"Advent Hope's Foundation!" Romans 15:4-13
Series: Advent Epistle Sermons
December 10, 2023
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
'Come Lord Jesus!" the Church prays awaiting Christ's Final Coming in glory to judge the living (Christians) and the dead (non-Christians) on the Last Day. While the worldling cowers in fear, the Christian lives in Hope! Sermon Text: Romans 15:4-13. Sermon Theme: "Advent Hope's Foundation!" Preached for Populus Zion, The 2nd Sunday in Advent, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
Episode Notes
Populus Zion - The Second Sunday In Advent 10-December-2023
Sermon Text: Romans 15:4-13
Sermon Theme: Advent Hope’s Foundation! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I. Christ’s Written Everlasting Word! (Vs.4)
II. Prayer To God The Father..(vs.5-6)
III. Holy Spirit Given Fellowship In The Congregation.(vs.7-12)
IV. Our Loving God’s Benediction. (Vs.13)
I.N.R.I. “The powers of heaven will be shaken!” Advent nears! The only begotten Son of God’s first advent was in humility and weakness. Born of a Virgin. Born in a borrowed Bethlehem cave which served as a stable. Lived in poverty. No place to lay His head. Abandoned by all. Died covered with shame. Buried in a borrowed cave tomb in which no corpse had yet been laid.
Physically risen from death. Ascended to rule over heaven and earth. He now rules through humble means. His Word carried from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth by sinful men preaching it. His resurrection victory sealed with simple water and His Word. His fruit from the Tree of Life - the Cross - placed upon your lips in Word, bread, and wine. He rules an everlasting kingdom - His Church - which appears weak in the eyes of the world. Jesus’ ongoing advent in His Church is in the humble means of His Word and Sacraments. “Bah humbug,” the world mocks.
“The powers of heaven will be shaken!” The final Advent of Jesus will be in power and great glory. Malachi, the prophet, saw it coming like a fiery burning oven consuming all evil doers as stubble.
Final Advent draws near! Repent! Believe! Hope! Rejoice! Be at peace! Learn well: Advent Hope’s Foundation!
I. Christ’s Written Everlasting Word! (Vs.4)
II. Prayer To God The Father..(vs.5-6)
III. Holy Spirit Given Fellowship In The Congregation.(vs.7-12)
IV. Our Loving God’s Benediction. (Vs.13)
I. On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus taught His disciples of the signs preceding the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, which would happen in 70 A.D... He also taught them the signs preceding His final advent - Judgment Day! Signs in the heavens. Signs in nations distressed. Signs in roaring seas. Signs in despairing hearts fearing the future. Fear that creation is coming undone, its environment destroyed, and man is to blame for breathing out CO2 and for using the concentrated solar energy of oil and natural gas. The dire prediction of the earth demise by climate change haven’t come to fruition, but they are right about one thing. Man is responsible for the demise, the undoing, of our creation.
Hear the truth. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Creation was led into corruption and death by Adam’s sin. Our sin of rebelling against our Creator’s love and His Word that corrupted all. Especially our inner most being - our imagination is evil from conception, chained to Satan, bound for hell, loving worldly lies, trusting in our own wisdom, ways, and feelings. Creation longs for its undoing, that it may be set free from our sin. Listen! Rom 8:19-23 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
What is the foundation of hope as we see the world falling apart around us? (Rom.15:4) God the Holy Spirit through the pen of St. Paul teaches the church at Rome and all Christendom Christ’s Jesus’ doctrine. The Truth that all men have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. The Truth that salvation is our Creator’s gracious gift in His only begotten Son sacrificed for our sins once upon the cross. The Truth that we are saved only by God the Holy Spirit’s gift of Faith. Faith birthed in us in holy baptism knitting us together with Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and glory to be revealed at His final Advent.
Here we struggle. Declared saints by God the Father, through His Son’s cross and resurrection, made alive by His Holy Spirit through the Gospel - we are 100% saints. Born of Adam we are 100% sinners. War rages within. Our old fallen nature battles the new man created in us in Christ Jesus. We struggle. Where is our hope! In Jesus’ written Word! The Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi testify of Jesus! They are His Word and promise written by men by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.
