Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent. The Scripture readings are Philippians 4:4-7 and John 1:19-29.

“Let your reasonableness (the Greek word there is pronounced epieikēs) be known to everyone” (Php. 4:5). There really isn’t a good English word for epieikēs, which is utterly unfortunate. Other translations will use words like gentleness, graciousness, and moderation, but they only convey part of the word’s meaning. The ‘reasonableness’ – the epieikēs – refers to strength that doesn’t have a need to prove anything to other people because that strength is accompanied with a gentleness and meekness. We could compare it to a football player scoring a touchdown, calmly handing the ball to the ref, and heading to the sidelines to get ready for the next play because the player is confident and humble enough to know that he has the strength and ability to find his way back in the endzone again.

Because of what Christ has done for us in His death and resurrection we can, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php. 4:4). Jesus has fully forgiven you and given you His perfect righteousness. When God looks at you, He sees His holy, beloved Son (Gal. 3:27). Nothing can take that away from you. Not sickness, not financial troubles, not pesky relatives, not greedy politicians. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro. 8:38-39). Now, that is reason to rejoice.

In your rejoicing, let that epieikēs – that confident, humble, gentle strength – be evident to everyone you encounter because Jesus, your Lord and Savior, is at hand.

The almighty, all-powerful God and Creator of all things is also your Redeemer. Rejoice! He freely gives you His salvation. In Isaiah 30:15, God makes a promise to you; He says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

In Jesus, you are sons and daughters of God and have the victory over every evil because His death on the cross has delivered you (1 Cor. 15:57). “Christ’s resurrection guarantees the victory of [you,] His brothers and sisters. Christ’s second coming brings the final fulfillment. And Christ, [your] Lord, is at hand” (Rev. Dr. Norman Nagel).