In a word, let’s return to the historic objective of using the Advent season to affirm both the victory of Christ in His 1st Advent and our longing for the consummation of His victory in the 2nd Advent. In so doing we would not only minister to a heart-felt need in the lives of God’s people we would also more effectively disciple God’s people and more effectively proclaim the Gospel of Hope to the world. 

 
Early in my pastoral ministry a thoughtful young man came with an interesting question while our congregation was in the midst of celebrating the Advent season. The question arose from a hymn sung during a Lord’s Day worship service. The hymn was the Isaac Watts classic “Joy to the World.” The question was, “Pastor, why are we singing a hymn during Christmas containing lyrics that refer to the 2^nd coming of Christ?” My pastoral response was twofold.

First, together we examined the hymn. It soon became obvious the hymn actually contained lyrics that referred to both the 1^st Advent (i.e. His Incarnation and Birth) and lyrics to the 2^nd Advent (His Second Coming). Furthermore, the hymn, verse by verse, traces the triumph of Christ as the Redeemer of His people from His 1^st Advent to His 2^nd Advent.Secondly, we noted there are multiple hymns sung during the Advent season which exalt the Lord for His redeeming work in both the 1^st and 2^nd Advents. Then, it was my turn to ask a question. “Why do you think so many Advent hymns sung at “Christmas” extol both Advents of Christ?” The answer though simple has been lost to many. But, if recaptured can lead us to a profound blessing.The reason so many hymns and confessions associated with the Christmas celebrations reference both the 1^st and 2^nd Advents is because the early church intentionally designed the Advent Season to celebrate both the 1^st and 2^nd Advents of Christ. Why?

The Advent is a work of God’s grace whereby God Himself has come to us, to be among us and become one of us in order to save us from our sins and will come again for us to be with us forever. The Old Testament, through types, symbols, prophecies and Christophanies (i.e. pre-incarnate appearances of Christ) anticipated the coming of the Messiah – the Promised One – in whom “all of the Promises of God are yes and amen.” Those Messianic prophetic Promises can be summed up with two specific Promises.

• The first Promise was that the Messiah would “save His people from all of their sins” and deliver them from all of His and their enemies.
• The second Promise was that the Messiah would not only defeat these enemies but would ultimately destroy them and deliver His people into a glorious forever Kingdom.

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