In your struggles, fears, despair - run to His Word! Heaven and earth will fall down around you - but His Words will never pass away! They are written to teach you the Truth - Jesus! Listen to Jesus breathing forth His comforting Spirit blessing you with patience and comfort in the face of lives falling apart in a sinful world. Trials are sent to open your ears to trust in His Word alone. They teach us the weakness of our own strength - cling to Jesus and trust His promise. If you remember no other, trace the sign of the cross on your forehead and heart and repeat His promise sealed with water upon you, ‘I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” “You are mine! I will save you!”
II. Hearing Jesus in His written Word - He sends forth His Holy Spirit to open our lips with Advent Hope! (Rom. 15:5-6) Word given Spirit breathed advent hope in our heart prays to our God and Father.
The Father is the God of patience. He didn’t destroy Adam and all creation when he sinned and corrupted it all. He sought lost Adam and his wife hiding in the darkness with Satan. He called them by His Word and gave them a living hope by preaching the Good News He would send His Son to crush Satan’s head. He would rescue Adam’s children and creation from Satan’s delusions, sins corruption, and death’s reign.
Patiently He ordered times and seasons, until the fullness of time came to send forth His only begotten Son, born of a woman, born under the Law to redeem us who were born under the Law’s just condemnation.
Advent Hope prays! Prays for like mindedness in Christ’s doctrine - the only lasting comfort in these failing bodies and our falling world. We pray for forgiveness of our sins from Christ, to flow through us to forgive those who sin against us. We pray for unity of worship as the body of Christ - One mind and one mouth to glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In short Advent Hope breathes forth Jesus’ Words daily by His Holy Spirit crying out, “Our Father, who art in heaven!”
III. In Advent Hope we pray to God the Father to “stir up our hearts!” Awaken us from slumber! Make us uncomfortable! Stir us up! Make us ready! Come Lord Jesus! Come Now! Prepare us! Here! In Your Body - the Christian Church! (Rom. 15:7) Receive one another - come together as Christ’s Church - in a local congregation - Advent Hope’s foundation manifests itself in the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints.
Satan’s lie, worldly pride, and sin’s shame - tear us apart from one another fractured the fellowship of humanity. Still demonic forces in our world set one group against another, while chaining them with sin leading to death and hell.
Not you dear Christian! Live Advent Hope in the unity of Christ’s Church here at Emmanuel. Receive one another as Christ received a murdering blasphemer like St. Paul. He repented him of his sin, baptized and sent him to preach to us heathen! Christ’s congregation isn’t for self-glorification, but that we serve one another as Jesus serves. He poured out His innocent life unto death for you. Here in His body you are freed to pour out your life serving one another in love. It is all about giving as God has given you all in Jesus.
Listen! (Rom. 15:8-9) These are King David’s dying words - to Abraham’s descendants the Lord God entrusted His Word. It wasn’t for them to hide and keep it for themselves. It was given them to confess and sing it among us heathen - that we might hope in Jesus with them.
Listen to Moses’ dying words! (Rom. 15:10) The congregation of Israel was called to bear God’s Word to gather all nations into Christ’s Church. Sing forth the shortest Psalm! (Rom.15:11) Psa 117:1-2 Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! (2) For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! The hymns of the Old Testament Church were sung to gather us heathen into Christ’s body as one with them. Finally hear the great Advent prophet Isaiah, seven centuries before Jesus’ first advent as a Baby.(Rom. 15:12) When all would seemed lost for Judah and the line of David - from the dried up stump - its roots would shoot forth the everlasting King - Jesus. He suffers dies and rises to rule over us Gentiles with in His Church. He has in His body forever reconciled Jews and Gentiles as one in His flesh nailed to the cross. He binds us as one in Advent Hope within His Church - our local congregation.
Learn well Advent Hope’s Foundation is here in Holy Spirit given fellowship through Jesus’ Word by the Father’s grace. Christ’s body gathers Sunday after Sunday to be filled with hope, joy, life and peace through the never-failing Word of Jesus preached and His cross won empty tomb certified gifts - forgiveness, life, and salvation sealed to us sinners in water, word, meal, and wine. Here we are truly a family of hope - knit together in the living flesh of Jesus our King - He is coming soon!
IV. How can this be true? He speaks His blessing upon us! (Rom. 15:13). He is the God of Hope! The world crashes down around you! Now Jesus says - stand up! Look up! Your redemption draws near! New life is about to spring forth into this world gripped with sin’s wintery blast.
