Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As we approach this Christmas season, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on that event and its implications to the life of the believer.
It is impossible to read Galatians 4:4-5 and come away with the notion that the birth of Christ was any but a deliberate, predetermined act of God with the sole purpose of our redemption. “The fullness of time,” is a loaded phrase. It clearly implies that God was and is fully in control of history and events that lead to one overriding purpose, God’s redemptive plan. He was “the Lamb slain from the foundations of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
The Bible isn’t an interesting set of short stories with lessons of moralism, not a manual of theology or nice wisdom principles. It may contain these nuggets and pearls but in reality, it is really, one story, with one hero, with one theme. God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ. Every event, every story, every prophetic utterance, every song, poem, and proverb leads us to Christ.
It cannot be missed in this simple phrase; “The fullness of time,” that God providentially purposed, controlled and used every event in human history to redeem for Himself a people who would worship and love Him. Providence refers to God’s independent superintendency of the universe through the operation of normal and natural processes and events. Through His sovereign providence, God was and does take the virtually infinite number of events and circumstances, as well as the innumerable personal attitudes, ambitions, and abilities that exist in the natural and demonic worlds and cause them all to work together in meticulous precision to perfectly fulfill His divine will. In other words, He orchestrates events to accomplish his divine will. This is no better illustrated that through His redemptive plan found on the pages of the Scriptures.
If you have been redeemed by His Grace through faith in the substitutionary death of Christ and His resurrection, take note of all our loving God did to secure your redemption! You are not alone. You are infinitely loved (Ephesians 1:6; 2:4; 1 John 3:1; 3:16; 4:9). An no one can lay charge before God’s elect (Romans 8:33)
Romans 8:28-30 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The enemy is defeated and Christ has crushed his head (Genesis 3:15) for your sake and His glory.
-Michael Holtzinger