Paul the apostle has been
sharing a wonderful lesson about the importance of the law of God and
how it relates to the promise of God. Because false teachers called
Judaizers had infiltrated the church in Galatia, Paul felt it
necessary to explain to them what that relationship was. He employed
the example of a youthful heir who needed tutors and governors to
train him before an inheritance would be left to his trust. The heir
is like us who were under the elements of the world when we were
children. In chapter four and verse four Paul speaks to the time
limit for such actions. He wrote:
But when the fullness
of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law,
Just as
there comes a time when a child becomes responsible and adult
activities are entrusted to him, Paul says, “But when the
fullness of the time was come...” In other words, “at just
the right time, when the completion of one time was fulfilled, or in
this case when the time of the law was in place.” The law and the
penalty for disobedience to it was over people until that law could
be fulfilled. Since no one ever kept the law of God until Jesus, the
penalty of the law, death, was the impending judgment for all.
However, at just the right time, there was a change.
Paul
continues, “God sent forth His Son...” When Jesus came, at
just the right time, there was an alteration to the way things were.
No one kept the law before Jesus, and this put all men and women
under judgment, but now that “God sent forth His Son”,everything
has changed.
This
Son was no ordinary son, for he was “made of a woman,
made under the law.” Jesus
needed to be born from a woman,(Mary), and under the law to identify
with mankind. He lived as a man, and yet was fully God. He knew the
difficulties we have as people, and Hebrews chapter four and verse
fifteen says “For we have not an high priest which cannot
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.” Until
Jesus came, the law was not kept, however after Jesus came, he
fulfilled all the law under which he was made. For Jesus to save not
only His own people of Israel but also the people of the world, He
needed to come to the Earth and keep the law perfectly. God was the
one who sent Him, and God did so at just the right time to open the
way for a relationship and fellowship with mankind.
Now
that Jesus has come at just the right time, we are no longer under
the curse of the law as long as we rely upon, trust in, and believe
the saving work of Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father knows what it
takes to save us, and He controlled the timing of all things so that
we might relate to Him. As we meditate upon God's timing today,
perhaps we will realize to what lengths the Almighty God of the
Universe has gone to simply have fellowship with us. May He receive
all the glory for great things He has done.
Next time we will
see the reason for God sending His Son, so read ahead, and let us
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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