CELC Fourth Sunday in Advent

The Fourth Sunday in Advent – December 19, 2004

Romans 1:1-7

While you are waiting it is good to know who is who among the players. Whenever I go to a UVA football game I try to spend a minute or two before the game going over the team roster. It is a good way to pass the time before the game and it allows you to focus on the action once the game starts and not be looking up the players.

It is good to know who is who. The lesson from Romans today tells us who is who. It tells us who Jesus is and who we are. Both are very important for us to know.

One of the ongoing oddities of our lives is that we already figure we know who Jesus is and who we are, so we tend to look past a scripture passage like this. It doesn’t seem to apply to us.

That is a terrible mistake because it influences our relationship with God. When we fail to understand who Jesus is and who we are then our relationship with God remains broken and alienated. So, let’s look at what St. Paul is saying and hear what we can learn about Jesus and ourselves.

First, note that Paul tells you Jesus is the one who is promised in the words of the prophets. Paul is, and I quote, “…called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son…” Let us not miss the point: Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus is the promised One of God, come to save us all. So, the first thing we need to hear today about Jesus is that he is the promised savior.

Second, Jesus is the promised descendent of David by what Paul calls the ‘flesh.’ This is Jesus, “…his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh…” Be aware, then, that Jesus is of the lineage and family of David, just as the messiah was supposed to be. He is the legitimate Son of God, fully human, according to the flesh. So, the second thing we learn about Jesus today is that he was fully human.

Third, Jesus is fully God. “…and was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead…” Ah, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Here we have Paul telling us Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine, not because he says so, but because of what happens: he is raised from the dead with the promise to all of resurrection life. So, the third thing we learn about Jesus today is that he is God alive, resurrected from the dead, with the promise of life for all.

So, we come to a transition: This Jesus which Paul tells us is the Davidic savior, fully human and fully God, is our Lord. Who is Jesus? He is our Lord, the one who loves us unconditionally, the Davidic savior who comes to grant us life. He is fully human and fully God. This is who Jesus is: our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we turn a corner to see who we are according to this lesson. Paul continues: “…through whom we have received grace and apostleship…” Jesus is our Lord, who brings to us grace and calls us to be ambassadors on his behalf.

How does Jesus bring us grace? The answer is not a secret, nor difficult: in the cross! In his life, death and resurrection, what we call the ‘cross,’ Jesus brings grace to us, the unconditional love of God. This is the love of God that forgives. It is the love of God that has mercy on sinners. Here is the cross, grace incarnate.

So, the first thing about us is that we are sinners in need of grace, in need of the cross, where Christ dies to grant us mercy and forgiveness. How blessed we are.

And don’t forget ‘apostleship.’ To be an apostle means to be a person who is sent. Now I am spelling that s-e-n-t. To be apostles is a calling that does not end with Peter or Paul; it is a privilege that continues for every believer. Here, again, Paul is telling you about yourself. As a one who calls Jesus Christ, “Lord,” you are called to be an ambassador; that is, one who is sent on behalf of our Lord.

So, now you know that you not only have been saved by grace, but you are called to be an ambassador.

If you are confused about what an ambassador does, listen again to St. Paul: “…to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name…” Thus, we are called by God in Christ to be ambassadors that invite others to a life in Christ, in his name. It isn’t an optional thing. It is what we are called to do; all of us. For the sake of Christ and those who are not yet obedient.

So, you know now who you are: an ambassador, saved by grace, and called to invite others into the obedience you already know in your life. After all, Paul ends his words with, “including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” You, who are saved by grace and called in love, are called then to a life in Jesus. This is something you do, it is something you are. It is not ‘doing’ mission, but living mission at the very center of your life.

You can see why it is important to know who Jesus is and who we are, otherwise we begin to think that there is nothing for us to do, nothing really matters. It is a matter of death and life, yours and those for whom you are ambassadors. Amen.

Pastor Robert F. Holley