{"id":4285,"date":"2025-12-07T14:02:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T22:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hopelcs.ca\/church\/?p=4285"},"modified":"2025-12-16T07:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:06:51","slug":"peace-promised-peace-in-person-romans-154-13-december-7th-2025-second-sunday-in-advent-hope-lutheran-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hopelcs.ca\/church\/peace-promised-peace-in-person-romans-154-13-december-7th-2025-second-sunday-in-advent-hope-lutheran-church\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPeace promised, Peace in Person\u201d\/ Romans 15:4-13\/ December 7th, 2025 \/ Second Sunday in Advent\/ Hope Lutheran Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

Text: Romans 15:4-13<\/strong>
\nTheme: \u201cPeace promised, Peace in Person\u201d<\/strong>
\n___________________________
\nIntr<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a0Paul\u2019s beautiful prayer closing our epistle reading is also on one of our banners in the Church. Can you read it with me? “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”<\/p>\n

We know what peace Paul is talking about: The peace that the World cannot give. Peace that is not the absence of problems, but the presence of God in the midst of problems.<\/p>\n

At this point, I think I can hear your thoughts, \u201cOh, here\u2019s pastor again with the \u2018peace the world cannot give\u2019 sermon. I know, it is important, but I heard that one before.\u201d And your mind reaches for the automatic pilot switch.<\/p>\n

Well, I could always resort to the pastoral advice \u201cBut those are things we need to hear over and over again\u201d, which is true. But beyond that, we can think about ways in which this peace shows up in concrete life.<\/p>\n

Peace is knowing your sin and has a solution.
\nPeace is when you\u2019re overwhelmed by life\u2019s decisions but you\u2019re not alone in making them.
\nPeace is a mother raising and caring for a child, even when the world seems to be a hostile place to be and future looks dark and gloomy.
\nPeace is God holding you steady even when many things in your life are unsteady.
\nPeace is when you see the world changing around you and you are standing on the solid ground of God\u2019s Word.
\nThis means that Peace comes to us even if we are living in a messy present. If peace meant \u2018everything is finally calm,\u2019 none of you would ever have it. If peace meant \u2018my feelings are steady all the time,\u2019 none of us could make it past lunch.<\/p>\n

The Underpinnings of Peace: Truthfulness and Mercy<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is Peace promised, and Peace present. Romans 15 shows us the two strong pillars that uphold this peace: God\u2019s Truthfulness and God\u2019s Mercy.<\/p>\n

1. Truthfulness \u2013 The Certainty That God\u2019s Promises Never Fail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul makes reference to the patriarchs. Think about Abraham. God gave him promises that were, in human terms, quite incredible: \u201cYou will have more children than stars in heaven.\u201d \u201cThe Messiah will come from your line.\u201d In Abraham\u2019s context, that could be akin to saying to many of us, \u201cYou great-grandchild will own 10 houses in Vancouver area.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0Now, did this happen in Abraham\u2019s time? No. It took centuries to come to pass. But it came true.<\/p>\n

Paul brings this up not to show how good the patriarchs were, but how Good God is. The fact that the promise of the Messiah was fulfilled and he came into the world, becoming one of the very people he came to save, proves God\u2019s faithfulness.<\/p>\n

And this faithfulness brings peace to your soul. Because you don’t have to wonder if God will keep His word. You don’t have to anxiously wonder whether His promises apply to you. The same God who was faithful to Abraham is faithful to you\u2014and that brings deep, abiding peace.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Truthfulness secures the Peace Promised.<\/p>\n

2. Mercy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul talks about Truthfulness and he also talks about Mercy.<\/p>\n

What is a good definition for God\u2019s Mercy? Here\u2019s one: The guarantee that God will not give us what we deserve.<\/p>\n

Our sins deserve punishment; God\u2019s mercy spares us. Our sins lead us to death; God\u2019s mercy spares us from it. Our sin creates a gap; God\u2019s mercy doesn\u2019t allow it to swallow us. God\u2019s mercy brought the message beyond blood \u2013 that is, the promise not only for people who were born as Hebrews; it is for all. That\u2019s why Paul writes: \u201cIn order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.\u201d The fact that today we are here, in a church worshiping Him, is a living testament to this mercy of God to all nations.<\/p>\n

This mercy grants us peace\u2014peace between God and humanity, peace in your own heart. We have \u201cpeace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d This is the peace that says: You don’t have to pretend to be better than you are, because His mercy is infinitely larger than your sin.<\/p>\n

This makes a world of difference. God\u2019s promise shapes our life and sustains our soul in a way that nothing else can do. Not a single thing, person, possession, or power are or will ever be able to match what God\u2019s faithfulness and Mercy do in your life. His promises are faithful, and His mercy endures.<\/p>\n

Human Promises<\/strong><\/p>\n

The word \u201cPromise\u201d in God\u2019s vocabulary is different from the world\u2019s dictionary. Think about the promises that once seemed so solid in your life\u2014the ones that eventually faded or broke.<\/p>\n

A teacher once said: \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll make it to college\u201d
\nA boss once said: \u201cYour job is secure.\u201d
\nA friend once said: \u201cI\u2019ll always be here.\u201d
\nAnd then things changed…<\/p>\n

These aren’t necessarily bad people making bad promises. These are human promises doing what human promises frequently do: they wear out in the reality of a broken world.<\/p>\n

