Advent - Week 2 – We are family…

Today is the second Sunday of Advent.  It never ceases to amaze the unity we see in Scripture.  Despite the fact that the Bible was written over many centuries by many different authors, there is this one single unifying thread that keeps coming to the fore, the birth of the Messiah.  And the purpose of Christ’s birth is also clear, namely, the forgiveness of sins and salvation of sinners for all who come to believe, to the glory of God.  

The gospel was promised in Gen 3:15 and now in Genesis 12:1-3, we see another new beginning. God calls Abram and announces that it will be through the seed of Abram, that all nations would be blessed (cf Gal 3:8). In God’s plan, Abraham would be the father of the new nation Israel, and from this nation, the Messiah that would restore broken relationships would be born. 

Now we may be inclined to think God was ‘unfair’ to the other nations that existed for God showed his special favour on Israel but that would be unwise.  God was also thinking of the other nations when he declared that ‘all nations would be blessed.” Furthermore, part of Israel’s responsibility was to live such godly lives that the nations around them would be envious of Israel having such a wise God (Deut 4.7).   Unfortunately, Israel didn’t always appreciate that with extra privilege comes extra responsibility.   Nevertheless, God remained faithful even when Israel was unfaithful so that the birth of the Saviour would come about as promised and we would all be blessed.   

With the first coming of Jesus Christ, when He was only 40 days old, Simeon held the baby in his arms and said, “Here is a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).   The Gentiles included Aussies, New Zealanders, Sth Afrikaans, the Dutch and every other race or tribe you would wish to mention.  

This blessing bestowed on us was not because we were so special, but all of grace and because God proved faithful to his promises.   Indeed, that Abraham was chosen, and the nation of Israel was used by God to bring about the birth of Christ was all because of His grace and faithfulness.   And if it were not for God’s grace and faithfulness, Christ would not have been born and we would still be in our sins.  

So, this Christmas we do not boast in our own righteousness but rejoice that God was faithful to His promises in bringing about the birth of Christ.   More than that, we rejoice that God in His grace has set His favour upon us when He quickened us to life by the power of His Holy Spirit and we became part of Christ’s family.   That is the best reason for celebration this Christmas.   JZ.