"The Advent"

“A little girl once opened a big box under the Christmas tree to find a giant doll that, when set upright, towered over her. Her parents noticed a few minutes later that the doll had fallen to the side, but the little girl was having a ball playing in the oversized box. We’re apt to do the same at Christmas, discarding the baby but having a great time with the wrappings.”

Definition: ADVENT Word with Latin roots, meaning “coming.” Christians of earlier generations spoke of “the advent of our Lord” and of “His second advent.” The first phrase refers to God’s becoming incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth. The latter phrase speaks of Jesus’ second coming.

In a second sense “advent” designates a period before Christmas when Christians prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

In essence,

“Advent is all about—the coming of Our Righteousness(Jesus), the blotting out of our sin! This is the justice of God."

Paul’s message in gives a panoramic view of history, of God’s glorious plan for man, thus for our understanding:

God has been working throughout all history: He suffered and bore with the ways of Israel (and of the world) []

Paul points is basically the same as Dea. Stephen’s point in

. God chose Israel, God delivered Israel, God put up with Israel’s weaknesses through the wilderness, God led Israel to conquer Canaan, God gave Israel judges, God gave Israel prophets, God gave Israel a king of their own choosing: Saul,

God raised up a special king of His own choosing: David (a type of Christ)[]

(NKJV) I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him,

20I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him,

Thus through the seed of David,

God has consummated history: He has given the world a Savior, Jesus

The promise of God: The Righteous Branch—the Ideal King, the Messiah—is coming ().

The Message of God to Corrupt Shepherds, the Civil and Religious Leaders of the Nation, 23:1-40

(23:1-40) Introduction: the task of a nation’s leaders is to build up the people under their authority. Good leaders work to build a society in which people…

will do what is right and just

will be compassionate and benevolent, helping and serving others

Because there were so many corrupt leaders in Judah, the Lord instructed His prophet to preach this message. But note how Jeremiah’s message applies to every generation of leaders.

He promised to send the righteous Branch into the world. (; ; ; ; ; ; ).

The Messiah will rule wisely and execute true righteousness and justice throughout the land ()[, , ]

(NKJV) 7You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

7You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

(NKJV) 5Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

5Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

(NKJV) 11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

The Messiah will save and reunite God’s people and give them peace (, , , )

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

(NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

(NKJV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

(NKJV) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

(NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

When Christ returns to earth, His people will be eternally secure from all threats, enemies, temptations, and trials. Perfect peace will reign on earth.

The Messiah will be called, “The Lord Our Righteousness” (; ; ). Jesus Christ is our righteousness.

(NKJV) In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’

15‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

16In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’

(NKJV) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

(NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Messiah will be the Savior who will bring about a greater exodus than the exodus from Egypt (vv.7-8; 16:14-15).

The Ideal King will gather His people from all the countries of the world and lead them back to the promised land of God (a symbol of heaven) [; ; ; ; ; ; ].

(NKJV) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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