Truths for Meditation at Christmas

Galatians 4:1–7 (NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

4:1 Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν,

2 ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.

3 οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·

4 ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,

5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.

6 ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, κρᾶζον· Αββα ὁ πατήρ.

7 ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.

INTRODUCTION:

I- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT JESUS. (Galatians 4:1-3)

Galatians 4:1–3 (NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4:1 Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν,

2 ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.

3 οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·

A- Unable to access all that the Father has provided. (Galatians 4:1-2)

Galatians 4:1–2 (NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

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B- In bondage to the basic principles of the world. (Galatians 4:3)

Galatians 4:3 (NLT)

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

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II- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT LENGTHS GOD WENT TO TO SEND JESUS. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Galatians 4:4–5 (NLT)

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

A- Working out the exact timing of the incarnation of Christ. (Galatians 4:4a)

Galatians 4:4 (NLT)

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

4 ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,

1- The right political situation was in place - “The Roman Peace”

2- The right religious climate was in place.

a. The Jewish people were ready for the messiah, though they expected the wrong type of messiah.

b. The Gentile world was religiously empty even though they had many gods.

3- The Roman census and taxation set the stage for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.

3- The form of Roman execution was death by crucifixion.

4- The Roman road system facilitated the rapid spread of the Gospel message.

B- Fulfilling the scriptures in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. (Galatians 4:4b)

Galatians 4:4 (NLT)

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

1- “The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus.”

Josh. McDowell

a. The Messiah would be the “Seed of a Woman.” Prophecy, Genesis 3:15 Fulfillment, Galatians 4:4; Revelation 12:5

b. The Messiah would be born by a virgin. Prophecy, Isaiah 7:14 Fulfillment, Matthew 1:18 9.

c. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Prophecy Micah 5:2 Fulfillment Matthew 2:1.

d. The Messiah would be born during a time of massacre. Prophecy, Jeremiah 31:15 Fulfillment, Matthew 2:16.

e. The Messiah would come from Egypt as a child. Prophecy Hosea 11:1 Fulfillment Matthew 2:14

Matthew 2:14 NLT

14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother,

III- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REJOICE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS. (Galatians 4:5-7)

Galatians 4:5–7 (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.

6 ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, κρᾶζον· Αββα ὁ πατήρ.

7 ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.

A- God sent Jesus to buy our freedom from bondage to sin. (Galatians 4:5a)

Galatians 4:5 (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

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B- God has adopted believers as His very own children. (Galatians 4:5b)

Galatians 4:5b (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

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C- God has sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. (Galatians 4:6a)

Galatians 4:6a (NLT)

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

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D- God has established an intimate relationship with each believer. (Galatians 4:6b)

Galatians 4:6b (NLT)

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

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E- God has made us His Heir. (Galatians 4:7)

Galatians 4:7 (NLT)

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

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CONCLUSION: