The Perfect Time
I mean that the air as long as he is a child is no different from a slave though, he is the owner of everything, but he is under Guardians and managers until the date set by his father in the same way we also when we were children were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. Or when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his shot, born of a woman born under law to redeem those who are under the law so that we might receive adoption at Sun. And because you are Sons, God has sent the spirit of his son into your hearts. Crying Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son and if a son then an air through God this is the word of God be to God. Our heavenly father is we come to your word and continue in your word. We've been there throughout the morning, we thank you that you have spoken that you have given us, not only the message but you've given us your son and all. That is a part of that we Rejoice this morning and we give you, thanks.
May you speak and may we hear? We pray in Jesus name, amen?
It's my privilege this morning to bring the word of God to you.
Volunteered. Under the circumstances and we even pray for our pastor during this week. No doubt. And so is my privilege today to, to be here to share with you I'm glad to be inside this morning cuz you probably noticed it is cold outside. At least it's not snowing seems like you could and the other good news is that you're here where it's warm, the bad news is only going to get colder down through the day and quite chilly tonight. But thank the Lord, you don't live, I didn't. But we don't live where I grew up that little town in Northwestern. Wisconsin near the Twin Cities where I checked this morning at 6:30 about 7 our time. It was six there and Amory Wisconsin was 13 below. Real feel at 27 below. It was yet to go down to 15 below. I didn't check to see what the real feel would be at that point. On the forecast, there is for high of Mighty three degrees. Really.
Couple of interesting facts about Christmas. That I glean from a reputable news source which is the music channel on Spectrum under Christmas channel. This year, this time of year, mistletoe mistletoe, what's the significance of mistletoe? Well, Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5 say I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Come to do and then what But, you know, in ancient times, it was forbidden to fight in the presence of missile till I found that interesting. I don't know how this came about what is the word Christmas mean?
That word comes from the old English. Chris stays Macy's Christ's Mass So in the church in times past on December 24th 25th, that's special mass in the Roman Catholic Church was the Christ Mass. Therefore shorten it up Christmas, the word that we use
Show with that, let's get to something really is important. That is the text Galatians Chapter 4, verses 1 through 7. As I looked at, look at this text, I find it interesting that looking at our texts in the ESV version that I have that matches, what we have in our worship Bibles. That verse for, of that, that passage is right in the middle. Visually, in fact, I circled that verse for the fourth verse for several years ago and it's right in the middle. And then when you have seven versus gets, guess what verse is in the middle? First four.
And I think that's perfect. The perfect placing in this text. First four is about the Incarnation. What is that mean? The Incarnation means What we celebrate at Advent and at Christmas. Certainly not about mistletoe. certainly not about all day the the the the joyousness and the Jolly nests and all that's a derivation Christmas is about the Incarnation. It is what we celebrate. That is the coming into our world and into our human flesh. The Eternal Son of God. Who resides in eternity in all glory? This Incarnation is essential to all of time, to all of human history. It is right in the middle like verse 4 of this text, the incarnations right in the middle of all of human history. It's Central to God's plan of salvation, with fear loaches called the history of Salvation. It divides the Old Testament from the New Testament. Does it not? One commentator is called this Advent are the Incarnation. The first great. Redemptive acts of God in history. It says God sent his son.
One commentator is said, and God has set mankind free. Is that good news?
Did you ever wonder? When the first Christmas silk heard, when the events of the birth of Christ recorded in some of the details in Matthew 10, others, and Luke Chapter 2 in the dead ocher in history. The Bible scholars in the stories of long estimated in calculated that the time frame. When Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem was somewhere between the year 7 BC and 4. BC know if you haven't thought about your go in a minute, I thought BC stood stood for before Christ and then Jesus is born before Christ. Well, it's a mystery. Until you realize that the calendar we use is called the Gregorian calendar was not always used in human history and then European history in the church's history.
