By Pastor Chad
Wonder is a fundamental aspect of humanity. The ability to wonder and imagine is something only we can do, no other species on this planet has such a gift. Sunday morning, we began a new series titled “The Story of Redemption.” Over the next two months we will discuss God’s auspicious and providential plan to redeem mankind. My hope is this series will not only inform but will also be used as a catalyst to spark wonder and amazement at God’s beautiful redemptive work.
To get a grasp on the story of redemption, we must first have a sufficient understanding of the story of creation. In His providential plan, God sent His eternally begotten Son to redeem all of mankind. Whosoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life. But God’s redemptive plan did not start with the incarnation of Christ. It began at the beginning. Technically, it began “before” the beginning. Before creation, before time, before the universe and everything that we can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell existed, there was God. It is a bit difficult to think of a timeless Being. Everything about our existence involves time, yet God is not bound by time. Indeed, He is not bound or limited by anything other than Himself.
In Genesis 1:1-2, we read “In the beginning God…” God has always been. He has never not existed. And He can never go out of existence. In fact, we Christians need to be very specific here. Verse 26 of Genesis 1 reads that God said, “Let us make…” Us? That is clearly plural. What are we to make of such language? The early church fathers and even the leaders of the reformation understood this to be a telltale sign of the Trinity. “Then God (singular) said, ‘Let us make man in our own image.’” Though the original readers of the passage would not have had the necessary information to fully understand, further special revelation from God makes it clear that God is an eternal triune being. It is not only God the Father that has always existed, but God the Son and God the Holy Ghost have always been. The triune Godhead was there at the beginning, before the beginning. They have always existed in perfect harmony, for the Godhead is One Being in three distinct persons.
Thus, the redemption story starts with a holy, triune God. A God that is beyond our wildest imaginations. A God that is greater than we can possibly conceive. A God that is the greatest possible Being.
There is a legend regarding Augustine’s frustration at describing God while writing his book “On the Trinity.” To clear his mind, he took a walk on the beach. Contemplation was easier while walking on the soft wet sand, listening to the roaring waves roll in. On this outing, he noticed a young boy running back-and-forth between the ocean and the beach. Approaching the boy, Augustine saw he had dug a hole in the sand, and was filling the hole with water from the ocean with a large seashell. Curious of his actions, Augustine inquired, “Son, what are you doing there?” “Oh,” said the young lad hurriedly, “I’m scooping all the water from the ocean and putting it in this hole!” Though touched by such an audacious exercise, Augustine quickly exclaimed, “But that’s impossible! You can’t put the whole ocean in the little hole. It is way too small!” It was as if the young boy was waiting for such a prompt when he sternly replied back, “Indeed, but I would sooner draw all of the ocean and place it in the hole than you succeed at understanding and penetrating the profound mysteries of the Holy Trinity!” Amazed by such a response, Augustine looked to the ocean in wonder, and quickly turned back toward the lad, but he had disappeared. It was as if he were a divine emissary sent to communicate one important truth to Augustine: You will never fully plum the depths of who God is.
Watch the full sermon here.