Sermon: Biblical Hope

2^nd Sunday in Advent, 2010

 

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Romans 15:4-13

 

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

It’s that time of year again in which every day vocabulary is expanded to include the word “hope.” The word will be seen on decorations, greeting cards, and headlines. During last month’s season of elections, once again there was the buzz of hope for the future. During this season of gift purchasing, the economists hope that there is a lot of spending for the sake of the economy. During this season of college and professional football, fans are hoping that their favorite team will be number one. During this season of winter, skiers hope that we will have some snow. And of course we hope to be in our new building by the end of January.

 

To hope is to trust in something that is not seen at the current time. There is much to do about the audacity of hope lately. However, the typical hope is far different than the biblical hope. The previous elections may not see the dramatic changes that are hoped for. Your favorite football team may not be number one as hoped. Their may not be enough snow anytime soon for great skiing. And of course, we may not be in our new building by the end of January. Theses are all hopeful things that are by no means guaranteed.

 

During the season of Advent, we put our hope in Christ which was confirmed in His first advent and promised in His second advent. In today’s epistle lesson the word hope is used four times in ten verses. The Father is called the God of hope. He is the source of all hope. The Son is the Only One in whom both Jews and Gentiles can place their hope. He brings hope to all nations. The Holy Spirit gives to us the gift of abundant hope. Through the written word, He works hope in our hearts in the midst of afflictions.

 

In today’s epistle lesson, the Holy Spirit teaches that "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.” (Romans 15:4, ESV) Did you catch that? The scriptures are given to us so that we might have hope. Biblical hope is far different than typical hope in which you might have what you hoped for. The Bible is gifted to us so that we might have hope. This hope is tied to the promises of God.

 

See, the Jews were entrusted with the written scriptures in which the promises of God were found. These promises are all grounded in the hope of the coming Messiah. Without the scriptures, the Gentiles did not have the promises and thus they had no hope. They had no hope in the life to come. They had no hope in the coming Messiah. However, the written scriptures themselves testified to the reality that even the Gentiles would put their hope in Christ. Jesus is the Savior of the nations. When the Messiah was born of the Virgin Mary and became a servant to the point of death on the cross, the promises to the patriarchs were confirmed. The fact that not all Jews believe on the Messiah and that the knowledge of salvation was taken to the Gentiles was in accordance with the written word. 

 

In today’s epistle, the Apostle Paul writes, “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.” (Romans 15:9-12, ESV)

 

The written scriptures testified before hand that God’s own people would reject Him as their God and that those who were not His people would become His people and He would be their God. Everything had turned upside down. The Jews had lost their hope in the Messiah. They put their hope in their own imaginations. Just as the Gentiles were without hope when they didn’t have the written word, the Jews are without hope while they don’t have the incarnate word.

 

Thus, as the people of God, we are warned not to lose the written scriptures and thus lose hope. By nature we are sinful and unclean. We were born without hope. Our hope is not in this life, but in the life to come. Don’t put your trust in princes or presidents they will not measure up to what we hope for. Don’t put your trust in men, whether they are football players, meteorologist, or even builders. They will end up disappointing. Rather, put your trust in Jesus who is our hope. He will never disappoint. 

 

The Christmas message is peace on earth meaning that God and sinner have been reconciled. This is not peace like the world gives. It is the peace that comes from, in, and, with God. Being justified through faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:1). This promise is not seen now, but it will be seen in the life to come. Now we walk by faith and then we will walk by sight. Now we trust in the promise having hope in what we cannot see. We wait for the full reality with patience. 

 

In a similar fashion, the children are trained to wait patiently for Christmas day as we count down the four Sundays in Advent. We may begin to see Christmas decorations and even presents under the tree, but they can’t see the presents inside those package. That will not be revealed until Christmas.

 

At the first Christmas, the King of Kings was wrapped in swaddling cloths. The Son was given by the Father as a gift to the world. This gift was unwrapped on the cross. Now this is the audacity of hope namely a crucified King counted as unwanted and cut off from the land of the living. This hope is completely contrary to typical hope. Yet, biblical hope declares that the cross is the means through which the kingdom of God comes. After three days, the King rises to reign over the earth. As the scripture confirms the first advent in the birth, death, and resurrection of the Christ, it affirms the second advent of the return of the King.

 

Christ considered it all joy to suffer and be afflicted for us. Through His passion, we are given joy beyond all comprehension. And now His joy is given to us in the midst of our afflictions so that we may abound in hope. God is the God of hope. God is the God of endurance and encouragement. Through the testing of these afflictions, we are given the promises of God’s word to give to us endurance and encouragement. Through His word, the Holy Spirit works an abundance of joy.

 

We are called to be diligent to study the scriptures which were written for us so that we might have hope. Our hope is in Christ. Paul closes today’s epistle lesson with these words, “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 15:13, ESV) Here we have all three of those Christmas words namely, hope, peace, and joy. Again, these biblical words are not the same as typical words. These words find their source, their fulfillment, and their power from the Blessed Holy Trinity. Amen.