Advent Hymn
1. Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favored sinners slain;
thousand, thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ appears on earth again.
2. Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the True Messiah see.
3. Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears;
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshipers;
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars!
4. Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee,
high on thy eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou shalt reign and Thou alone!
The Collect for Advent Sunday (The First Sunday in Advent)
(Used with all Collects during the Season of Advent, until Christmas Eve)
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when He shall come again in His Glorious Majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to Life Immortal, through Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent
Blessed Lord, Who has caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may so wisely hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of Everlasting Life, which You have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Epistle Romans 15:4-13
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13 May the God Who inspires hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Gospel of St Luke 21:25-32
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Bishop Ian’s Thoughts
Today’s Epistle Reading is taken from St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans Chapter 15, Verses 4-13.
In this portion of Scripture St Paul strongly urges the Roman Christians to be united, as one, in the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time St Paul wrote this Epistle, there was the threat of a factional split in the Roman Church between those members who came from a Jewish Background and those members who came from a Non-Jewish (Gentile) pagan background.
The Roman Christians who came from a Jewish background held that circumcision was an important, if not essential, element of any relationship with the One True God.
Those members of the Roman Church who had been converted from a Gentile pagan background would have had very little regard for the value of, or even known of, the historical significance of circumcision.
Circumcision for an adult man was a most painful and traumatic procedure from the time of its institution in the Old Testament, right up until the age of modern anesthetics, when it became a relatively pain free medical procedure.
The disabling pain of adult circumcision is recorded in Genesis Chapter 34, Verses 11-26, where we are told of the murder of Hamor (the Ruler of Shechem) and his son, named Shechem.
Levi and Simeon, two of Jacob’s sons, deceived Hamor and his son Shechem into becoming circumcised, along with all the men of the city, in order for Shechem to honourably marry Dinah (Levi and Simeon’s sister). Dinah had been previously, captured and violated by the uncircumcised Shechem:
On the third day after the circumcision, Hamor, Shechem and all the men of the city, were in pain and disabled. Levi and Simeon used that opportunity to exact treacherous and murderous revenge on Hamor, Shechem, and all the men folk of their city. This is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Chapter 34, Verses 11-25:
“11 Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12 Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife.”
13 Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. 14 They said to them, “We can’t do such a thing; we can’t give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. 15 We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. 16 Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We’ll settle among you and become one people with you. 17 But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our sister and go.”
18 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19 The young man, who was the most honoured of all his father’s family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to the men of their city. 21 “These men are friendly toward us,” they said. “Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours. 22 But the men will agree to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are. 23 Won’t their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us.”
24 All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.
25 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. 26 They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left.”
New born Jewish male babies are circumcised on the eight day after birth, in accordance with God’s covenant given to Abraham and recorded in Genesis Chapter 17, Verses 9-14:
“9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
At eight days after birth, a baby's levels of platelets, prothrombin and also vitamin K, which is essential for prothrombin production, are at their highest level. This combination of factors ensures adequate blood clotting in response to the bleeding of circumcision.
The prothrombin level on the eighth day after birth is above 100% of normal levels.
This is the only day in a male’s life that this is the case, so the eighth day is ideal for circumcision.
Once again the Holy Bible reveals a great deal of scientific truth, recorded thousands of years before being “discovered” by modern scientists.
Another testimony to the trauma of circumcision in the Old Testament era, were men who were devout worshipers of God within the Jewish faith, known as “God Fearers”.
These “God Fearers” honoured the Law of Moses and sought to keep its commands, however they did not become full Jews, as they stopped short of undergoing circumcision.
Circumcision was also a major stumbling block to the young Church at Galatia as the Christians from a Jewish background actively taught that, to be saved, all men needed to believe and accept the Holy Gospel, and also to undergo circumcision.
This was a “Holy Gospel Plus” teaching that some Jewish converts of the early Christian Churches were promoting. This false gospel was a satanic corruption and an insult to God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Belief in, and acceptance, of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the only requirement for Salvation.
The issue of circumcision, of male Gentile converts, was resolved by a meeting of Christian leaders at a conference, known as the Council of Jerusalem, held around AD 50.
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 1 records this Council, with Verses 5-21, covering the heart of the matter:
“5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
“12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written”:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
18 things known from long ago.”
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
In our Epistle Reading St Paul exhorts the Roman Christians to look to the Holy Scriptures for leadership, endurance and support in every aspect of their daily lives, and especially in their fellowship with other believers:
“4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
“5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
St Paul then effectively commands the Roman, and all other Churches to freely accept Christian believers from different backgrounds as an act of worship, and honour, to the Lord Jesus Christ:
“7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed .”
St Paul then uses specific quotes from the Old Testament to illustrate and reinforce his message to the Roman Church:
“9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
His first quote is from Psalms 18:49:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
The second quote is from The Book of Deuteronomy 32:42:
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
The third quote is from the Book Psalms 117:1
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
The fourth and final quote is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 11:10:
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
The “Root of Jesse” (a descendant of Jesse, King David’s father) is the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is on that basis that St Paul exhorts that the Roman Church to put aside false teaching, that leads to divisions within the church, and be united.
