A Perfect Gift
Galatians 4:4-5
December 2001
Introduction
. Christmas means that:
He descended that we might ascend (John 6:38, 14:3).
He became poor that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9, Jas. 2:5).
He was born that we might be born again (John 1:14, 3:2,7).
He became a servant that we might become sons (Phil. 2:7; Gal. 4:6, 7).
He had no home that we might have a home in heaven (Matt. 8:20; John 14:2).
He was hungry that we might be fed (Matt. 4:2; John 6:50).
He was thirsty that we might be satisfied (John 19:26).
He was stripped that we might be clothed (Matt. 27:28; Gal. 3:27).
He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken (Matt. 27:26; 28:20).
He was sad that we might become glad (Isa. 53:3; Phil. 4:4).
He was bound that we might go free (Matt. 27:2; John 8:32-36).
He was made sin that we might be made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).
He died that we might live (John 5:24, 25).
He came down that we might be caught up (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
-- Larry Farthing
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4-5
Body
I. The Perfect Arrival
But when the time had fully come
Historical conditions prepared for the birth of the Messiah by
A. The dispersion of the Jews
1. The diaspora
a.) The Jews were spread throughout the Roman empire
b.) Now every major Roman community had a Jewish presence
2. Impact on the early church
a.) These Jewish communities were the source for the early Christian evangelism – Paul always began his work in synagogues
b.) If this dispersion had not taken place, evangelism would have been limited to Israel
c.) God prepared all these Roman communities for Christianity
B. A favorable legal environment
1. Exempt status of the Jews
a.) Romans conquered many nations
1.) Many different religions existed in the empire
2.) One condition: proclaim “Caesar is Lord”
b.) Jewish resistance to the condition
1.) Romans killed hundreds, even thousands of Jews to force them to submit
2.) Romans finally granted exemption to the Jews
c.) God now sends the Messiah and prepares for the early church
2. Favor for the early church
a.) For many years the Romans believed that Jews and Christians were the same
1.) They believed there was no difference
2.) Early church was given Jewish exemption
b.) Impact for the church
1.) There was limited Roman persecution during the exemption
2.) Christians were not required to call Caesar Lord
3.) When the difference was discovered – It was too late
C. A favorable political climate
1. Roman civil wars
a.) There was a great deal of civil war – Julius Caesar
b.) August comes to power about 25 years before Christ’s birth
1.) August brings a new and lasting peace to the empire
2.) The peace brought change and innovation
2. New Roman productivity
a.) The Roman legions now built roads and peace keeping forces
b.) Safety in the empire rose and crime plummeted – Travelers were now protected
c.) This made it safe for the church to spread the gospel
D. A favorable cultural climate
1. A common language
a.) Not since the Tower of Babel had so many people shared the same language
b.) God made all of the people speak different languages to stop the tower’s construction
2. The use of Greek
a.) Alexander the Great conquered the world: The entire known world
1.) The Greek culture was literally world wide
2.) The Greek language spread to every nation – It was a universal language
b.) The NT was written in Greek for this reason
1.) Everyone used Greek
2.) Everyone understood the Greek culture
E. A favorable philosophical environment
1. Greek philosophy prepared the world for Christianity
a.) They prepared people’s minds with great questions
b.) They provided no real answers
2. Christianity provided the answers to the philosophical question
Please note that this section of the outline was adapted from John Maxwell’s message “A Gift Worth Waiting for” and John Macarthur’s Commentary on Galatians.
II. The perfect Atonement
God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law,
A. The position of Jesus
1. Jesus is the Son of God
God did not send an angel or raise a great leader to save humanity. God knew the vast need of humanity and sent His Son. Nothing less could have met our need and God’s desire was to meet our spiritual needs completely and compassionately
2. Jesus is divine
Paul shows us that Jesus is from God and was sent by God to this world. He also very clearly states by this that Jesus is God. He is divine in nature.
John 10:36-38
B. The person of Jesus
1. Jesus is the fulfillment of humanity
Paul tells the Galatians that Jesus was born of a woman. When we read that statement we often think that Paul is referring to the Virgin Birth. In one sense he is because Paul gives the clarity that Jesus entered the world like everyone else, by birth. However, Paul is also simply making the point that Jesus was human.
In Jesus divine omnipotence moved in a human arm; In Jesus divine wisdom was cradled in a human brain; In Jesus divine love throbbed in a human heart; In Jesus divine compassion glistened in a human eye; In Jesus divine grace poured forth in human lips. -- Lloyd Cory, ed., Quotable Quotations, p. 61
2. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law
Jesus was born under the law in order to fulfill the law. Jesus lived a perfect life that was completely without sin and He secured salvation for all of humanity. Jesus came to do what we could not do ourselves.
C. The purpose of Jesus
1. Jesus came to redeem
a.) Christ was the sacrifice for our sin: Christ gave Himself willingly to be the sacrifice for our sins. Christ died so that you could be redeemed.
b.) The reality of redemption: The term redeem literally means “to purchase release from captivity with a ransom.” What Paul is telling us is that we are now bought back from the reality of sin
2. Jesus came to rescue
a.) The goal of Christ was to rescue humanity from the results of sin
b.) Christ could only rescue us by coming to be with us
III. The perfect Adoption
that we might receive the full rights of sons.
A. The legal understanding of adoption
1. The adoption was total and complete. Once adopted the child could not be disowned.
2. The adoption was immediate. Once the process was complete there was no delay and the child had all of the rights of the family.
3. The child lost all rights to the previous family. This seems rather harsh but the view was that the child was a new person.
B. The spiritual implications of adoption
1. The adoption creates a new relationship with God.
2. The adoption makes God your Father. Imagine having the creator of the universe as your Father
3. The adoption creates a family of the children of God
4. The adoption creates a new person. The old life and the old family of the world is cut off and the new family of God is established.
5. The adoption creates a new home. When God adopts you into His family He creates a place for you in heaven.
