Advent 2 2021
Romans 15:4-13
December 5, 2021
Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID
What is it that you are hoping for this year as we approach Christmas? Maybe you hope you get the present you wanted for Christmas. You hope you family is happy with what you got them. You hope the meal goes ok. You hope your family member is able to come home, or that you’re able to go see your loved ones. You hope to have a new addition to the family. You hope everyone gets along. Wishful thinking in a good way.
We have lots of hopes for this time of the year. When we think about these hopes and what we are saying, though, there’s often a certain level of doubt, or worry, or fear that our hopes will come to nothing. And so we try to reassure ourselves, think the best of the situation, do what we are able, and leave the rest up to God.
Today, though, we hear of a different kind of hope than what we normally talk about. This is the hope of Advent, the hope of Jesus’ coming. This is not wishful thinking. The Greek word here for hope carries a meaning of certainty and expectation that doesn’t allow for doubt. When St. Paul speaks of hope in our Epistle reading today, he means the unquestioning confidence and certain conviction that never disappoints – that as surely as Christ is risen, Christ comes.
The classic Christmas hymn, “O little town of Bethlehem” holds the answer at the end of the first stanza, “The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in Thee tonight.” In the coming of Jesus all our hopes are met and fears addressed. This hope in Jesus has a certainty because it is based on the only thing that is absolutely certain. This hope is based on the Lord Himself, “who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man, and was crucified also fur us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and buried, and the third He day rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven and sists at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.” And we know this, as we so often confess, according to the Scriptures.
And so St. Paul reminds us today, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). All of Scripture, Old and New Testament, was written to instill and maintain hope in the hearts of the waiting believers, Jews and Gentiles alike. It is God’s Word of hope to you. These things are written that through endurance and encouragement you might learn to hope aright. A hope that is based on the revealed will of God in His Word that points us to Jesus.
Scripture’s promises all point the One who made and keeps them, it’s prophecies to a better future. To illustrate this, Paul tells us Jesus became a servant to the circumcised, to the Jews, to show God’s truthfulness and that He keeps His promises. Christ trusted His Father even when human reason would say that all was hopeless. He endured all and suffered all. In doing so, He fulfilled the promises God had made ever since the fall into sin, throughout the history of Him guiding His chosen people and reassuring them over and over again of His coming.
So Scripture is also a record of people who trusted God’s promises and were not disappointed or put to shame. Faithful Israel patiently waited for Messiah to come. Although many lost hope and fell away, those who watched for the redemption of Israel did not lose patience but received the Lord’s coming with faith and joy!
And not just them. Paul quotes four Old Testament passages which highlight how these promises of God given to the patriarchs were also given in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.” Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the people extol Him.” “The root of Jesse will come, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.” (Romans 15:9b-12). The OT looked ahead to the day when Jews and Gentiles would worship God together. This day has come in Christ when people from all over the world are united through faith in Christ to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2) with a hope that does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Again, this hope is of certainty, not of doubt. In fact, doubt and despair are enemies of this Christian hope, enemies that are fought only by exposure to the Scriptures, the very Word of God again and again. This is part of reason why we hold extra midweek services and devotionals during this season of hope. This is part of the reason why, during this Epiphany Season, I will be conducting house blessings, sanctifying the Christian home with the Word of God and prayer for those who desire this reassurance of hope. It’s so that you may hear the promises of God again and again, to be reassured that you do not hope in vain, nor place your hope in the wrong things.
Let’s be honest, sometimes, especially during this time of the year, our sinful flesh steers us to put our hope in the things of this temporary world. We think our life is complete if we have them, and if we do not, then our life is empty and sad. We are taught to avoid pain and suffering almost at all costs, and that we can do that if we just have enough money, the best insurance or healthcare, the most friends, the newest toys. These are probably good gifts from God, yet we elevate them in our minds to a level that they should not occupy. Because earthly hopes eventually disappoint. They are false hopes after all. Toys will break. People will disappoint you. If you live long enough either your body or your mind will fail, or even both. False hopes in these earthly things eventually only leads to fear and despair, since even heaven and earth will pass away.
The God of hope fills us with the joy and peace in believing. There are indeed troubles that afflict us. There are needs that He allows to go unanswered for a time. There are wounds that heal slowly, or not at all in this life. He reminds us that the sheer magnitude of His love has been proven beyond a doubt upon Calvary. He reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us in the weakness we must endure. He speaks to us again and again, causing His majestic voice to be heard that you may have gladness of heart (Isaiah 30:29, antiphon of the Introit).
So let us not look around at this world to find our hope. Let us fix our eyes on the God of hope by fixing our attention on Christ and His Word, who is the hope of the Jew and Gentile alike, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. For Christ is risen and Christ is coming. This is most certainly true.