Shoulder To Shoulder #1269 -- 12/13/21 ----"The Perfect Time, Place, and Purpose -- Thoughts on Christmas" (Part Two -- Jesus: Just In Time, Right On Time)
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein
“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle
Shoulder To Shoulder #1269 -- 12/13/21
Title: 'The Perfect Time, Place, and Purpose -- Thoughts on Christmas" (Part Two -- Jesus: Just In Time, Right On Time)
My Dear Friend and Fellow Kingdom Seeker:
Greetings on a cool and cloudy January day in Yuma! Today's high is only around 70 degrees and nighttime lows currently drop down into the 40's. I know, I know! That's not what most of you are experiencing, but it still gives me a chance to "rub it in" just a bit.
Sunday was a lovely sunny day in the high 70's, we had our highest attendance of the season thus far, and we enjoyed once again our post-COVID annual Christmas potluck dinner, preceded by old fashioned Christmas Carol Sing around the piano with the aroma of delicious food in the air. The food was delicious, the singing was special, and the service that preceded it all was glorious.
Not everyone is enjoying such weather and such celebrations these days, and I recognize that. I think of the Americans and "friends of" who are still abandoned and trapped in Afghanistan. I think of the folks who have been impacted by violence, looting, and destruction in many of our major cities. I think of the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who are currently displaced and uncared for because they took the "shortcuts" of coming to America illegally. I think of the hundreds of thousands who endured perhaps the most deadly weather-related tragedy in recent history when more than 30 tornadoes wreaked havoc across the Midwest.
Sometimes it's hard to celebrate holiday seasons when such conditions exist. It is particularly difficult at times to truly "plug in" to the Christmas season under such circumstances. It has taken me longer than normal to "catch the Christmas spirit".
What grieves me more than any of those situations is the greater tragedy of God's people succumbing to the world's way of celebrating Christmas. There is nothing wrong at all about Christmas gifts, holly, wreaths, glittering ornaments, bright lights, and lots of goodies -- even fruit cake! ---- Well, maybe fruit cake is a bad thing. I heard recently that there was reportedly an additional wise man who tried to visit Jesus, but was not allowed in because he brought fruit cake as a gift. I can't verify that as being true, but . . . .
But the "Grinch" of materialism and self gratification far too often clouds the perspective of what Christmas is truly all about. It's a little sad when we celebrate the birth of our Savior by giving ourselves gifts and throwing parties that focus on ourselves. I think He deserves better than that.
On a personal note, I'm grateful to so many who have been praying for me regarding the three cardiac tests my doctor wanted me to have. He was concerned that, at my age and with my family history, I had never had a thorough battery of tests. Over the last two months I had a series of three -- stress, Holter 24-hour monitor, and ECHO. This morning I had the final consultation with the cardiologist, and he basically said my heart was strong, I was much healthier than most 83 year olds, and the issues he found were minimal in nature. 1) My heart rate is slow (typical of my Tolliver heritage), and 2) two valves (one aortic and one ventricle) had very slight leaking.
The doctor indicated that there was no need for a pacemaker or any kind of corrective measures, and indicated that I should simply have an annual check up on the issues. He told me not to come back until then unless I had persistent light-headedness, shortness of breath, or frequent passing out.
To be honest, while I recognized there could be some more serious issues because of my family history (both parents had heart problems), I was not at all surprised at the outcome. After all, I have much more to do and much more to say. Neither Jo Ann nor I have any indication that we should slide out of the saddle and take off our boots anytime soon. Life is too much fun, and needs are too great for us to even remotely consider being sidelined or shelved.
So, thank you for praying.
I don't know if you've done much Bible reading about the birth of Christ outside of what you read in the Gospels. I love those accounts -- but what I love even more are those prophecies in the Old Testament and explanations in the Epistles about Christ's birth. I have a couple favorites in Isaiah and three favorites in the New Testament -- John 1:1-14, Hebrews 1:1-3 (about which I wrote in my last letter), and Galatians 4:4-5. For the past two Sundays I have preached from some of those texts. Today I want to do the same for another -- Galatians 4:4-5. It starts out, . . .
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent . . ."
