God's Adpoted Children
"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." (Galatians 4:4-7 - New American Standard)
When the perfect time arrived, God the Father sent Jesus into this world. Why was this the perfect time? From a natural point of view, the Roman Empire had brought peace to Europe and the Middle East. It has established a good set of roads throughout its territory. Alexander the Great had spread the Greek language throughout the same area. This meant that after the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel was able to quickly spread. By the end of the first century, the Gospel message had reached every Roman province and according to tradition, the Gospel had reached parts of Northern Africa and South East Asia.
From a spiritual point of view, it was the perfect time. The nation of Israel had failed God. Rather than being a shinning light to other nations, their leadership was corrupt. Their spiritual teachers were self-centered bigots with a self-righteous attitude who had no real knowledge of God. Among the Gentiles, there was a growing spiritual hunger as the old Greek and Roman gods lost their hold on the masses.
From a prophetic point of view, it was the right time. God over a period of at least four millennium had being given prophetic messages about the Messiah. With over 300 prophecies about the Messiah, it would be impossible for anyone to fulfill them by coincidence.
So at the perfect time, God sent His Son to the earth. He was born of a woman. Some critics claim that Paul did not know about the teaching of the virgin birth. This phrase shows that he did.
Otherwise, to say that Jesus was born of a woman is pointless. This phrase is only significant because Jesus was born of a woman but was not born of a man. He had no human father.
Jesus was also born under the law. He was born a Jew. He obeyed the law fully for his entire life. He is the only one who has never broken the Law. He kept the law completely so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for us. Through His life, His death and His resurrection, He provided all that we need in order to be freed from the bondage of the law.
Rather than being under a system designed for spiritual children; because of Christ, we are in a new dispensation designed for spiritual adults. And God has adopted us as His adult sons. We are not under governors or tutors or stewards. We have freedom in our relationship with God.
It can be confusing when we read some New Testament passages that refer to us being born into God’s family and others that speak of God adopting us into His family. Both are correct. When a person is saved, they are born again. He becomes a member of God’s spiritual family. His condition is that of a spiritual infant.
At the same time, God adopts us. In Roman times, a wealthy man would sometimes adopt a son especially if he had no children to inherit his wealth. The man would invite a group of his friends together and then bring the young man out and formally announce that he was adopting the man. The young man would then have all the rights and privileges that a natural son would have.
When God adopts us, we are given all the rights and privileges of an adult child of God. Our position is that of an adult heir within the household of God. A new Christian is a spiritual baby as far as their understanding goes, but their position is that of an adult.
Because we are children of God, He has given us His Spirit. God’s Spirit teaches us that we can call God, Father or Dad. We are not slaves to the Law like those in Old Testament times. We are full-grown sons and daughters of God. And since we are His children, we are heirs of all His riches in glory.
The Galatians had experienced the joy of being God’s heirs. They had known the spiritual freedom that exists in Christ. But they were going into a second spiritual childhood.
When the perfect time arrived, God the Father sent Jesus into this world. Why was this the perfect time? From a natural point of view, the Roman Empire had brought peace to Europe and the Middle East. It has established a good set of roads throughout its territory. Alexander the Great had spread the Greek language throughout the same area. This meant that after the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel was able to quickly spread. By the end of the first century, the Gospel message had reached every Roman province and according to tradition, the Gospel had reached parts of Northern Africa and South East Asia.
From a spiritual point of view, it was the perfect time. The nation of Israel had failed God. Rather than being a shinning light to other nations, their leadership was corrupt. Their spiritual teachers were self-centered bigots with a self-righteous attitude who had no real knowledge of God. Among the Gentiles, there was a growing spiritual hunger as the old Greek and Roman gods lost their hold on the masses.
From a prophetic point of view, it was the right time. God over a period of at least four millennium had being given prophetic messages about the Messiah. With over 300 prophecies about the Messiah, it would be impossible for anyone to fulfill them by coincidence.
So at the perfect time, God sent His Son to the earth. He was born of a woman. Some critics claim that Paul did not know about the teaching of the virgin birth. This phrase shows that he did.
Otherwise, to say that Jesus was born of a woman is pointless. This phrase is only significant because Jesus was born of a woman but was not born of a man. He had no human father.
Jesus was also born under the law. He was born a Jew. He obeyed the law fully for his entire life. He is the only one who has never broken the Law. He kept the law completely so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for us. Through His life, His death and His resurrection, He provided all that we need in order to be freed from the bondage of the law.
Rather than being under a system designed for spiritual children; because of Christ, we are in a new dispensation designed for spiritual adults. And God has adopted us as His adult sons. We are not under governors or tutors or stewards. We have freedom in our relationship with God.
It can be confusing when we read some New Testament passages that refer to us being born into God’s family and others that speak of God adopting us into His family. Both are correct. When a person is saved, they are born again. He becomes a member of God’s spiritual family. His condition is that of a spiritual infant.
At the same time, God adopts us. In Roman times, a wealthy man would sometimes adopt a son especially if he had no children to inherit his wealth. The man would invite a group of his friends together and then bring the young man out and formally announce that he was adopting the man. The young man would then have all the rights and privileges that a natural son would have.
When God adopts us, we are given all the rights and privileges of an adult child of God. Our position is that of an adult heir within the household of God. A new Christian is a spiritual baby as far as their understanding goes, but their position is that of an adult.
Because we are children of God, He has given us His Spirit. God’s Spirit teaches us that we can call God, Father or Dad. We are not slaves to the Law like those in Old Testament times. We are full-grown sons and daughters of God. And since we are His children, we are heirs of all His riches in glory.
The Galatians had experienced the joy of being God’s heirs. They had known the spiritual freedom that exists in Christ. But they were going into a second spiritual childhood.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 8:51 AM
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