Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was
in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied
himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being
found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the
name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christmas is here.
I think we have all accepted the holidays are closing in on us. Halloween burned by like
the shelf life of a carved pumpkin. If you blink too long you can miss the gap between
Thanksgiving and Christmas. The stores are in yuletide swing. Soon dads everywhere
will get out their ladders and strap lights to the gutters, lightly cursing under their
breath as they do death-defying balancing acts. Our favorite pop songs will morph into
classic renditions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Deck the Halls, and I Saw
Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. With all the rigmarole of the season it is easy to neglect
God. Sad, but true.
The last few years I have gotten really excited about the holidays. Why? Advent is
drawling near. Advent is a time of excitement because it is all about Gods glory!
Advent, which runs from November 29 through Christmas Eve, is nothing but a monthlong preparation to honor and adore Christ. There is a temptation to write it off as some
superfluous tradition but, in my miniscule opinion, that is a shame. If we are really
living to the honor and praise of Christ we are gearing up to party our brains out.
Advent is that invitation.
th
December 25 is the day we choose to recognize Christs birth. Regardless of what
some pessimists like to say, Christmas is all about Christ. I know every day is a day to
remember and celebrate Christ but during the Advent season we do this especially. We
take a concentrated look at the glory of God! If that doesnt get you excited I dont know
what will! I do believe it is time to rethink Advent.
Advent is a twofold look at Gods glory
1.
It is a looking behind
2.
It is a looking ahead
1. We look behind to the incarnation of Christ
Christs coming to earth was all of grace and completely for the glory of God. I base this

last statement on John 1:14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh (Ibid) is a reference to Christ. Christ is the eternal Word. The
word Word in Greek is Logos. Logos can mean many things but I like to think of it
as our modern concept of a Higher Power. John writes to tell men that Christ is not
just a Higher Power but He is the Higher Power. He is the Highest Power and the only
power.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Ibid). Christ took on the form of a
human and lived among us. The Greek here suggests the word tabernacle. So
literally, Christ tabernacled among us. He made His dwelling here upon earth with
fallen man. Why? So we could look on Him and behold His glory. And we have seen
his glory (Ibid).
When we experience Gods grace and dedicate ourselves to truth we are beholding
Gods glory. Gods true person is finally revealed to us in the Scriptures. They are the
path to knowing God and rightly honoring Him. We serve an awesome God who is
full of grace and truth.(Ibid). So Christs original coming was all for Gods glory.
You might say I thought Christ came to earth to save men. That is true! Christ was
sent by the Father to save those, who through grace, would believe upon him as the
only saving truth. But that cant be the only reason. The salvation of the Church for
Christwas penultimate. It was His second inspiration. Gods great name was His final
aim. Our redemption, as Paul says in Ephesians 1:6, is to the praise of His glorious
grace. God does all He does for His own glory. Our salvation is never for us alone.
Christ came to earth to make our exaltation possible.
Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a
people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). Good
works here is a reference to the things which bring God honor. So Christ died to purify
a Church, not simply for the sake of our escaping the wrath of God, but to eagerly
perform works of service which magnify the Savior. We are being saved to glorify God.
Paul defines the church as those waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Our salvation is to the end
of Gods magnification. We escape damnation and experience Gods everlasting joy and
He receives unending praise! Seems to be an even exchange to me.
Need further proof? Lets look to Christ Himself
Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?
But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a

voice came from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. (John
12:27-28)
Here we see a concise reason for Christs incarnation. Christ came to glorify the father
by obediently living for him and willingly dying in our place. Christs death was all of
glory. The Father would be glorified in the Sons perfect obedience. The Son came to lay
down his life for sinners which was the highest act of praise known to man. As a result
of Christs obedience and sacrifice He would be raised to the right hand of the Father,
where He lives to intercede for us and offer praise (See main text for reference). Again,
Christ came to earth to glorify Gods name! This is what we celebrate when we partake
in Advent. We celebrate the coming of Gods glory for Gods glory. We celebrate the
arrival of the Gospel! Christ, my friend, is the Gospel! For God, who said, Let light
shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6).
2. We look ahead to Christs coming again
Advent is also a looking towards the second coming of Christ. How did I come to this
conclusion? Well, Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus. Adventus refers to
the arrival of a dignitary. It also can mean presence. So it is a reference to Christs first
physical appearance on earth but also to His future arrival.
In Greek Adventus is translated Parousia. Parousia, in the Scriptures, is most often
tied to the second coming of Christ. The word Parousia was used by Christ in Matthew
24--the Olivette Discourse--which focuses on Christs return. Also, Paul uses it in 1
Thessalonians 4 in direct connection with the Rapture. For this we declare to you by a
word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord
(Parousia), will not proceed those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
So Advent celebrates the much-anticipated return of Christ. Again, this is all for Gods
glory.
Mark 13:26: And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power
and glory
Matthew 16:27: For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of his
Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
The Nicene Creed, in the third stanza reads:
He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the
Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose
kingdom shall have no end.
So the second coming too is all a manifestation of Gods glory. First in the saving of his

people; this is the deliverance of His Church as He acts the role of our savior. In
addition, in the final judgment against sin, which is God acting as the eternal judge of
heaven and earth.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 reads:
Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict
you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting
vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal
destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his
might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be
marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was
believed
God will be justified in removing His Church from this miserable life of tribulations and
persecutions. (vv. 6-7). God is equally justified in His punishment of those who do not
know God and those who do not obey the gospel. (v. 8). God will be glorified in the act
of saving His church because salvation is all an act of His glorious grace. On the other
hand, God is a God of justice and will not forever tolerate sin. God, in His
righteousness, will judge the rebellious.
I admit these are hard truths to swallow but they are true nonetheless. Gods wrath is as
much an extension of His glory as of His grace. Still God is patient and has withheld
His coming judgment so long because of His compassion and mercy. (Romans 9:22-23,
and 2 Peter 3:8- 10) This is all part of Gods sovereign prerogative which He is free to
express in any manner He deems wise (Psalm 115:3). Anything God does is glorious. He
is El Kabowd, the God of Glory (Psalm 29). So if God chooses to show grace to a
lowly sinner, He is glorified. Yet, if God decides to judge those who are self-seeking
and do not obey the truth, (Rom 2:8), He is equally as glorious.
Closing exhortation
So I say now believe! If you have not accepted Christ as your personal Savior please
doso. He is our only hope! If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans
10:9) Confess your failings and turn from your denial of Him. He is merciful and will
joyfully welcome you in. I have no doubt about that. Run to Him for saving and rest in
a relationship with Him. Make this Advent season one to always remember and never
forget! Accept the free gift of Gods saving love.

The truth of Advent is that men will be saved by grace through faith in Christ to the
glory of God. Always all things work for Gods glory. Christ came to make this a
certainty. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15a) Christ came to glorify the Father
and save men that they may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous ligh.t (1 Peter 2:9) May we remember these things this
Advent. May we fall on our knees more than ever and adore our Savior. Turn your
hearts heavenward to what God has done and is going to do for His glory. He has come
and will surely come again!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest)
Gloria In excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest)