For God so loved the world
Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Until that time, travel was dangerous and limited. Caravans were the only safe way to go. Pirates were on the sea.
But after the establishment of the Roman Empire, then Roman legions marched, built roads all across the known world.
They maintained them, and kept them safe.
They maintained the Sea ways. Yes, under cruel mastery, but they were kept open.
(Why did not God send Jesus later…like during the industrial revolution when machines were being built? Or now when the internet makes spreading God’s word easy?
Because without the spread of Christianity; freedom and the education of people, would not have taken place. Christ brought forth the kindness and love for all people to the earth.
Beside, how many would not have been saved who were.)
So on the background of cruelty, power, and helplessness…
Then God sent forth His Son.
“Sent forth” on an errand of mercy and grace; to liberate and redeem His people. Jesus said…
Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at Liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
“He was made of a woman”.
From the first prophecy of Christ’s coming, right after Adam had sinned: “her seed”.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”
To the plain statement of fact in:
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Christ was to be made of a woman. The Holy Ghost would come upon her and implant within her the Son of God.
Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: Therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Christ Jesus was made under the law, to show how honorable it was, if it was kept.
But, as sinners, we had no power to keep it; and therefore, even for those who knew it:
“The law made nothing perfect (complete), but the bringing in of a better Hope did: by the which we draw nigh to God.” Hebrew 7:19
And that “better hope” is Christ.
“To redeem them.” Christ Jesus, because He was the Son of God, and perfect; He was without sin; could and did pay the full price for us by His precious blood, to free us from our sins and the great penalty of death that was upon us.
Instead we are given adoption papers by the Holy Spirit within us, saying we are now children of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
God has again “sent forth”; this time He has sent the Holy Spirit to us, personally, with a message of great power and love.
God is Almighty, Holy, and ever Present; yet He has become our Father by Holy, Divine adoption!
(No, He is not Father to all, but Father only to those who receive His Son as Lord and Savior)
But here, Paul puts a darling name for Father…Abba.
It is like “Daddy”.
Like a little child glad to see the Father, runs to him crying, Daddy, Daddy.
So Paul says the Holy Spirit within us, gives us this access: this joy and affection as we come before the Throne of God in prayer.
1 Peter 1:18-20 “For as much as ye know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition by your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you.”
God “sent forth” His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to free us from the bondage of sin, anoint us by His Holy Spirit in faith and love. Making us His children, and giving us unlimited access to our Abba, Father.
Christ is indeed:
Isaiah 9:6 “But unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
God is never late…He has everything in His control…and how wonderful that He has saved us, made us His, and given us His Spirit, so we are never alone.
Let us praise the Lord for His timetable….for we are included in it.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 