DAY THREE: FAITH
12/3/24
“1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
What does it mean to be saved? We talk about salvation in our worship songs, our theology books, our sermons, but what did Paul mean when he wrote, “because, 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” (Rom. 10:9)? The Bible says that salvation is a gift that comes through faith in Jesus, and Paul teaches that one of the greatest joys of salvation is that we have peace with God: “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1).
The Greek word for “peace” is eiréné, deriving from the verb eirō, which means “to join” or “to tie together into a whole.” When we say we have peace with God, what we really mean is that we are joined together with Him through our faith in Jesus. This is why the Bible refers to salvation as being “in Christ” 89 times!
Being saved is so much more than being assured you’ll go to heaven one day. Salvation means you are united with the God of the universe through faith in Him! In the month of Advent, believers around the world rejoice in the hope of the glory of God because we know there is no condemnation for those who have peace with Him—for those who are in Christ Jesus.
-Dane Bateman
DAY TWO: POURED OUT FOR ME
12/2/24
All of the fullness of God’s Deity dwells in Jesus, and it’s this reason that His shed blood on the cross successfully made peace for mankind. Have you ever wondered why Adam’s death didn’t bring humanity salvation? Or Abraham’s death? Or Moses’s? Of course, they sinned, but what if they were sinless like Jesus? Would peace have been made by their blood? Or is there something special about the person of Jesus that allowed salvation to spread to all of humanity by His death?
Psalm 49:7-8 writes, “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,” yet later in verse 15, the psalmist writes, “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.”
In the month of Advent, we celebrate the anticipated arrival of the Chosen One—the Son of Man—who came “to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Jesus’s sacrifice accomplished salvation for everyone who believes in His name because He is God in the flesh—the One who promised to ransom our souls.
-Dane Bateman
DAY ONE: PRINCE OF PEACE
12/1/24 — Isaiah 9:6-7
Anticipation hangs in the air during the month of December. For some it’s a giddy anticipation. The kind where you feel like a kid again, “nostalgic” is how you might describe the feeling to someone. Meals are cozier, lights make things prettier, people smile more. It’s a peaceful anticipation.
However more often than not it’s the anxious anticipation we experience this time of year. The kind that’s got a chokehold on you. The kind that knows you’ve got things to do, lists to make, mouths to feed, a home to decorate, gifts to buy, traditions to keep.
In a season of peace why is it that so many of us feel like we are falling to pieces? Why is it that most of us are operating in anxious anticipation and giddy, peaceful anticipation feels out of reach?
In Isaiah 9:6-7 we are reminded that the God who came to be with us calls himself the Prince of Peace. The God who brings peace is Himself peace, it’s His very nature. Verse 7 offers us the best news - the peace that He brings is a peace that never ends. Jesus stepped down from glory into a mess of a manger to bring peace to your messy, anxious, and weary soul. Ask God today to help you dwell in the unending peace that He offers this season despite how messy and chaotic things around you are. Dwell with Him and watch as a daily peace begins to flood through you and surround you. Your peace does not have to be put on pause this month. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Our Prince of Peace has come.
-Baylee Dulmage
ADVENT —A 24 DAY DEVO
For centuries, Christians have celebrated the Advent season as the four weeks leading up to Christmas as a way to prepare their hearts for the soon arrival and birth of Jesus. It’s a time of remembering His first coming but also eagerly awaiting and anticipating His second coming.
During this 24 day devotional, we will observe the peace, joy, love, and hope that Immanuel brings. Join along with us as we anticipate our King this Christmas season.