Advent 1-A, November 28, 2004
Text: Romans 13:11-14
Wake Up! Get Dressed! Christ Is Near! Christ Is Here!
The most difficult decision for many teenagers is deciding what to wear
in the morning. Your clothing makes an important statement about
yourself. Now that the season of Advent has begun it is time for us to dress
ourselves for the coming of Christ at Christmas. His coming has an
important significance for each of us personally.
Christ’s Threefold Coming
Christ came not only once. In fact, His coming is of a threefold
manner. His first coming into the world as a human being happened 2000 years
ago. At that time He came humbly for our salvation. His second coming
is in the future and can happen at any time, whenever God decides it is
time for the world to be judged. Then Jesus will return with power and
authority to judge all people who have ever lived on earth. Then there
is also a third way Christ comes and this is an ongoing spiritual
coming. Here He comes to help prepare us to welcome Him in His first coming
as our Saviour so we will be prepared and ready when He comes the
second time as Judge and King.
The Beginning of a Journey In Christ
This third way of Christ’s coming is like a journey we begin with
Christ. It involves an ongoing fellowship with Him. We began this journey
when we were Baptized into Christ. In Baptism we were given Jesus’
“clothing” to wear. We were dressed in His righteousness and perfect
holiness. Dressed with Christ, we then begin a journey “in Christ.” It is a
journey Jesus has already taken and we know where it leads. We followed
Jesus in our Baptism to His cross, we rested with Him in the tomb, and we
rose with Him to a life that never ends.
As we being another year of God’s grace, we know our celebration of
Christ’s birth in Bethlehem is only a stop on our way to our destination
in Jerusalem, on our way to a cross and empty tomb. Yes. We are going on
that journey because we are in Christ. And since today begins a new
church year, today that journey begins for us.
Advent proclaims that Christ is near. In each of the last three Sundays
it was emphasized that the time is near for Christ’s second coming at
the end of the world. These last Sundays of the church year remind us
that we must be ready at any time for Christ’s coming in judgment.
Christ’s Advent Coming is Not As Our Judge But As Our Saviour
On this First Sunday of Advent, however, we observe Christ’s coming
differently. Paul reminds us, “Our salvation is nearer now than when we
first believed” (13:11). Christ is near to save us! That is why His first
coming was not in glory but in humility. Jesus chose to go to the cross
to secure our salvation. His was born to die. This prepared Him for His
glorious second coming. Then He will gather all who receive Him into
the eternal joy of Heaven. That is the end of our journey and the
beginning of a new life.
Advent is a Time of Great Anticipation
This new life is nearer for us every day! The first century Christians
lived in daily anticipation of Christ’s return. Were they misguided? Of
course not! Expecting Jesus helped them not only to be ready for Him,
but to live their lives in such a way that their priorities were always
right. It ensured they would not be sidetracked from the mission God
has given every Christian: To be awake and dressed, ready to meet Christ.
Do we live with that same eager anticipation of meeting Jesus? If we
are, every major decision we make should reflect that all-important fact.
When we consider spending a large sum of money, or making a big time
commitment, we should ask ourselves two important questions: “Is this the
best use of the precious resources God has entrusted to me?” And: “He
is this helping me prepare for Christ’s return?”
Everything we do should be in congruity with the end and purpose for
which we are living. Baptized into Christ we have only one goal: To be
clothed with Christ and ready to welcome Him when He comes. And that is
exciting! This means we have something far better to look forward to
than the vain and fleeting pleasures this world has to offer.
Advent Means Wearing Christ’s Righteousness
During this season of Advent expectation we want to make sure that we
are clothed with Christ because we are preparing for the greatest
celebration of all history that will go on forever and ever! We are
guaranteed a place in this party because Christ comes to save us and not to
judge us as we deserve. In Bethlehem we find our Saviour. There we see the
Son of God clothed in human flesh so that we might be clothed with His
righteousness.
The popular song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” is a good example of
what NOT to wear for Christ’s birthday party. It goes “…He knows if
you’ve been bad or good, So be good for goodness sakes! Oh, you better
watch out!” Behaving extra good before Christmas may get you some nice
Christmas presents under the tree, but it won’t get you into Heaven. We
cannot fool God. He knows us how we really are. That is why the only
appropriate preparation for us is to wear the clothes Christ gave us in
Baptism; we are to put our trust in His righteousness and not in our own
righteousness. More than Santa, “…God knows you as you really are, So
wear Christ for goodness sakes! Oh, you better dress right! Jesus Christ
is coming to town.”
Dressed With Christ Means…
What does it mean to be clothed in Christ? It means to live in the
knowledge that Christ, our Saviour is coming. It means we will “put aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” It means we no
longer live to please our sinful nature but please Jesus.
Paul encourages us: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and
do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
So, in everything you do, remember that you are clothed in Christ. Let
that be a joyful reminder to avoid the kinds of things you would not do
if Jesus were with you.
We desire to be clothed with Christ because we want Him to see us not
as we are, but as He is. We desire to behave decently as in the day,
honouring Him in our words and actions and drinking deeply of His Spirit
as we read the Holy Scriptures and come to His Table. We desire to
honour Him with our bodies and to take Him wherever we go. We desire to walk
in peace with all those around us, as He Himself is holding our hands.
While we struggle to live in this manner Jesus does all of this
perfectly. He is the Holy One of God, the name that is above every name, the
Word that was always loving, saving, never flippant or hurtful. He is
the One who laid down His body and gave His blood to be shed for our
eternal good. He is the Prince of Peace who reconciles us to Himself and
with each other by His sacrifice on the cross. That is what it looks like
to be clothed with Christ.
Dressed In Christ is a Present Reality
The Apostle Paul’s exhortation to be clothed with Christ is not just an
imperative, something we ought to do—but keep failing to do. Nor is it
just something in the future, something we have to wait for when we
will finally meet Christ on the Last Day.
Paul reminds us, “All of you who were Baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). It has actually happened and
is a done deal. Everything Jesus accomplished by His first coming, His
perfect life, sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, has been given
to you in your Baptism. You are clothed with Christ! You are righteous,
beautifully dressed and ready for the eternal celebration! You are the
people of light performing deeds of light. All this because you are in
Christ!
By your Baptism, Christ is in you—and He is seen in you. The Advent
wake-up call is simply a call to live as the people we are, to walk where
we are destined to go.
And so today the journey to Jerusalem begins. Christ is near to us! He
is here with us because we are clothed with Him and He invites us to
His Table. The light of Christ has dawned! Listen to that thrilling
voice, calling you to cast off the works of darkness and be clothed with
light of His love. Amen.