The term, "fullness of time" really tantalizes my mind. What does that term mean? What IS "the fullness of time"? When did it become "full"? How did it become full? What does an eternal God, Who is not bound by the thing called "time", have to do with time at all, let alone "the Fullness of time?" Why did He wait until "the fullness of time" happened? These are just a few of the questions that often keep me awake at night. I think today I want to share some thoughts about that with you. And, I'll do that ---- right after you consider . . . .
THIS 'N' THAT:
+ Advent From Jewish Eyes: I ran across this link to a video presentation produced by Chosen People Ministries in which three renowned Jewish rabbis talk about Advent, or "the coming". All raised in traditional Jewish families, they concluded that Jesus was and is the promised Messiah of Israel and the world's Savior. One is a Bible college professor, one a minister to the Jewish people, and one a pastor of a large church. In view of this Christmas season, you might want to watch it pp and perhaps share it with others. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW6jQ9qyGLw&t=312s .
+ Those Special Fields: Just this afternoon I received the December newsletter of our friends from Ireland, Paul and Nuala Higgins. Now living in Florida, Paul and Nuala were the leaders of a group of believers to which we attached ourselves at the last minute in the Fall of 2008 on a trip to Israel. I am blessed to receive their periodic newsletters, and this one is so rich in history and biblical truth that I wanted to share it with you. When you click on the following link, for some reason you may get a "warning" that the site is unsafe. Far from it! Click on the "go to anyway" tab and enjoy this fresh and pertinent treatment of the Christmas story, linking two women together though separated by 1,000 years. Same fields, same heritage, same message. We saw those same fields another 2,000 years later. It is a rich commentary, indeed. Merry Christmas! Go to https://www.reconciliationoutreach.net/downloads/Reconciler-Dec.-2021.pdf .
+ We Are Fine: One of our daughters texted me today, and her question reminded me that you still can't believe everything you hear on the news -- especially of the source is "liberal" in its mindset and its reporting. MSNBC recently reported that the illegal alien problem in Yuma was in crisis mode. The report was based on the city's mayor designating Yuma "in a state of emergency" in order to request funding to deal with the rise in illegal crossings in the immediate area. Our daughter was concerned for our well being. The fact is that recently illegal crossings here have risen to over 1,000 per day -- that authorities know of. When you consider the severe desert conditions in this part of the bi-national Great Sonoran Desert, that is both huge AND dangerous. We have never personally seen groups of illegal aliens in Yuma or in our area of the Foothills just to the east. However, they are there, but most are going on to other destinations, particularly in neighboring California just across the Colorado River from Yuma. We occasionally see some in places like WalMart who appear to possibly be illegals -- or homeless (we have an amazing homeless ministry, Crossroads Ministries here). And, like today, we saw a young man with the facial features of someone from Bolivia, Peru, or Ecuador rather than Mexican or Native American. He, however, was very well dressed with new Nike's and a state-of-the-art cell phone. But, it does make you wonder where -- or how -- . . . . But, personally, we are fine and in no danger. We just make sure our house and car are locked at all times. But, . . . no worries.
QUOTES FOR THE WEEK:
> "Behold on Christmas a new and wondrous reality. The angels sing and the archangels blend their voices in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt Christ’s glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth and man in heaven. He Who is above now for our redemption dwells here below, and we who are lowly are by divine mercy raised up. Bethlehem this day resembles heaven, hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices. Ask not how. For where God wills, nature yields. For He willed. He had the power. He descended. He redeemed. All things move in obedience to God." – St. John Chrysostom (Early Church Father, 347-407 AD)
> "Christmas celebrates the awesome and amazing fact that God is grander, wiser and more mysterious than we could have ever imagined." -- Dan Schaeffer
> " The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation." -- J.I. Packer
> "This is our present Festival; it is this which we are celebrating today, the Coming of God to Man, . . . hat we might go back to God – that putting off of the old man, we might put on the new; and that as we died in Adam, so we might live in Christ, being born with Christ and crucified with Him and buried with Him and rising with Him. . . . Therefore let us keep the Feast, not after the manner of a heathen festival, but after a godly sort; not after the way of the world, but in a fashion above the world; not as our own, but as belonging to Him who is ours, or rather as our master’s; not as of weakness, but as of healing; not as of creation, but of re-creation. – St. Gregory of Nazianzus (Early Church Father, 329-390 AD)
> "The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable." -- Ralph W. Sockman
> " If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!" -- John MacArthur
> " All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ." -- David Jeremiah
> "Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal men may live in eternity.” -- Jan Hus
> " Our God is the God of the unexpected. A few things could be more unexpected than the King of heaven being born in a stable." -- Bil Crowder
> "Wake up, O human being! For it was for you that God was made man. Rise up and realize it was all for you. Eternal death would have awaited you had He not been born in time. Never would you be freed from your sinful flesh had He not taken to Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Everlasting would be your misery had He not performed this act of mercy. You would not have come to life again had He not come to die your death. You would have perished had He not come. – St. Augustine (Early Church Father, 354-430 AD)
SETTING THE MOOD:
Rarely do I write on a topic about which I have just recently preached, but today I am doing so for the second consecutive week. Here are some thoughts from what I shared yesterday at Chapel de Oro. The sermon was again video taped, but only the Lord knows how long it will take for me to post it on the Greer Chapel YouTube page or my Facebook page.
