The Second Sunday of Advent (Cycle C)

The Second Sunday of Advent (Cycle C)
December 5, 2001

Romans 15:4-13
The Word that brings life, unity and family

Romans 15:4 The Word of Life

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Commentary

Dive into the Word! Make its study and understanding a rock in your life! All scripture is ‘God-breathed’ – filled with the fullness of God’s wisdom and given by His Holy Spirit. By reading the old, we understand the new. We become witnesses to God preparing His people for salvation since the beginning of time.

By reading God’s Word, we can see how He walked beside the faithful and carefully used all powers to fulfill his plan. He, who has prepared our place since the alpha (beginning of time), will not abandon us, even to the omega (the ending of time)! His word is hope, direction, joy, expectation and salvation. It is a pursuit worthy of our lives.

Word Study

Perseverance [5281, Hupomone]; One of the most critical words of Paul's letters is this word 'Hupomone'. Some versions translate it as patience, while others translate it as perseverance or endurance. Patience rather belittles this word, as if it implies someone waiting in a long grocery line. Endurance might lead us to think of someone who has grimly fared the storms of life.

Instead, this word has every connotation of joy or, "peace beyond human understanding." Peace in suffering, joy in the knowledge that I can - in some small way - witness for Jesus in spite of my pain. It is similar to the determined athlete who trains one extra hour than all the others. It is Stephen, seeing Heaven while brick-sized rocks bludgeoned him to death. Yet, their is one reason why this word rings with sincerity from Paul's lips. For few ever experienced the sufferings of Paul. Still, we find him in singing in a cold and dark Roman dungeon; "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."

That's Hupomone. That is what Paul encourages us to display.

Encouragement [3874, Paraklesis]; Two concepts are combined in this word. To comfort and to exhort. When we turn to God, we can be assured of both riches. That, as we joyfully endure [see hupomone], God will strengthen our hearts with his warmth and his purpose.

Now, here is something truly wonderful. One of the names of the Holy Spirit is Parakletos. The comfort of God is Alive! Willing to dwell in us! Giving not only solace, but also encouragement, even advocating for us. Some of the most important work that I have done was to advocate for the alienated. To be willing to go with them to argue their case to a representative or parole officer. Helping them to find a job or even creating one if I could. The Parakletos advocates, consoles and challenges. She can empower us to offer the same gift to others.

Hope [1680, Elpis]; Hupomone and Elpis have a lot in common. The first term means enduring with joy, the second; anticipating or ‘expectation with pleasure’. It is faith that gives us the strength to endure. Through faith, we live like a well-loved child, expecting a surprise around each corner. All the time, our God, like a loving father, longs to give us His joy - no matter what the world dishes out.

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Romans 15:5-7 The Word of Unity

[5] Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, [6] so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [7] Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Commentary

The words, ‘perseverance’ and 'encouragement', are Paul’s recurring theme throughout his writings Hupomone and Paraklesis are fundamental concepts to understanding of the God-Breathed letters of Paul. The concepts compliment and elucidate each other.

It is through the application of joyful endurance and excited expectation that we are able to see Christ growing to fullness in one another. They are the roots of Christian community!

Through His fullness comes selflessness. A desire to serve in all ways possible, just as Christ served us. That is how we can be of one mind and become one voice that praises God. For indeed, nothing praises God more than when His believers are able to put aside their opinions and unite in their love for Him.

If being a missionary taught me anything, it was that the further we move from Christ's suffering body, the more theological we become. On the streets, in the hospitals, jails, detention centers, at a deathbed, theology takes its proper place - second to service. It is second to loving others as the Savior loved us. This is the 'most important thing' according to the Messiah. According to Paul in 1^st Corinthians 13, it is love that makes faith, hope and charity make sense.

Word Study

The same mind with one another [846, Autos & 5426, Phroneo]; There is a power in the combination of these words. They would mean; to set my mind, make a committed choice, to have affection for you - as if you were myself. Yet, there is an additional beauty to the word, Autos. For it has the implication of 'a baffling wind', like a gasp of surprise. All together, we recognize in Paul's statement the thought that we are often surprised by how much we are able to think of others. It is as if others were our own body - when we are moved by the Parakletos, the Holy Spirit, she moves us to wholeness and fullness.

One accord [3661, Homothumaden]; One voice – the same as speaking unanimously.

