The mystery of advent speaks to God’s full plan in the giving of His one and only Son, Jesus. He is our older brother in God’s family, that gives us access to our loving Heavenly Father!
Observations:
- The mystery of Jesus’ advent is unity through the gospel
3 Obstacles to Unity
- Under enslavement
- Under spiritual oppression
- Under law
Conclusions: The Mystery of Jesus’ advent gives you…
- Freedom – No longer controlled by the sin of self
- Adoption – Under the authority and ownership of God
- Inheritance – The promised fulfillment of the law
Application:
- Follow Jesus in selflessness as free
- Follow Jesus in service as son or daughter
- Follow Jesus in humility as an heir
Hebrews 2:14-15
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Galatians 4:8-9
“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?”
Galatians 2:15-16
“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Ephesians 2:14-15
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.”
Galatians 5:4
“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”
Luke 15:28-32
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Ephesians 5:8
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
Ephesians 3:6
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”