Few phrases in scripture have intrigued me any more than what Paul stated to the Christians in the churches scattered throughout the province of Galatia in central Turkey -- "When the fullness of time had come . . ." (KJV) Another of my favorites is, "In the beginning. . . .". (Gen 1:1; Jn 1:1; etc.)
What did Paul mean when he used that combination of words to introduce the fact that God sent Jesus, His Son, into the world through His incarnation . . . His embodiment in human form? The writer of Hebrews reminded us last week that God had spoken to mankind in the past through prophets, the scriptures, and nature, but then began speaking in a very different and profound way at the moment of Christ's birth -- through His own Son. These are all such intriguing phrases and concepts to me. I could not help but do some serious investigation -- something I wish all Christians would do. (If I could recommend any Bible study helps, it would be a copy of
> The Amplified Bible,
> Strong's Exhaustive Concordance,
> Thayer's Greek Definitions,
> Vine's New Testament Dictionary,
> New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance, and
> Wuest's Word Studies of the New Testament.
There are dozens of comparable resources, and many of them are far more scholarly and detailed than these. However, for the average Christian like most of us are, these all keep things simple. (I will save Old Testament study resources for another time.)
When I preach, I almost always use the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation -- primarily because it is one of the most "literal" translations to the original languages in which the Bible was written (Hebrew and Greek, with a few passages written in Chaldean and Aramaic). However, one of the very best translations -- especially if you want to get the "full" meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words -- is the Amplified Bible. It does exactly what its title implies -- it "amplifies" the original languages by using as many English words as necessary to convey the full meaning of the original language.
Use one of my favorite Christmas passages, for example -- Galatians 4:4-6.
The legendary KJV translation says, "But when the fulness 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. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
The NASB from which I preach says, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' "
The Amplified Bible (AMP), expands it considerably, stating, "But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, to purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons]. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!"
I think that even in doing nothing more than reading the AMP version, there is something more to that little phrase, "When the fullness of time had come". It shows us that there is more to the phrase than meets the eye. It shows us that 1) there was an actual "proper time", that 2) the "proper time" had arrived sometime prior to Paul's letter to the Galatian believers, and 3) Something exceptionally significant happened when that "proper time" arrived and God took some earth shattering action at that time.
Delving into the aforementioned Bible dictionaries and concordances and others, I discovered wonderful rich truths from this scripture. In addition, I investigated the nature of those churches in the Turkish province of Galatia, and what had happened there that made it necessary for Paul to write such a blunt and at times severe letter to a bunch of people with whom he had so diligently shared the Gospel and nurtured on his first two missionary journeys.
What had happened to them that made him confront them with such a passionate expression of disappointment and alarm -- "Who has bewitched you???!!! WHO!!!!" (Gal 3:1)
That convicting question alone makes me want to know more. So, let's probe into this amazing phrase -- ". . . when the proper time had fully come . . ."
BACKGROUND TO PAUL'S DECLARATION:
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Gal 4:4-7)
You've heard the phrase before, "timing is everything." If you think it isn't true, then try hit a golf ball or a baseball without considering timing. Try to catch a train in Europe without considering timing. Try attending a university class without it. Try to run an automobile engine without a "timing" gear. Or, try baking your Christmas ham without paying attention to timing.
Yes, timing is, in many ways, "Everything!"
