GOD’S MISSION IN THE ADVENT

SUNDAY SERVICE: 1 DEC 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: Eph 1:7-12

The Advent season reminds the Church of the weeks leading to Jesus’ birth.

Modern day believers tend to see Jesus’ coming as a personal saviour to save them from sin and death and to bless them with all good things. The Jews on the other hand – while rejecting Jesus as Messiah – look to the yet to come Messiah who would be a national savior, with Jerusalem as the new centre of God’s rule as in the days of King David.

God’s plan is far grander and it encompasses a cosmic and universal salvation.

Eph 1:7-12 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 

GOD’S MISSION Paul’s letter uses words and phrases such as “mystery of his will” (v9), “according to plan” (v11), “purpose of his will” (v11). God’s mission is God’s purpose in human history. As his letter shows, it is God’s mission to bring everything under Christ’s dominion or authority: “to unite all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (v10) and to bring about shalom. The coming of Jesus which ends on the cross and resurrection is how God will accomplish this.

Col 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him…. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 

GOD’S STRATEGY After declaring God’s grand plan and purpose, Paul now tells his readers that they were chosen to conform with the purpose of his will (Eph 1:11) .

• God’s strategy is to set apart people – beginning with Abraham, and then thru his descendants. This means the conversion of hearts and minds of people who respond to the gospel of Jesus. We need saving, and it is God’s desire that all people are saved. In other words, we are part of God’s eternal strategy to accomplish his purposes. 

• God sets out to transform the way people think and act. This is what Paul means when he says God seeks to conform us to his will. Many believers think they are at the centre of God’s salvation plan, and therefore think and act as if they are entitled to personal comfort and spiritual blessings. To conform to God’s will is to embrace God purpose in history and work to advance God’s agenda. God’s agenda is advanced when we involve ourselves in his mission of reconciliation: 

2 Cor 5:17 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 

• God sends his people out to witness to God’s salvation – applying God’s purpose to society, bringing righteousness and justice, modeling community living as Jesus’ body, and to invite others to enter into God’s shalom through Jesus Christ. We prefer to be saved, but we don’t like being sent. Yet this is what Jesus says: "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)

CONCLUSION  Believers are saved from a certain state for a certain purpose, and not merely to wait for heaven.



Advent is a timely reminder of God’s cosmic mission. It is also another encouragement to the church to put away its self-centeredness and embrace God’s mission in practical ways. When we obey him in this, we are living “to the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:12). As Chris Wright says, it is a marvelous privilege to be invited to join our God in his grand purpose for human history, and for this we are humbled and thankful!

May God be glorified by our faithfulness.