Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Rom. 13. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- This morning we begin the season of Advent – celebrating the fact that “THE WORD HAS COME.” The apostle John, in his Gospel wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Advent is the “beginning” of the Church year, and for good reason! All blessedness comes to us through this Word Who has come, the Son of the Heavenly Father!
- The Word is our Lord Jesus Christ, and “THE WORD HAS COME.” The apostle wrote: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” [Heb. 1:1,2] The message of our text is predicated upon this reality, that Jesus, the Word has come – and upon the blessedness that Christ has brought to us, forgiveness, life, and salvation.
- What if Jesus had not yet come? Have you ever thought about, or tried to imagine, what the world would be like, what your thinking would be like, what your life would be like, had Jesus not yet come? Just try to empty your mind of any thoughts of Jesus, of what He did on the cross, of what He does for you every day! It is impossible! What if there were no Christians in this world, no one to talk with about Jesus, no one who shared the hope and joy that you have in Christ! What a strange world that would be!
- The fact is, that all of our life, how we think, what we value, what we plan and hope for, is ultimately based in the blessed reality that Jesus has come. Yes, other things at times get in the way – perhaps far too much and far too often. But when the chips are down, when all else fails, when we are in those existential moments, we know that we have no hope except for the love of God in Christ Jesus! This is the background of Paul’s encouragement in our text – that “THE WORD HAS COME,” and this has ramifications for how we live even now! First Paul comforts us with the blessings that Jesus has brought to us:
I. The Word Has Come Who Brings Us Peace
A. We Have Peace In The Salvation That Is Ours In Christ
Text: “For our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”
B. We Have Peace In The Life Of Sanctification That Christ Empowers In Us
Text: “Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Statement: Because we have the assurance of salvation – forgiveness for our sins, peace with God, and the promise of eternal life, our lives are changed. We recognize that our future belongs with God and not with the pathetic darkness of this world. As we live to God this brings even greater peace and joy into our lives – and also sets our priorities, our goals, and our lifestyle.
Application: We need to be reminded of this, of the blessedness that is ours because “THE WORD HAS COME.” We need dwell on this blessedness as we live day by day – that our hearts and minds be oriented to those things that are truly good and that are eternal. This not only provides us with peace and joy, but provides those around us with much greater blessedness as well.
Even more it keeps us prepared for “that day and hour” that is coming, when the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ comes again in great glory. And this too is the message of our text, that:
II. The Day Of Judgment Is At Hand – Christ’s Return In Glory
Text: “The night is far gone; the day is at hand.”
Gospel: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
A. So God’s People Of Faith Are Described As Being Eager To Go To God’s House To Learn Of Him
OT Lesson: “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.’”
B. And Being Instructed By God, In Regard To His Salvation And The Ways Of Love, His People Are Eager To Walk In His Light
OT Lesson: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
Text: “Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime.”
Statement: Blessed are we if we know and believe these things, the wondrous blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that are ours in Christ Jesus, and the even greater blessings to come to us at His return in glory! If we truly believe these things and rejoice that “THE WORD HAS COME,” then already our lives are changed dramatically! We are eager to move past the things of this world, the things of the sinful flesh. We are eager to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in the light of the Lord.
Application: And much of this is incorporated into our fellowship together in the house of the Lord, where God teaches us His ways through His Word, the Bible, so that we may walk in His paths. How blessed we are as well if we have this joy and compulsion to draw near to God where He promises that He is with us – where His people gather together to hear His Word and to receive Him in His Sacrament!
Conclusion: In the next few weeks of Advent, and in our celebration of Christmas, we are rejoicing in the reality that “THE WORD HAS COME,” our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We do this as the first thing in the new Church year – for the coming of the Lord Jesus is the foundation of our faith, our hope, and our lives! It is what compels our coming to the mountain of the Lord, and what guides our hopes, goals, and priorities each day.
We can try to imagine what life would be like without the presence, comfort, instruction, encouragement, and guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ – but there is no need for this. He is here, with us always to the end of the age, and poised to return again in great glory! He is here to bless us, especially in our life and fellowship together as His dear people of faith within the church.
And always we are looking forward to His return, prepared always, knowing that He will come at an hour we do not expect. So we walk in the light of the Lord, adorned with the armor of light! God grant each of us such continued blessedness, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.