The Fullness of Time
Notes
Transcript
The Fulness
of Time
Galatians 4:4-5
Background
1. Paul & the Galatians: Paul is writing to Christians who
are being tempted to add law to grace (1:6-9).
2. Law’s Limitations: “For all who rely on works of the law
are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone
who does not abide by all things written in the Book of
the Law, and do them.’” (Galatians 3:10)
3. Grace and Privilege: By faith, people are made sons of
God (Galatians 4). The Law enslaved us until “the
fulness of time came.”
4. Fulness of Time: Today, let’s unpack the phrase “when
the fulness of time came” as Part 1 of an advent series.
Galatians 4
• Encouragement for those Inside the Church: Keep
yourselves in the love of God by (a) building, (b)
praying, and (c) waiting.
• Encouragement for those Outside the Church:
Help others who are (a) doubting, (b) slipping
away, and (c) almost totally gone into error.
• Fulness of Time = Completion of a pre-set
amount of time.
God’s Preparation of Israel
1. Israel’s Charter – “I will make of you a great
nation, and I will bless you and make your name
great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless
those who bless you and him who dishonors you
I will curse, and in you, all the families of the
earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-2)
2. Israel’s Law: “the Law was our guardian until
Christ came” (Galatians 3:24)
God’s Preparation of Israel
3. Israel’s Worship: “For since the law has but a
shadow of the good things to come instead of
the true form of these realities, it can never, by
the same sacrifices that are continually offered
every year, make perfect those who draw near.”
(Hebrews 10:1)
4. Israel’s King: “You have said, ‘I have made a
covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to
David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring
forever, and build your throne for all generations.
(Ps. 89:3-4)
God’s Preparation of Israel
5. Israel’s Hope: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon
me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring
good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind
up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to those
who are bound; to proclaim the year of the
LORD’s favor.” (Isaiah 61:1-2; see Luke 2:25)
6. Israel’s Dispersion: “I will enter into judgement
with them there, on behalf of my people and my
heritage Israel, because they have scattered
them among the nations” (Joel 3:2)
God’s Preparation of Greek Culture
1. Daniel 2 – Head of Gold – Babylon; Chest of Silver
– Medes and Persians; Thighs of Bronze – Greece
2. Alexander the Great – 4th Century BC; tutored by
Aristotle; spread Greek language, culture,
philosophy and art wherever his military
conquered.
3. Vast Empire – From modern day Greece to
modern day Pakistan
4. Greek Old Testament – approximately 250 BC.
God’s Preparation of Roman Rule
1. Daniel 2 – Head of Gold – Babylon; Chest of Silver –
Medes and Persians; Thighs of Bronze – Greece;
Legs of Iron – Rome
2. Pax Romana – Quality roads, protected trade
routes, and the notion of personal property tied an
empire stretching from Britain to India.
3. Roman Law – Rome’s authorities were gracious yet
unbending. Not usually tyrannical, it expected full
obedience (which explains why Joseph got Mary to
Bethlehem for a simple census) and rule of law.
Applications
1. Our Sovereign God neither waited for the right
time nor prepared Jesus for the world. He
numbered the days, prepared the world, and
sent His Son at exactly His preordained moment.
The same God who controls these complexities,
controls you and all that surrounds you.
2. Our Loving God intervenes – God’s redemption is
both personal and costly.