He concludes his message with this powerful benediction:
“13 May the God Who inspires hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In this season of Advent let us give thanks and praise to God, as we prepare to celebrate the day of the Lord Jesus’ long awaited birth into our world, as the only Truly Human, and Truly Divine Man, to dwell among men and women bringing the Light of God’s Truth, and Salvation, by the Shedding of His Holy Blood on the Cross of Calvary, His Death, and His Glorious Resurrection, to a world held captive by the darkness and power of sin.
Also let us all express our gratitude to God and His Mighty Holy Spirit, in the praise, and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to give His Life, as the One True, Perfect Man, in order that the penalty required, for our sin, by God’s Holy Law, could be paid by the giving of the Lord Jesus’ Perfect, Sinless, Life. Amen.
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading is taken from the Holy Gospel of St Luke Chapter 21, Verses 25-32.
In this portion of his Holy Gospel, St Luke records the Lord Jesus’ solemn revelation of the world shaking events, in nature and in mankind's affairs, that will occur at the time when the Lord Jesus will return to this world, not as a helpless baby in the manger, but as the all conquering triumphant “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” as the the Book of the Revelation of St John, Chapter 19, Verse 16 declares:
'“ 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
The Lord Jesus reveals that prior to His Second Coming there will be signs in nature to indicate what is coming:
“25 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lord Jesus tells of great signs in the visible sky involving “the sun the moon and the stars”. There will be also great natural catastrophes that will cause terror among the peoples of the world. The celestial and geographic upheavals will cause exacerbation of the worldwide fear resulting from political anguish and unrest.
This social upheaval will involve escalating violence, leading to all-out war, fueled by suspicion, fear, greed and hate. There will be conflicts resulting from social displacement due to natural calamities involving earthquakes, fires, floods, droughts and other pestilences, resulting in severe famine.
These catastrophes cannot be overcome.
The Lord Jesus commands all Christians, alive at that time, not to be afraid as these things begin to unfold, but to “stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lord Jesus then tells a parable (an earthly story which illustrates a Spiritual truth):
“29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”
We are to rejoice as these events begin to unfold, for they are the prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Great Day of Judgment, when Satan and his fallen angels, already judged by God, will be exposed, together with all evil men and women, through out all the ages of man, who have rejected the Lord Jesus, and served Satan.
They all will be eternally dammed, into the Lake of Fire, for their evil works wrought in both the spiritual and physical world.
Our Holy Gospel Reading concludes with the Lord Jesus declaring that the generation of people who witness the momentous events that will overtake the world in the last days will not pass away before they see the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.
“32 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”
The Lord concludes His teaching by declaring that His Mighty Words will never pass away, but will endure forever:
“33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Immediately following the Great Judgement the Lord Jesus will establish His Everlasting Kingdom, which the Prophet Isaiah, in Chapter 64, Verse 4 of his Old Testament Book prophetically describes, and which is re-asserted by St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian Church, Chapter 2, Verse 9:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived
the things God has prepared for those who love him”
The Eternal Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ will be filled with wonders and beauty far exceeding that which any person, of any age in the world’s history, could have imagined.
We will rejoice in God’s Eternal Kingdom. No sin, no greed, no anger, or hate, and no sadness, sickness, or death, only joyful Eternal Life with our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mighty Holy Spirit, and fellow Christians from all the ages of history.
The Holy Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, gives us small glimpses of what life in the Eternal Kingdom of God will be like:
The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah tells us in Chapter 11, Verses 6-9 of his book:
“6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.”
Also, St Paul describes what our mortal earthly bodies will become, in his Epistle to the Philippians Chapter 3, Verse 21:
“20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
St Paul is drawing on the Lord Jesus’ statement of our existence in Heaven. As recorded in the Holy Gospel of St Mark Chapter 12 Verse 25:
“25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
This statement of the Lord Jesus was given as part of His answer to the “trick question” concerning marriage in Heaven, asked by the Sadducees, who did not believe in any resurrection or afterlife.
This question was designed to make the Lord Jesus appear foolish by affirming the existence of an afterlife, and providing an answer on the ludicrous question of whose wife, in Heaven, a woman would be, as she had seven husbands on earth.
In Heaven there is no death so no marriage is required to procreate children to perpetuate the family line.
Imagine an immortal body, that like that of an angel’s, which is able to be at one place and then disappear and reappear, in an instant, at another place.
It may be that God’s Eternal Kingdom is an inter-dimensional Kingdom where we will be able to see and move between different dimensions.
Our glorified bodies will never suffer starvation if we do not eat, however we will be able to enjoy the finest food we can imagine, at the Lord Jesus’ Banquet.
For all Eternity we will enjoy rewarding activities that bring us great pleasure and satisfaction and complete fulfilment.
The greatest pleasure will be our Love, Praise, and Worship of God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mighty Holy Spirit.
Let us all concentrate our thoughts and prayers, during this Advent Season, in thankful praise to Almighty God who has saved us, through faith, given to us by the Holy Spirit, in the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Ian