Stop your attempts to find your own Advent hope! Let Him alone fill you. Joy - you’re forgiven. Peace - Emmanuel - Jesus is here with you in your trials. Trust Him. Hope - He is coming to rescue you body and soul from sin, death, Satan, and hell. Fear not! The Son of Righteousness will soon arise with healing in His wings - arms outstretched for your sin on the cross - is coming in power and great glory with arms outstretched to hu g you to Himself forever. Amen.
Sermon Text: Romans 15:4-13
Sermon Theme: Advent Hope’s Foundation! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I. Christ’s Written Everlasting Word! (Vs.4)
II. Prayer To God The Father..(vs.5-6)
III. Holy Spirit Given Fellowship In The Congregation.(vs.7-12)
IV. Our Loving God’s Benediction. (Vs.13)
I.N.R.I. “The powers of heaven will be shaken!” Advent nears! The only begotten Son of God’s first advent was in humility and weakness. Born of a Virgin. Born in a borrowed Bethlehem cave which served as a stable. Lived in poverty. No place to lay His head. Abandoned by all. Died covered with shame. Buried in a borrowed cave tomb in which no corpse had yet been laid.
Physically risen from death. Ascended to rule over heaven and earth. He now rules through humble means. His Word carried from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth by sinful men preaching it. His resurrection victory sealed with simple water and His Word. His fruit from the Tree of Life - the Cross - placed upon your lips in Word, bread, and wine. He rules an everlasting kingdom - His Church - which appears weak in the eyes of the world. Jesus’ ongoing advent in His Church is in the humble means of His Word and Sacraments. “Bah humbug,” the world mocks.
“The powers of heaven will be shaken!” The final Advent of Jesus will be in power and great glory. Malachi, the prophet, saw it coming like a fiery burning oven consuming all evil doers as stubble.
Final Advent draws near! Repent! Believe! Hope! Rejoice! Be at peace! Learn well: Advent Hope’s Foundation!
I. Christ’s Written Everlasting Word! (Vs.4)
II. Prayer To God The Father..(vs.5-6)
III. Holy Spirit Given Fellowship In The Congregation.(vs.7-12)
IV. Our Loving God’s Benediction. (Vs.13)
I. On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus taught His disciples of the signs preceding the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, which would happen in 70 A.D... He also taught them the signs preceding His final advent - Judgment Day! Signs in the heavens. Signs in nations distressed. Signs in roaring seas. Signs in despairing hearts fearing the future. Fear that creation is coming undone, its environment destroyed, and man is to blame for breathing out CO2 and for using the concentrated solar energy of oil and natural gas. The dire prediction of the earth demise by climate change haven’t come to fruition, but they are right about one thing. Man is responsible for the demise, the undoing, of our creation.
Hear the truth. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Creation was led into corruption and death by Adam’s sin. Our sin of rebelling against our Creator’s love and His Word that corrupted all. Especially our inner most being - our imagination is evil from conception, chained to Satan, bound for hell, loving worldly lies, trusting in our own wisdom, ways, and feelings. Creation longs for its undoing, that it may be set free from our sin. Listen! Rom 8:19-23 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
What is the foundation of hope as we see the world falling apart around us? (Rom.15:4) God the Holy Spirit through the pen of St. Paul teaches the church at Rome and all Christendom Christ’s Jesus’ doctrine. The Truth that all men have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. The Truth that salvation is our Creator’s gracious gift in His only begotten Son sacrificed for our sins once upon the cross. The Truth that we are saved only by God the Holy Spirit’s gift of Faith. Faith birthed in us in holy baptism knitting us together with Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and glory to be revealed at His final Advent.
Here we struggle. Declared saints by God the Father, through His Son’s cross and resurrection, made alive by His Holy Spirit through the Gospel - we are 100% saints. Born of Adam we are 100% sinners. War rages within. Our old fallen nature battles the new man created in us in Christ Jesus. We struggle. Where is our hope! In Jesus’ written Word! The Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi testify of Jesus! They are His Word and promise written by men by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.
In your struggles, fears, despair - run to His Word! Heaven and earth will fall down around you - but His Words will never pass away! They are written to teach you the Truth - Jesus! Listen to Jesus breathing forth His comforting Spirit blessing you with patience and comfort in the face of lives falling apart in a sinful world. Trials are sent to open your ears to trust in His Word alone. They teach us the weakness of our own strength - cling to Jesus and trust His promise. If you remember no other, trace the sign of the cross on your forehead and heart and repeat His promise sealed with water upon you, ‘I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” “You are mine! I will save you!”