The writer of Ecclesiastes said it well, . . . "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1). He went on to remind us that this "appointed time for everything" includes seed time and harvest, war and peace, life (including birth, of course) and death. By inference Solomon is simply telling us that God has established certain cycles and time frames by which man must live, and to which man should pay serious heed.
Above all, though, I believe the most important truth you and I must remember is that God operates on a perfect time schedule -- because He has a perfect plan -- a plan which we often fail to recognize. So, if we are going to live lives of genuine trust in Him and His agenda, we must remember a very important fact:
> God is never early -- but He is never late! He’s always on time!
Nothing demonstrates the importance of precise timing more than the birth of Jesus. Had Christ’s coming been earlier or later than it actually was, Bible prophecies would not have been accurately fulfilled, His sacrifice would not have satisfied God’s law, millions would have never heard of His love, and our salvation would not have been provided. In fact, Christ's birth, His wonderful and compassionate life, His death, and His resurrection would have all be a waste.
And it all hinges on His incarnation. If He had not been born into the world of humanity, He could never have taught, He could never have healed, He could have never called and mentored followers, He certainly could have never died, He could have never been our sacrificial lamb; and if He had not died, He could never have been raised from the dead.
In other words, had it not been for the virgin birth of Christ -- at the exact time and in the right place -- God's act of redemption would have never become a reality. Rather, we'd still be living with no hope whatsoever, and if we practiced Judaism, our hope would have been in the righteousness and acts of priests who were, themselves, flawed men that required sacrifice on their behalf before they could offer it to us.
Had that been the case, all the prophecies about Jesus -- over 300 of them in the Bible -- would have been lies, and if the writers had lied, then the whole Bible is suspect and has no more value to us than a poorly written novel. It all hinges on the Incarnation of Christ -- when God took on human flesh and burst forth into our world.
On the other hand, the events leading up to the birth of Christ were like the gears of a fine Swiss watch. All of different sizes and function, each one was connected to another, and all had to mesh perfectly for the hands of God’s clock to point to Bethlehem at the hour of Christ’s birth.
The issue at hand when Paul wrote to the Galatian believers was that some of them had been convinced by non-believing Jews that they must return to the Jewish practice of circumcision -- an act that set them aside as God's special people who fervently adhered to the laws of Moses. The heart of those laws was the practice of animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. It required sacrifices by Levitical priests on a regular basis for personal forgiveness, and the yearly sacrifice by the High Priest for national sins.
Paul had introduced the message of the Gospel to the Galatians on his first missionary trip. In about 45 AD the Church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to Galatia (central Turkey) to share the Gospel. When persecution hit the Christians in Jerusalem, most of them fled (except for James and a few others) and scattered throughout Syria and surrounding areas. A large group went to Antioch, a major Roman city to the north.
Antioch quickly became the "hub" of this new Christian faith and the Church there understood Christ's command to spread the Gospel. So, during one of their gatherings for prayer, the Holy Spirit made it clear that the Church was to select some key leaders to initiate the first incursion into "enemy territory". Paul and Barnabas were selected. Praying over them, the elders appointed (ordained) them to embark on that first long and challenging missionary expedition.
Since Cyprus was the home country to Barnabas, that was a logical place to begin. After all, he was well known as, "the son of encouragement" and the servant helper. So, Paul, Barnabas, and young John set out for Cyprus. While many there received the message, others were not so receptive and chained Paul to a stone column and beat him. They were particularly upset when Paul exposed the demonic activity of one of their religious guru's, Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas.
After having covered the island from one end to the other, Paul, John and Barnabas set sail from Paphos, and headed to the city of Perga in the province of Pamphylia. For an unknown reason other than Paul's later remark that John didn't have the backbone and will for such a ministry, John left the two and returned to his home in Jerusalem. Then Paul and Barnabas journeyed on to Antioch in the province of Pisidia. Pamphylia and Pisidia are part of the central Turkish region known as Galatia.
As they preached in many synagogues and market places in cities such as Antioch, Iconium, Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, they saw many Jews (and Gentiles as well) come to faith in Christ. But they also faced severe persecution from Jewish leaders because so many were receiving Jesus as their long-promised Messiah. Often they were pelted with rocks, beaten, and sometimes imprisoned such as during their stays in Lystra and Philippi.