Or think bigger and contrast it with the powerful concepts and promises that, throughout history, people have held onto.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe telegraph will end all war.\u201d[1]
\n\u201cNuclear power will eliminate the need for fossil fuels.\u201d[2]
\n\u201cThe internet will make society more peaceful and connected.\u201d[3]
\nOr a more recent
\n\u201cMachine intelligence is the last invention that humanity will ever need to make.\u201d[4]<\/p>\n

One by one, words and certainties wear out. The promises that sounded unshakeable turn out to be built on sand. But God\u2019s promise remains: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” We repeat it because its meaning hasn\u2019t vanished. Its effect hasn’t expired. Its purpose hasn’t weakened. When every other certainty wears out, the peace of Christ still stands.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s peace is different from the world\u2019s words. There are words that wear out in time. They were used for some time, but then new ones replaced them. When it comes to Jesus\u2019 words, you\u2019ve heard them many times – and you still hold on to them. Because His promise of peace has not vanished. It is an \u201cold\u201d word, but still with very present meaning.<\/p>\n

Peace in Person<\/strong><\/p>\n

But if we are still not convinced that this Peace is not conventional, here\u2019s the ultimate difference: peace is not merely an idea or a feeling. Peace is a person. God\u2019s truthfulness and mercy come together give us peace in the form of a Person. Jesus is our peace in person.<\/p>\n

Imagine arriving in a country you\u2019ve never been to for an important event. You try to figure things out, and you have tools in your cellphone to help you, but your heart\u2019s still racing. Now compare that to stepping into the airport lounge and having a local friend standing right there, smiling, hugging you, saying, \u2018Welcome\u2014you\u2019re with me now. I\u2019ll guide you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jesus came to be with us in person. He made himself present, incarnate in Christmas, killed on the Cross, and back alive on Easter morning to say: Peace be with you.<\/p>\n

Peace for Today<\/strong>
\nYou may be walking into December already tired\u2014too much to do, too many unknowns. The world tells you to create your own inner peace. Mindfulness maybe? Paul tells you something different and incomparable: “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” This Peace is not something you achieve, but something God gives. You may still feel anxious at times. Your circumstances may still be hard. But underneath, there is a deeper reality: you are held by a God who keeps His word and has mercy on you.[5]<\/p>\n

Jesus doesn\u2019t just say, \u2018There\u2019s peace out there somewhere.\u2019 He says, \u2018My peace I give to you.\u2019 Your peace has a name on it. It is not random, or just for \u2018whoever feels worthy.\u2019 It is delivered personally. God\u2019s peace is not a general broadcast floating in the air. It\u2019s the Lord calling your name, placing peace into your heart through the blood of Christ. It is a peace that was purchased at the cost of His blood, sealed with His promise, and delivered, in person, into your heart by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

Advent reminds us that we are waiting, but not empty-handed. There is a Saviour who died and rose to bring you into His mercy. There is a Spirit who can bring peace even into hearts that are restless and unsure. This peace does not mean your life will suddenly be easy. It means you do not go through it alone.<\/p>\n

The world can offer calm weekends. Only God can offer a calm conscience.
\nThe World offers peaceful words. God offers you Peace in Person \u2013 Jesus.
\nGod doesn\u2019t wait for your life to settle down before He settles your heart. Peace comes from knowing the One who has already stepped into the worst wilderness\u2014your sin, your fear, your uncertainty\u2014and didn\u2019t walk away.<\/p>\n

Peace is when the World\u2019s cares pressure you at Christmas, but your heart rests in the manger of the Baby King.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong> – \u201cA member once told the pastor, \u2018Pastor, peace for me isn\u2019t when everything goes right. It\u2019s when I can say, I know who holds me even if I don\u2019t know what comes next.\u2019 That is well said.<\/p>\n

The patriarchs waited centuries for this peace. Peace has come and fully accomplished salvation in the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb.<\/p>\n

So let’s return to where we began. Look at those words on our banner again\u2014not as something familiar we’ve heard before, but as the very gift God places in your hands today. Read it with me one more time: [Romans 15:13] “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”<\/p>\n

Yes, this is the peace that the world cannot give<\/em>.<\/p>\n

But you and I, by the grace of God, have a privilege: we can give and we can live this peace to the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

______________________________<\/p>\n

[1] Sir John Bowring (British diplomat and Governor of Hong Kong). In the 1850s, Bowring reportedly stated that the telegraph and steam power would make war “impossible” by tying nations together economically and allowing instant resolution of disputes.
\n[2] Lewis Strauss (Chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission). In a 1954 speech to the National Association of Science Writers, he famously predicted nuclear power would provide electricity “too cheap to meter.”
\n[3] Various Internet Pioneers\/Activists. This exact quote is harder to pin to one person, but it summarizes the widely held utopian vision of the internet’s early days, echoing the sentiments of writers like Howard Rheingold (author of The Virtual Community) and the general idealism of the 1990s digital revolution.
\n[4] Nick Bostrom (Philosopher, Director of the Future of Humanity Institute). This quote captures the sentiment that AGI would unleash an “intelligence explosion” (often called the Singularity), which would then autonomously solve all remaining problems, making any further human invention unnecessary.
\n[5]Peace is anchored in God\u2019s truthfulness and mercy. It is Peace Promised and Peace Present. This is not the world’s fragile, circumstantial peace, but the peace that passes understanding\u2014rooted in God’s unchanging faithfulness and boundless mercy. The patriarchs waited centuries for this peace. We receive it now, fully accomplished in the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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