Advent Week 1, 2021…Hope
By Mark Rater
Today is the first Sunday of Advent.
ad·vent (New Oxford American Dictionary)
the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
"the advent of television"
the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
the coming or second coming of Christ.
(Advent is the season leading up to Christmas in which the church recalls:
the first coming of Jesus Christ when he:
Was born of a virgin in Bethlehem
Ministered on earth for 33 years
Died a sacrificial death for sinners
the second coming of Jesus Christ when:
Christ will rapture his church
believers will receive rewards
unbelievers will be judged
We need this reminder each year…that Christmas is not about what our culture says it’s about. It’s not about snow, trees, parties, food, or even family. It’s not about material gifts. It’s about the greatest gift ever given. The gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ for all who believe. That gift-the gift of Christ-was ordained and orchestrated by God from before the foundation of the world.
Not only did God set in motion this plan for the atonement of sin…a plan that sent Christ to die in the place of sinners, a plan that restores right relationship between God and man that was broken by sin, a plan that restores all that was lost at the fall…not only did God set in motion the plan for Christ to put away sin for all who believe, but he foretold it all in scripture. He told us beforehand!
Scripture tells us, among many other details about the coming Messiah….
That he will come and defeat the serpent
That he will be God
That he will be human
Where he will be born
About his life and ministry
How he will die by crucifixion
That he’ll be resurrected
That he’ll ascend to heaven
That he’ll come again
That he’ll reign forever
And many, many details in between
In today’s reading, let’s listen to a few bits of the mountains of scripture foretelling the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 23:5 (NASB)
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:2 (NASB)
2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 53:5-6 (NASB)
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
Let’s start this Christmas season with a reminder. A reminder about the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Hope as defined in scripture. Not a “wishful thinking” kind of hope. Not a “maybe someday” kind of hope. No. A “confident expectation” kind of hope. An “it’s already done” kind of hope.”
A hope that does not rest on chance or fate. A hope that does not rest on my best efforts. A hope that rests on the eternal, immutable God who made a promise. A hope that rests on a God so holy and just that sin must be punished. A hope that rests on a God so merciful and full of grace that he sent his son to satisfy his wrath and pay the ultimate penalty for our sins. A hope that rests on God. God who became a baby. God who became a man. Who lived a sinless life. Who died a sacrificial death. Who is the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus. A hope-a confident expectation-that we are in a right relationship with God, our Creator, because the sin that separates us from him was punished when Christ died on that cross in our place. A confident expectation that the righteousness of Christ was given to us when we believed. A hope. A hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Born to bear the sins of many.
⟶This Christmas season, what truths about Jesus Christ do you need to be reminded of?
⟶What truths about Jesus Christ do you need to rest in?
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