Opposition from Jewish leaders who rejected this claim about Jesus grew so controversial that Paul and Barnabas returned to their launching point in Antioch, and when they reported the issue about circumcision and adhering to the Jewish sacrificial rituals as being necessary for salvation, the Church sent a letter assuring both Jews and Gentiles that Christ's sacrifice paid the full price, satisfied the requirements of the Mosaic Law, and nullified the necessity of circumcision.
It's not clear exactly when that letter was sent, but after a period of time, many Galatian believers became enthusiastic followers of Christ, and numerous churches soon developed. Returning on his second missionary journey, he found that the churches had thrived and multiplied. He remained on for a time and helped strengthen those churches, and also met and mentored young Timothy who then traveled with him for a period of time.
But they also faced even more fierce opposition, particularly from the Jewish leaders who rejected the message that Jesus was the Messiah for whom they looked. They were looking for a political liberator who would set them free from the centuries-long bondage or Roman rule, and Jesus didn't fit that bill. Opposition was so intense at times that on at least one occasion Paul was severely beaten and left for dead outside of town. Acts 13-16 chronicle those two missionary expeditions into the Galatian region.
So, becoming a Christian in Galatia was dangerous for three reasons: 1) the traditions of the ancient Gauls (after whom Galatia was named) who had arrived in the area 300 years earlier was deeply ingrained; 2) the worship of Greek gods of the Greco-Roman culture was strong; and 3) those non-Christian Jews viciously fought this new sect.
You may wonder what all of this has to do with the Incarnation, but the reason for Paul writing this letter in the first place was against the backdrop of his first two missionary expeditions into the region. It was necessary to reestablish Paul’s influence, and to also correct a false teaching of circumcision for salvation. It was written to all of “the churches of Galatia” (1:2). Requiring circumcision and observance of the Mosaic Law had become such a serious problem among the churches that he referred to them as “foolish Galatians” inquiring, "Who has bewitched you???!!!" (Gal 3:1). The letter is one of the most intense letters Paul ever wrote, comparable to the stern letter he wrote to the Corinthian church in Greece.
The heart of Paul’s argument in the entire letter is found in verses 4 through 7, which I noted above. They explain the necessity of Christ’s virgin birth as an integral part of the message of the Gospel to take place at exactly the right time. In fact, this entire battle in Galatia was the same battle waged in the Garden of Eden and remains the battle for the souls of people today -- can you be restored to God by being good, doing good, and observing religious rituals, or can you only be restored merely through the mercy of God and the merits of His Son?
You know the answer, of course -- so let's dig directly into some fundamental principles and examine why Divine Timing is so integral to our salvation through Christ -- and Christ alone.
THE TIMING DEFINED:
I suppose before we talk about God's timing, we should get at least a cursory idea of what "timing" really is. Well, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as, “The ability to choose the best moment for some action, movement, etc.” And again, “The ability to select the precise moment for doing something for optimum effect”. The American Heritage Dictionary has a similar definition, namely, “The regulation of occurrence, pace, or coordination to achieve a desired effect”.
The key words are "ability" and "achieve a desired effect". If there is no ability, or if there is no expect outcome intended, then it isn't "timing" at all. It's just an event with no real purpose behind it.
The Bible also describes it somewhat differently, using some variation of something being accomplished at a certain time and for a specific reason or outcome. Since the word, "timing" doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible, we must draw from other words or expressions to find what the Bible means. Included in those expressions would be the one we're examining -- "When the time was fulfilled".
In a sense, we can't understand timing from the Bible's perspective until after the fact -- after the time has passed when something was to have been accomplished. In that sense, timing takes place when that action has taken place at exactly the prescribed time that God planned. Thus, we can define it biblically as, “The filling up of time” “The completion of a specific time period” “The end of a time period or a timed process”.
This is illustrated in one of my favorite passages on the topic of vision. This is a topic about which I have written extensively in the past. It is personally a rich topic because for me, biblical vision is to simply "see what God sees". Too often the vision we have is not what God sees, but what we see -- or what we think or assume God sees. The Holy Spirit of God spoke to Habakkuk about the matter when He stated, . . .
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay." (Hab 2:3).
To our frequent consternation, we have to leave it with the fact that God's timing exists, but we seldom see it until after He has already accomplished His purposes. Then we can look back and say, "God's timing is perfect, and right on time."
But this leaves us with a dilemma. Why does God "delay" things in unexplainable ways? Well, the dilemma is really not about "delays", but rather about His sovereign purpose and our willingness to trust Him with His timing. In other words, we are faced with His . . .
