Advent 2021 - Peace

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to focus on peace.

Peace - Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

FREEDOM is the word I take from this definition. Advent provides the opportunity for believers in Jesus across the world to know freedom.

“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes… and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Our hearts, our souls, cry from within, a desire for peace. Not the peace of the Christmas season, but peace with God. We need to know eternal, unending peace. Jesus Christ is our peace.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Henry W. Longfellow

1 I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace of earth, good will to men.

2 I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th'unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men.

3 And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said, "For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men."

4 Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men."

5 Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Does the message of this song written in 1863 ring true today? Is there a broken call for peace on earth? Freedom from bondage, sin, pain, depression, and sickness?

READ JOHN 3:16-19

“The degree of God’s love for mankind”

For God “so” loved the world.

“so” (houtos) = so much

“one and only Son” (monogenes) = One of a kind

This verse presents a consise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world He created. This was divine care for the ENTIRE world. Not just the chosen people of Israel.

The Love of Christ

When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. "And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" he asked one. "I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," was the reply. Another said, "I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ." Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, "All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ."

A missionary in Africa was once asked if he really liked what he was doing. His response was shocking. "Do I like this work?" he said. "No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse...But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to &ls;Go," and we go. Love constrains us."

God’s love is not merely sentimental. God loved us enough to take action.

God loved the world so much that he sent His son Jesus to be a substitute for sinful men and women.

Jesus died in our place.

Salvation through Jesus requires faith. Everyone who believes in Jesus through faith will not die in their sins, but have eternal life.

The gift of Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

“The purpose of God’s love for mankind”

Motivated by love, God acted to save the world.

Salvation from sin and divine judgment is free for the taking.

The rejection of Jesus results in condemnation. The New Testament roots all salvation as faith in Christ. There is not other way to achive right standing with God.

“Sent” rather than “gave”.

Jesus came to save the world. Every nation, tribe, and person from every age of life.

He did so to honor the will of His Father.

It was God’s will for Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of mankind.

When I preach weddings, I find out what the bride wants and carries out her wishes.

Jesus loved people, but loved His father’s will above all. God sent Jesus because He loved us at our worst moment.

St. Ambrose - “Not without the Father does He work; not without the Father’s Will did He offer Himself for that most holy passion, the victim slain for the salvation of the whole world; not without his Father’s Will concurring did He raise the dead to life… He might still express His oneness with the Father in will and operation, in that the Father hears all and sees all that the Son wills, and therefore also the Father also sees the Son doing, hears the utterance of His will, for the Son made no request,and yet said that he had been heard.”

God purposed love for you and me to experience. For all mankind to be saved, God had to will it to be.

This is why there is no purpose in disbelieving in God’s love for you.

For man to reject the love of God, they commit the most serious of sins against Him. To reject God is to reject eternal life.

Salvation is possible only for those who believe.

“The light of God’s love for mankind”

Those in darkness try to hide their sinful deeds in vain.

The dualism of light and darkness is a common theme in John’s gospel.

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” - (John 1:9)

Evil refers to deeds that flow from unbelief. Anything done apart from faith in Christ is no better than the worst eveil.

The only way to know what you have received for Christmas is to open the gift with your name on it.

Jesus is the light who came into the world.

Truth draws us toward the light.

Evildoing will be exposed.

There is a call for the church to see the gift of salvation so we can know our future on earth and in heaven.

(READ PSALM 24)

Merry Christmas. “Lift up your eyes toward the entrance of the city and see the KING OF GLORY come in!