sure you are God's child --
a. The assurance of God's Word -- v. 15 (God the Father).
b. Adoption by God through baptism for Jesus' sake -- v. 14
(God the Son).
c. Acknowledged by the Holy Spirit -- v. 16 (God the Holy
Spirit).
181