HIS TIMING DELAYED:
One of the things that has always left me in awe is how an eternal omnipotent God of all creation Who is not affected by time, actually created time, put man within that time spectrum, and then Himself entered time from outside time within the spectrum of eternity. Just think about it for a minute ---- time was invaded by eternity. God, Who is the eternal "here and now", the One with Whom a day is no different from 1,000 years and 1,000 years is a mere day in His scheme of things, chose to reveal Himself within the time spectrum so that you and I could be awed by His majesty and touched by His mercy.
Take the Incarnation of Christ as case in point. Why did God delay in sending His Son at numerous opportune times? Why did He pick the precise time He did in Christ taking on human form? Why did God send Jesus as the Redeemer at the time He sent Him? Why not sooner—MUCH sooner?
For example, why didn't He send Christ immediately after Adam and Eve chose independence over trust in the Garden of Eden? Or why not send Him right after Cain killed Abel? Or, why not right after the flood? Or right after the fall of Babel? Or maybe right after the judges? How about sending Him before Israel had a chance to repeatedly turn its back on God and enter into the idolatry and immorality of the culture surrounding it?
There were literally thousands of opportunities for the Incarnation to have taken place long before it did. So, the question remains an inexplicable and troublesome, "Why?" which will never be satisfactorily answered this side of heaven. However, there is something of an explanation in Paul's letter to the Christians in Ephesus. Following his salutation, Paul states, . . .
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth."
Verses nine and ten tell us something very important -- we will probably never understand it, but we can immediately accept it. For whatever reason known only to God, He expressed His love for us, in spite of our sin and depravity, by choosing to send Christ out from the realm of heavenly eternity into a wicked and sinful world dominated by Satan, and rescue us from ourselves, from sin, and from the clutches of Satan.
At just the right time -- in time and on time -- God sent His Son to accomplish what all the attempts of man for some 4,000 years had made in their futile efforts to be reconciled back to God. Instinctively man has known that there was a sense of emptiness -- of incompleteness -- deep within his heart. Paul described this clearly in Romans chapter one.
So, "when the fullness of time had come . . ." -- at just the right time after all of man's efforts had been unequivocally proven to have failed -- God send Jesus. Man had to learn the hard lesson that living independently from God and in rebellion to Him, is extremely costly. It costs him everything. Nothing survives when one has rejected the God Who created him. Thus, Paul had to explain the facts to the Galatians.
GOD'S TIMING EXPLAINED: (1-3)
"1. Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2. but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world."
What a puzzling statement Paul seems to have made. What does that have to do with anything?
Well, the Galatian Jews understood the role of the child as an heir; they fully knew the role of slavery from their own history and their current status under Roman rule. They knew the difference between being a slave and being an heir. What they didn't understand is that through Christ, a "new covenant" had been initiated that not only superseded the old covenant established on keeping God's laws, but provided a totally new covenant in which all their requirements as one side of the covenant had actually been covered by the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Paul was explaining to them that God sending Christ at the time He did was in order to 1. deliver them from the slavery of the law, 2. rescue them from slavery to the world, and – to cap it all off -- restore them as children and heirs to God.
"4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5. so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."
When Christ was incarnate in the body of a tiny baby lying in a stone feed trough created to feed livestock, it was God rescuing mankind from the slave market of sin, bidding the highest price, rescuing him out of that wretched market, removing the chains that enslaved him, setting him free, -- and welcoming him back home as His son or daughter. Because of that, we are no longer slaves, but now children -- and heirs! -- of God!
Did you ever find yourself lost from your parents -- like at a ball game, a shopping mall, or a carnival? Do you remember the terror? Can you hear the confusing and frightening sounds all around you? Under normal circumstances the voices of people talking and laughing, the sounds of cash register draws opening and closing, the distant sounds of sirens and automobile horns -- none of them would have alarmed you. After all, you were in the presence of your parents, and one of them was holding your hand tightly.
But, when all of a sudden you are attracted to a "bright shiny object", you slip away to investigate -- and the next thing you know, your parents are nowhere to be found. Wandering aimlessly searching for them, you ask one person after another, -- "Have you seen my Dad?" As your separation extends over what seems to be days, you find yourself crying and running, becoming more hysterical by the moment. Even those who want to help you reunite appear to be enemies trying to abduct you.
