Advent; Hope, Peace, Love, Joy

Advent

We get the word advent from the Latin word, Adventus, and it means coming or arrival

It was used in the Roman empire when Caesar was coming to town and it also spoke of the great anticipation of his arrival.

The Christian Church adopted this word and applied it to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

The 4 weeks or candles of Advent are Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy, but not necessarily in that order.

So let’s talk about Hope

Hope

What does hope mean, especially in our word? Wishful thinking

But the Biblical idea of hope is more allow the lines of confident assurance and an expectation or belief in the fulfillment of something.

Hope and faith are intricately woven, our faith is not empty irrational, or illogical, even though it is based in things believed and not seen.

Hope is the same, we believe, have faith in Jesus, who He is and what He’s done, what He’s promised etc.

He rose from the dead, said he provided forgiveness, told us we will be with Him in paradise, we will rise from the dead just as He did.

Hebrews 6:19–20 ESV

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Psalm 42:5–6 ESV

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

Peace

When you hear the word peace what do you think of?

For most it’s the absence of conflict, maybe a calmness, and both of those are circumstantial

The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom, and this word carries a much deeper meaning.

It includes a calmness, an inner calmness but it is due to a relationship not a circumstance.

Shalom also involves a completeness, a wholeness, and that all is good.

What could give you this kind of peace? Well, because it’s part of our Advent series, I hope you’d say Jesus, and you’d be right.

In the O.T. Shalom was centered in God, because Israel was God’s chosen people and God loved them and cared for them, they had Shalom, wholeness, completeness, all is good because of God.

In the N.T. the word is eirene, but it carries the same connotations, a wholeness, a wellness, a completeness, a sense that all is good because of our association with Jesus.

This should bring all kinds of benefits to us.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Romans 15:13 ESV

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.

Love

What is love? Is it an emotion? An action?

There is an expression here saying, “love is a verb” it’s an action word.

What does that mean?

The love we are most familiar with is a Greek word called eros. This is a selfish consuming kind of love.

This love is more concerned with self than others.

In the US most marriages are contractual, not covenantal, they are mutually beneficial at first, both bringing a benefit to the other and helping them with their happiness.

But at some point, maybe one or both aren’t living up to the others expectations, so because this is a contract based on benefit and happiness, If one isn’t happy, it’s time to break the contract.

Well, true love isn’t like that. True love is a commitment, it’s not a feeling it’s a promise. Think about the wedding vows, what kind of love is that?

This love is called agape in the Greek, it’s an unconditional committed love for the benefit of the other not self.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:9–10 ESV

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Joy

What is Joy? Is it the same as happiness?

The word joy is the word chara in the Greek and it means gladness, state of rejoicing, happiness, and reason for gladness

This goes way beyond happiness.

Happiness is very circumstantial, but joy biblically is rooted in an event, in a person, the person of Jesus.