II. Hearing Jesus in His written Word - He sends forth His Holy Spirit to open our lips with Advent Hope! (Rom. 15:5-6) Word given Spirit breathed advent hope in our heart prays to our God and Father.
The Father is the God of patience. He didn’t destroy Adam and all creation when he sinned and corrupted it all. He sought lost Adam and his wife hiding in the darkness with Satan. He called them by His Word and gave them a living hope by preaching the Good News He would send His Son to crush Satan’s head. He would rescue Adam’s children and creation from Satan’s delusions, sins corruption, and death’s reign.
Patiently He ordered times and seasons, until the fullness of time came to send forth His only begotten Son, born of a woman, born under the Law to redeem us who were born under the Law’s just condemnation.
Advent Hope prays! Prays for like mindedness in Christ’s doctrine - the only lasting comfort in these failing bodies and our falling world. We pray for forgiveness of our sins from Christ, to flow through us to forgive those who sin against us. We pray for unity of worship as the body of Christ - One mind and one mouth to glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In short Advent Hope breathes forth Jesus’ Words daily by His Holy Spirit crying out, “Our Father, who art in heaven!”
III. In Advent Hope we pray to God the Father to “stir up our hearts!” Awaken us from slumber! Make us uncomfortable! Stir us up! Make us ready! Come Lord Jesus! Come Now! Prepare us! Here! In Your Body - the Christian Church! (Rom. 15:7) Receive one another - come together as Christ’s Church - in a local congregation - Advent Hope’s foundation manifests itself in the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints.
Satan’s lie, worldly pride, and sin’s shame - tear us apart from one another fractured the fellowship of humanity. Still demonic forces in our world set one group against another, while chaining them with sin leading to death and hell.
Not you dear Christian! Live Advent Hope in the unity of Christ’s Church here at Emmanuel. Receive one another as Christ received a murdering blasphemer like St. Paul. He repented him of his sin, baptized and sent him to preach to us heathen! Christ’s congregation isn’t for self-glorification, but that we serve one another as Jesus serves. He poured out His innocent life unto death for you. Here in His body you are freed to pour out your life serving one another in love. It is all about giving as God has given you all in Jesus.
Listen! (Rom. 15:8-9) These are King David’s dying words - to Abraham’s descendants the Lord God entrusted His Word. It wasn’t for them to hide and keep it for themselves. It was given them to confess and sing it among us heathen - that we might hope in Jesus with them.
Listen to Moses’ dying words! (Rom. 15:10) The congregation of Israel was called to bear God’s Word to gather all nations into Christ’s Church. Sing forth the shortest Psalm! (Rom.15:11) Psa 117:1-2 Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! (2) For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! The hymns of the Old Testament Church were sung to gather us heathen into Christ’s body as one with them. Finally hear the great Advent prophet Isaiah, seven centuries before Jesus’ first advent as a Baby.(Rom. 15:12) When all would seemed lost for Judah and the line of David - from the dried up stump - its roots would shoot forth the everlasting King - Jesus. He suffers dies and rises to rule over us Gentiles with in His Church. He has in His body forever reconciled Jews and Gentiles as one in His flesh nailed to the cross. He binds us as one in Advent Hope within His Church - our local congregation.
Learn well Advent Hope’s Foundation is here in Holy Spirit given fellowship through Jesus’ Word by the Father’s grace. Christ’s body gathers Sunday after Sunday to be filled with hope, joy, life and peace through the never-failing Word of Jesus preached and His cross won empty tomb certified gifts - forgiveness, life, and salvation sealed to us sinners in water, word, meal, and wine. Here we are truly a family of hope - knit together in the living flesh of Jesus our King - He is coming soon!
IV. How can this be true? He speaks His blessing upon us! (Rom. 15:13). He is the God of Hope! The world crashes down around you! Now Jesus says - stand up! Look up! Your redemption draws near! New life is about to spring forth into this world gripped with sin’s wintery blast.
Stop your attempts to find your own Advent hope! Let Him alone fill you. Joy - you’re forgiven. Peace - Emmanuel - Jesus is here with you in your trials. Trust Him. Hope - He is coming to rescue you body and soul from sin, death, Satan, and hell. Fear not! The Son of Righteousness will soon arise with healing in His wings - arms outstretched for your sin on the cross - is coming in power and great glory with arms outstretched to hu g you to Himself forever. Amen.
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