Advent 1A, 2025

Text: Romans 13:11-14

Title: Let Advent Be Advent

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Are you ready for the “Christmas Season”? Now that Thanksgiving is past you’ve probably got a month’s worth of Christmas activities planned: parties, baking, decorating, shopping, Christmas movies, Christmas music, you name it. You’ll need to send out your Christmas cards, buy your ugly Christmas sweaters, and stock up on alcohol to make it through the next four weeks.

Christmas seems to be more and more about self-indulgence, gorging yourself, drinking, splurging on gifts that you and your family don’t really need.  More and more we’ve become a culture that is obese, addicted, and maxed out on credit, the Christmas season is a prime example.

We’ve even taken the Advent season and used it to create Advent calendars full of chocolate, toys, and alcohol.  Even our waiting for Christmas is just another excuse to indulge.

In the midst of all this self-indulgence comes St. Paul’s admonition in Romans, “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

These are harsh words to hear at such a festive time of the year.  But they underline the fact that here, in church, it’s not Christmas yet.  We’re not singing Christmas carols yet.  In fact, we’ve taken the greatest Christmas carol of all, the “Gloria to God in the Highest” sung by the angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem, and we’ve put that song away for the next four weeks.

Wouldn’t it be better to just join in the rest of the world in celebrating- break out the Christmas carols, get all the decorations out, and spend the next month partying with everyone else?

No, we can’t celebrate Christmas properly unless we go through Advent first. 

Advent is a penitential season.  While the rest of the world is partying, we are reflecting on our sinfulness. 

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ.  It’s more than just a time to get together with family and friends, it’s more than just a time to exchange gifts, it’s more than just a time to eat, drink, and be merry.

I think you probably know that already, especially if you’re committed enough to venture out to church on a cold, snowy morning like this.

But just make sure you are fully aware of everything that Jesus’ coming means for you.

Jesus came to save you, and that means that Jesus came to change you.

First, Jesus came to save you.

Now, you probably think of yourself as a pretty talented, skilled, independent person.  You can whip up a batch of Christmas cookies or untangle a snarl of Christmas lights with the best of them.  You’re an excellent driver, even in the snow, and can search out the best deals on Amazon.

But when it comes to loving God, you fall short. You trust in yourself, your strength, your smarts, your money to get you through, and you only turn to Him as a last resort. 

And when it comes to loving your neighbor, you fall short.  You put your needs first, you put your comfort first, you take care of yourself before you think of other people, especially those people you don’t particularly care for.

You know you shouldn’t.  You try your best.  But you just can’t do it.  You can’t love perfectly and fully.

And that’s why Jesus comes—to save you.

The crowds on Palm Sunday cried out “Hosanna!” “Save us, rescue us!”  They may have been thinking about salvation from the Romans, but that doesn’t make their prayer any less real.

Jesus came to save—not riding into town on a war horse with guns blazing, but humbly, riding on a donkey.

Jesus came to save by His death.  He took all your punishment, all your guilt, and died in your place on the cross.

Jesus died for the sins of all people, including Ellianna.  She is wearing white because she is totally and completely forgiven and made holy through Jesus Christ.

Jesus came, born as baby in Bethlehem, dying on the cross on Calvary, and rising again on Easter morning to save the fallen world.

Jesus came to save Ellianna—and you.

Jesus came to save you, and Jesus came to change you.

That’s the hard part.  That’s where even the most seasoned Christians struggle.

Jesus’ love, Jesus’ forgiveness doesn’t leave you the way that you are. 

Yes, Jesus loves you unconditionally.  Yes, there’s nothing that you can do to earn His love and salvation.  He died for you when you were still His enemy.

But that doesn’t mean that once you’re saved, your life stays the same.

Back in Romans 6, Paul writes, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Because you are baptized, you have a new life.

Just because your sins are forgiven doesn’t mean you should continue living in them. 

It’s not that Jesus doesn’t want you to have any fun.  It’s not that Jesus wants you to sit around being bored while all your friends are out partying.

He has a better way, a better life for you.

If you all seek after in life is feeling good, you are headed for destruction.  You’ll continue to seek out more and more and more pleasure.  And you will ruin your life and the lives of your loved ones in the process.

You’ll end up wasting your time and your money and you’ll never truly be satisfied.

January will roll around, the parties will be over, the gifts will no longer be new and exciting, the tree will be out by the curb, and you’ll be left with the bills, some post-holiday depression, and the rest of a cold, dark winter to survive.

How do you avoid that?  How do you make the best use of the month of December?

First, let Advent be Advent.

There’s nothing wrong with a few parties here and there, a bit of decorating and some baking.  Just realize that not the point.  That’s not the focus and goal of your life. 

Jesus is coming, and you need to be ready.

This Advent, I implore you to take a look at your life.  What is it that needs to be changed?  What are your biggest temptations?  What sins do you struggle with the most? 

And then come to confession.  Get serious about actually living out the Christian life. Take time to read your Bible and pray.

Not because it makes God love you more, but because you’re baptized, you’re a new person, and that’s just how Christians live.

Jesus is coming.  Not just at Christmas, but on the Last Day.  Prepare.  Get ready. As Paul says, “Wake up!” 

Advent is your alarm clock.

Let Advent be Advent and let Christmas be Christmas.

Keep your celebration on Christmas centered on Jesus’ birth.  Make sure that coming to church is at the center and the highlight of your Christmas. This is where Christ is present for you with His saving, life-changing gifts, and so this is where you need to be.

Recognize that Jesus is coming, not merely as a cute and cuddly baby, but as the one who will save the world through His death and resurrection.

He doesn’t just come to bring toys and electronics and jewelry.  He comes to bring peace and light, an end to warfare.  He comes to restore the paradise of Eden and bring all His scattered people home, bringing about that glorious vision of Isaiah.

That’s how you can avoid the post-holiday blues. If Christmas is just about the parties and presents, you’re guaranteed to have a huge let down in a month from now.

But if Christmas is about Jesus’ birth, and if you use the next four weeks to prepare for His coming, and then celebrate who He is and all He comes to bring, then you will have Jesus, and Jesus will never let you down.

He will be with you throughout the coming year. He will continue to love and forgive you through all your mistakes and failures.

And He’ll continue to change you, to renew you, to make you more like Himself.

That won’t ever be complete in this lifetime, and so we continue to watch and wait and pray for His coming again in glory.

Have a blessed Advent.

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