“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:4-7)
This is a great text for us in this Christmas season to take time to think about. At just the right time, “the fullness of time”…that is, the time that God had set aside for this event to occur before the foundation of the world… “God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might be received as adopted sons and daughters in Christ.” In case anyone was wondering God made a plan and made sure that plan was implemented long ago so that each piece of the plan of redemption happens exactly as planned when it was/is supposed to happen. God is never late!
If that is not good news, I don’t know what is. What a gift that God has given to us in His Son…a gift that the Godhead had determined before time to give, so that God’s children…all God’s children…would be redeemed…purchased from the bondage of sin. “‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means, God with us).’”
This text from Galatians highlights for us that there is no better gift than to be adopted into The Right Family! The use of the word adoption is not an accident. God wants us to know that He chose us…that is what adoption is…out of all the possibilities parents choose a child or a couple of children. Same is true for God…out of all mankind He chose His children from every nation, tongue and tribe from before the beginning of time to give to His Son and this will continue until the consummation of time. And God’s family is definitely the right family.
But the gifts didn’t stop with Christ’s work at His birth and on the cross…the Godhead also gave us the Holy Spirit to be within us at all times from the time of our adoption….and as such we are now sons of daughters of the King, the God of all creation…we were once children of wrath but now we are children of God. This Spirit so works faith in us that we cannot help but cry out Abba, Father. By calling on God in faith it confirms the faith that we have…yet another gift we have been given…that of assurance of faith.
So the triune God is seen. He is totally the author of His children’s creation, salvation, faith and assurance…the gifts keep on coming…and are yet to come as we are; an heir through God’s work on our behave…an heir of all that God’s kingdom can afford us…in this life partially… but in the life to come… FULLY!
Yes…Christmas is upon us…so let us ponder anew the work Christ accomplished and the work that is yet…SOON…to be accomplished when He returns on that Day!
God Bless y’all. Merry Christmas!
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
