Second Sunday in Advent (2022)
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Romans 15:4-13
Romans 15:4-13
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we find in the Epistle lesson today that Paul wants Christians to know and understand why the Scriptures were written down and recorded, and look at what He says, they were written for our instruction, that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The Word of God
God’s Word was written for our instruction.
The question is what type of instruction, for there are different types of instruction and different materials. There is instruction that we receive in school from a teacher, there are instruction manuals that we try to find when something goes wrong, this word can also mean teaching. Which means there is something for us to learn from God’s Word.
It is meant to give us hope.
That is why God has given us His word, that we might have this hope that comes through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures. From this hope comes forth joy and praise of God. But how does it do this?
For the Word is living and active.
Most other books is just ink on a page, and while it may impart to us, knowledge and wisdom, adventure, or take us to distant worlds in the imagination of the author, the Word of God is very different.
The Word is God-spirited, i.e. the Spirit of God works upon us.
Which means this word is not a passive thing, but an active thing that transforms its hearers, and creates inside of them, faith, love, strength, and of course hope.
God Works Through The Word
God does not deal with us apart from His Word.
This is key for there are many who think of the Bible only as an instruction manual that they will open to help them when certain situations arise, but the Word is how God comes to us, and speaks.
This means the faith is not a matter of personal feelings or thoughts.
It is outside of us, it is not unique or different for each person, there is one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. He works upon us through His Word.
For no prophecy was by the will of man, but came from the Holy Spirit.
That’s why even though the Scriptures were written down by man, they were men that were recording what the Holy Spirit gave to them for all mankind.
This is why the prophets would say, Thus saith the Lord.
They aren’t just speaking their own wisdom or insight, but they are giving to us the Words of Your Creator, who already knows you, but desires that you know Him. That is why thinking of the Bible as an instruction manual isn’t helpful, rather see it as God’s Letter to the World that the world might know Him. If you don’t read it, you won’t know Him.
The Hope in Scripture
God desires that everyone have this hope.
For as we learned on Wednesday night at our Advent that the world is not as it should be, its been corrupted by the sin of Adam. We try to build our hope on things that are perishable, but the Word of God remains forever.
This hope comes through the endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures.
It teaches us to cling to that which is immovable, that which is strong instead of a world that is wearing out. We go back to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit strengthens us to stand firm in a world that is passing away.
The Word does this by pointing us to Jesus.
For our hope is not found inside of ourselves, the Bible is not a self-help book, rather it points us to the one who has conquered for our sake. It says that what we need is found in him who lives forever.
God’s Word gives this hope to Jew and Gentile.
This was quite shocking for the disciples and the early church, it was dominated initially by the Jewish people who had waited for the messiah, but then they saw the Holy Spirit came upon the gentiles as well.
The Word Meant For All
The promises spoken to the patriarchs were meant for all.
What was spoke to Adam, to Abraham, to Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon and so on was meant for all people. The Old Testament wasn’t just meant for nation of Israel but for all people.
We all together glorify God the Father with one voice.
When we witness the scene before the throne in Revelation there is a great multitude from all the earth. From every nation, tribe, peoples and languages.
The Old Testament was written for your benefit.
Now it might not seem like that with all the wild and crazy names, but the Old Testament is God’s Word for you as well. So we should study it and learn it.
Studying the Word
To be filled with joy and peace, we must be in the Word.
So we want to spend time in it daily, for this hope cannot be built upon a foundation that does not exist. So start, but if you haven’t been in the word, don’t expect it to be a simple matter. It will take some time and effort on your part. There will be parts that are murky and uncertain, but the more you are in it, the easier it will be.
When peace, harmony, and joy are lacking, we need the Holy Spirit.
These are gifts that come from God, and gifts that God wants you to have. They only come through the Holy Spirit, that we might have love and joy and peace, and that is needed in a world that is given over to chaos everyday.
Where is He found?
It is in the Word, so let us be in the Word, that the Spirit of GOd might work upon us and give to us strength and purpose in this life. That we might not cling to those things which are perishable but to God our heavenly father.
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we must not forget that it has been consistently the Word that God spoke to people in need of hope, to Adam and Eve in the Garden, to Abraham and Sarah, that pointed ahead to the salvation for all mankind. These Words recorded by the Holy Spirit were also for your hope and salvation, that you learn that the Word of God is true, and when Jesus says, He is with us until the end of this age, that we might have hope and joy as we wait for his return. In Jesus name. Amen.