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Romans 15:8-13 The Word of Family

[8] For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, [9] and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME."

[10] Again he says, "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE."

[11] And again, "PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM."

[12] Again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."

[13] Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

Paul was the ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’, having once been among the leading class of Jewish Theologians, he left that pride behind to become a Follower of The Way (early Christians would call themselves by that term). He became the very thing he was determined to wipe out. Furthermore, he felt God has especially sent him among the Gentiles, the unbelievers, heathens in the Jewish mind at that time. These were people that even Peter was afraid to be seen with until the Holy Spirit reprimanded him.

How incredible, that this man, the staunchest of the Jewish elite, would turn out to be the mainstay of the growing church among Gentiles. What an incredible plan God had when he turned this life and sent Paul among us heathen. If this had never happened, the fledgling church would have most likely died an early death as a sub-cult of Judaism in the attics of Jerusalem around 70 AD.

In the Old Testament, circumcision was the painful sign of a believer. However, in the New Covenant, Christ was circumcised for all through his death and resurrection. Paul makes it clear how the entire plan of salvation, written in the Old Covenant and through the New, aimed decisively to resurrection of Jesus Christ. That all God’s children, in all of the nations of the world might become ‘family’ in the deepest sense of calling God, Pater, or ‘daddy’.

Through the death of Jesus Christ, we have been grafted into the tree of life. We are – through his sacrifice – grafted onto the Tree of Jesse (King David’s father). Able to claim all the privileges (and responsibilities) of his witnesses (martus – martyrs). If we believe to the point of following Him, trusting our lives to Him, seeking and doing His will.

Word Study

Servant [1249, Diakonos]; This word is used for deacon, minister or a Christian teacher. The primary function of all of these is to serve others through Jesus Christ. Instead of a position of elitism, being a diakonos, is serving all.

I have often loved this poem by Norman Grubb;

A yard of hell

Some wish to live within the sound;

Of church or chapel bell.

I want to run a rescue shop;

Within a yard of hell.

I tend to think of Christian leadership in the symbolic form of a shower drain and an oil pan. A shower drain, because we to catch all the things that nobody else wants. And, an oil pan, because our work is the dirty job of lubrication and liberation. Constantly, the Christian Leader is sending that oil throughout the engine to keep it working and prevent it from being overheated by friction.

Diakonos, servant, foot-washer – Jesus Christ.

Name [3686, Onoma] The name of God is more than what He is called, it is His Character. Jesus gave new names to many of his Disciples including Paul and Peter. He named them for the potential strength of character that He called from them. Paulos, or Paul, was a Roman – not an Aramaic name. This underlined Paul’s new role in Christ. Peter (Cephas), was the Rock – he was the first Apostle to see Christ’s role in the plan of God.

God also has a new name for you. One He has chosen based upon who He believes you can become. We are also to call others by a new name. Blessed, beloved, Child of God; how does this compare with the names we usually hear people called by their peers and associates?

With His people [3326, Meta, 846, Autos, 2992, Laos]; Here we see the theme of Paul in this letter. Christ makes us able to overcome all the boundaries that would separate us from unity. Anything that would keep us from becoming one people, Laos. Repeatedly, Paul would challenge us to put aside our bickering and pride and become servants to each through the strength of Jesus Christ.
Hope [1679, Elpizo]; You met Elpis (faith) and Hupomone (excited expectation), well here is there cousin, Hope. Elpizo has all the elements of faith; a childlike expectation of what God has in store for us today. Perhaps just around the corner, when the phone rings, when the mail comes – or even just walking into the grocery store. God has a Kingdom-Building experience in plain view for those who joyfully expect that "something new will happen."
Peace in believing [1515, Eirene, 4100, Pisteuo]; Our expectation of Jesus Christ, our belief in Him, will give us comfort and rest – serenity. Also, the word for peace – Eirene – indicates prosperity. To have Christ in your life is the prosperity that the world cannot understand. A peace with the life God has given you – instead a constant longing for what you do not possess.
Abound [4052, Perisseuo]; To have more than enough, to be totally satiated to the point of overflowing. This is the hopeful outlook, the expectation that God wants us to receive from the Holy Spirit.
Power [1411, Dunamis]; A supernatural power, an abundance of might, the ability to make things happen. Those who have worked in the Spirit know how she can turn your eyes, ears, and mouth, your actions and movements into a constant outflowing of Christ’s love.

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