Finally, over the din and hub hub of your plight, you hear that familiar voice calling out your name. You frantically search for that familiar face -- and when your eyes finally connect with his, you shriek, "Abba! Father! -- Daddy! Daddy!"
You see, the literal meaning of the term, "Abba! Father!" is NOT a mere term of endearment. It is a term of rescue. "Abba" is a Chaldean term, and "Father" is its Greek equivalent. The hidden secret, though, is that these are the words cried out by a lost child at the top of his voice when he spots his daddy looking for him. In the original language, it is an exceptionally emotional and highly audible cry of relief after having been seen, found, and rescued by the One from Whom you strayed.
My friend! This is EXACTLY what happened when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The cry of the babe was not the cry of a newborn needing food. It was the initial cry of a father calling out to His lost children -- "I am HERE! I have COME! Here I AM! Run to ME!"
FINALLY:
And all these years, we just thought it was a tiny baby boy crying in a manger of straw because he was cold -- or hungry -- or needed to be held. He was so tiny -- and cute -- and cuddly -- that you didn't realize it was your heavenly Father.
All that remains is for you and me to shriek, "Abba! Father! -- Daddy! Daddy! You FOUND me! You FOUND me! I LOVE You!"
Today, because of Paul's explanation to the Galatians who were being intimidated by hostile voices demanding that we perform certain ways and keep certain rules, you and I have been rescued. We are rescued from slavery to the world we cannot conquer. We are rescued from the law we cannot keep. We are rescued from an abandonment we cannot endure.
You see, my friend, God’s timing was perfect – "in the fullness of time." His timing is always perfect – never late, but right on time. After He allowed mankind to try every imaginable way to be reconciled back to Him, He sent his “one and only” Son to bring us back to Himself. Just as the prophet proclaimed, a child was born, BUT a Son was given. That was God’s plan. Born as a baby, and free from the world around Him, He rescued us from the world, the demands of the law, forgiving our sins and satisfying the law’s judicial demands.
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isa 9:6)
"But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, to purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons]. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba (Father)! Father!'"
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).
And because He died, rose again, and ascended to God’s right hand, we have an abundance of “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”
In His Bond, By His Grace, and for His Kingdom,
Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11
ADDENDUM:
As I studied this passage of scripture (Gal 4:4-ff), I was struck by the literal meanings of many words. In knowing what they really meant, the verses began to leap with life and reality. So, I am listing those words for your personal consideration. If you choose to study each one carefully and then go back and read Galatians 4, I think you will be glad you did.
1. Fullness – play'-ro-mah = “repletely completed and totally filled up”
2. Time -- khron'-os = “A space or period of specified time”
3. Had Come – er'-khom-ahee = “declared to appear, be fixed and/or revealed”
4. God – theh'-os = "Supreme magistrate, ruler of all."
5. Sent -- ex-ap-os-tel'-lo = “sent away on a mission”
6. Son –hwee-os' = “one's own male child”
7. Born – ghin'-om-ahee = “come, grow into a being”
8. Woman -- goo-nay' = “woman, wife”
9. Under – hoop-o' = “placed beneath in an inferior position, being subject to, according to”
10. Law – nom'-os = “established, prescribed requirement”
11. Redeem -- ex-ag-or-ad'-zo = “ransom, rescue from loss”
12. Receive -- ap-ol-am-ban'-o = “to take or accept in full”
13. Adoption as sons – hwee-oth-es-ee'-ah = "to be judicially and legally placed as one's son or child, as if natural born” (Official legal transaction)
14. Sent – ex-ap-os-tel'-lo = "dismissed and dispatched on a mission away." (Apostelos = “apostle” = “sent one”)
15. Spirit – pnyoo'-mah = “presiding life, breath, nature, character, disposition”
16. Into our hearts – kar-dee'-ah = “thoughts, awareness, minds, feelings, nature” (Kardiac = into our life pump)
17. Crying -- krad'-zo = "loudly crying, screaming"
18. Abba, Father –ab-bah' Pah-ayr = Father parent - "Daddy parent” (NOT slave owner, NOT law judge/jury)
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)
"A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy
Life Unlimited Ministries
LUMglobal
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Copyright December, 2021
"If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill
"The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon
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