Saturday, December 07, 2013

Romans 15; 4-13; Second Sunday in Advent; December 8, 2013;

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston & Mt. Ayr, Iowa;

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. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:4-13, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hope. Now there’s a good word for Advent. Hope. As Christmas gets closer, I’m sure you’ve heard statements like these: “I hope I get a bicycle for Christmas.” “I hope I get and American Girl doll.” “I hope I get a ten point buck.” “I hope I don’t get any socks.” “I hope I get a new shotgun.” “I hope…” “I hope…”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13, ESV)

Well, there’s something different there isn’t there? The hope that St. Paul tells us about, in fact, promises is ours, isn’t quite like those gift receiving hopes is it. Well, how about, “I hope my family stays healthy.” “I hope milk prices don’t go any higher.” “I hope the family conflict is resolved and we don’t fight anymore over the holidays.” “I hope all those delinquent members come back to church.” "I hope things will work out in Mt. Ayr" “I hope the church figures out its budget.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13, ESV)

Well, maybe that’s not it either. Although those things are all good, that doesn’t seem to be exactly what God is talking about here, is it? Everybody wants to have hope. You want hope. Your parents and grandparents wanted to have hope. People who never darken the doors of a church want hope. The question about hope is, exactly what is it? What makes hope, well hopeful?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13, ESV)

But there’s more to hope, as God promises it, than just feeling secure, or being happy with the way things are going for my life. In fact, some of the most hopeful people, had troubles, more than you and I can even imagine.

Noah had hope. He built a monstrosity of a boat no where near water, only because God asked him to. He was the laughing stock of the neighborhood. No one would listen to him when he said “the end is near.” He knew the massive death that was coming to all of them. Yet, he had hope.

Abraham had hope, even though he was 100 years old. God promised that he would have a son that would be the key to God’s promise of a Savior. Then when he was born, God said to kill him as a sacrifice only to save him at the last moment. Abraham had hope. Even in the face of what seemed impossible.

Moses marched into Pharaoh’s court, one man against a whole nation, he did it with hope. Pharaoh didn’t listen. Yet, Moses believed beyond all reason that God would do as He promised. Moses had hope.

These examples of hope come from the Bible and are summarized in the wonderful chapter of Hebrews 11. It goes on and on, one hopeful, faithful follower of God after another, described by St. Paul here in Romans:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13, ESV)

You see, that kind of hope is more than people on the street are talking about when they say, “I hope…” Hope for a believer has some Spiritual content, in fact it has Holy Spiritual content. Moses, Abraham, Noah and all the others had hope, but it wasn’t just positive feelings, it was hope placed in the promises of God. There is no doubt that God would do what he said he would do. They didn’t always see it, they had their doubts, but God’s promise is always true. One of my seminary professors said that hope is “quietly waiting on God.” I like that. I have hope in God, that doesn’t mean that everything in my life is going to be smooth sailing, it means the no matter what happens, God will resolve it properly.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15a, ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

We hope for what is not seen, that means, even when things are rough, even when we can’t see the good in something, we quietly wait on God to set it right. That’s hope.

May the God of hopep fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:13, ESV)

But there is more to it than that. We can’t just place our hope in a generic ‘god’ who promises good things for us. We have no connection to God without Jesus. That’s exactly what St. Paul is saying when he says,

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given… (Rom 15:8, ESV)

Jesus Christ is God fulfilling His promises. Jesus Christ is the Hope of God’s people. One of my favorite hymns is “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.” It talks about the hope we have in Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

Verse 3:

His oath, his covenant, his blood Sustain me in the raging flood;
When all supports are washed away, He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

That’s where our hope is founded, in God’s answered promise in Jesus Christ. God’s promised forgiveness given to us through Jesus precious blood spilled out on the cross for us. Since God sent his son to death on our behalf, we can have a sure and certain hope that everything else in our lives works out for our benefit. It is based on the forgiveness of sins. Jesus death on the cross is our forgiveness. In his death our relationship to God has restored. Holy baptism is our connection to Jesus life death and resurrection and his our adoption into all God's promises. If he takes care of our greatest need, forgiveness, he will take care of all other needs.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32, ESV)

That’s the hope found in Jesus; Jesus in the manger, born of the virgin; Jesus living every day just like you and me; Jesus on the cross bleeding and dying; Jesus walking from the tomb alive again; Jesus rising from the dead promising us new life. Because of Jesus we can quietly wait on God to do what God does. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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