What was used for centuries and centuries in the West? In your opinion, in the western world was the Julian calendar established by Julius Caesar. Julian calendar, add calendar corporate 360 days per year, 12 equal, 30-day months. Problem, that doesn't match astronomical realities does it and scientists became aware that long long ago. But the app calendar persisted in use, for a long time in 1582 the Pope Gregory the third keys. So we've got it. Corrected should get this all straight with God's world so he ordered that wall needed correction the year now would be 365 and a quarter days. You'd have 12 months that's good. Very blank says we have
And that because of that quarter day, you had to have every four years a leap day early, pure and that would keep things on track. That's the Gregorian calendar. Now, with three calculations based on, this new calendar, known historical data. Jesus was born in the time frame. Seven Beat what we would know 7, BC to 4 BC. That's that's the story lucu. Tells us it was during the reign of Augustus Caesar. We know when he ran 27, bc280 14 by the way. He was the nephew. Julius, Caesar, he was known as Octavian. He became the ruler of the Roman Republic. Now, The Empire because he declared himself Augustus that means the great and I'll gust won the first Roman emperor during his Reign, the Jesus was born history. Clearly tells us that and Luke record said the store for reality. We also know that during that rain there was a census was taken across the whole Roman Empire across the whole world is the way the biblical writers put it during the administration of a Roman, Roman governor of the province of Syria and that guy's name was quite rare. And yes, I practice saying that to get it right. So we know the approximate time in history, when she's has was born because in fact, he was born. Into the human race at a given time. Why celebrate on December 25th? He was born on December 25th, right? Probably not, we don't know for sure that a lot of theories as to why the church came to celebrate on December 25th. One was. Just celebrate the birth of Christ, Our Savior on. What had been a pagan Festival day. December 25th to co-opt it, to christianize it to displace the paganism of something Christian, but that's probably not why we celebrate on December 25th. Another theory as to why December 25th is Bible scholars and historians. Looking at the information, we have a Luke chapter 1 about Zechariah the father of John, the Baptist who served in the temple at a given point in time. In the rotation of the priest, going to Jerusalem for it, from wherever they live to work. And if they think they have that figured out. They can extrapolate from when he was there, when Elizabeth concede. She was six months pregnant with Mary came along to visit her relative and you come with all that Dad is Jeff figure out the conclusion Jesus born in December. Another theory based on calculations regarding when the Passover occurred when Jesus would have been crucified. In other words, and the conclusion by many by about a D200 or little after that, is that Jesus died during Passover on March 25th of a year, somewhere on 3233 ad, See Christians believed at that time, that prophets died and martyrs died on the date of their conception.
So if they can figure out that Jesus died, the March 25th, you could do some calculations. What do you come up, with December 25th?
We don't know why the church began to celebrate Christmas on December 25th? There are theories, none of what I share with you could be, the reason could be something else, but they did. And so the church at large across Europe in the Middle East, it is body everywhere by around 8300. Was celebrating Christmas? The birth of Jesus, our savior on December 25th. No, that's all kind of at least to me. Thanks for indulging me. More importantly much more importantly. Why did the church celebrate the birth of Christ? What was that all about? Why did the first Christmas record all A related question. Might be why did the first Christmas soccer when it did?
Did the Son of God? Have been born at any time in any place? And still accomplished, what he came to do. I think the answer to these questions and more can be answered, at least in part to a large degree, really in the text. I've chosen this morning, which escalations, 4 verses 1 through 7. My favorite passages. Every time I preach I say it's one of my favorite passages and it is so I have all kinds of favorite passage is that okay with you? You probably go the same way.
I had several professors, when I was in seminary at Trinity. Evangelical Divinity School mostly Old Testament professors that were fond of of saying in relationship to a given, biblical passage or a verse in a passage that this is pregnant with meaning pregnant with meaning. Another word for deadbeat meaning profound implications. There was a lot packed in there, pregnant with me. And if ever you was pregnant with meaning, it would be collations for 4.
In the fullness of time. God sent forth his son, born of a woman born under the law that he might redeem those born under the law. Pregnant every word in that verse has so much significance in this passage, we see Time and Eternity touching, you have historical reference in context, you have to feel article reference, you see God and you see mankind, you see God with his Grand purpose and plan. You have the Trinity In this passage You have the Incarnation. That one. Born is the god, man. You have the Jewish context, the law of God.
You have Redemption, what a wonderful word pregnant with meaning. We'll get to that. Do you have the universal application of the work of the son of God?
God's grace. Undeserved favor.
Adoption. Into the family of God.
Is we would look at this, passage it breaks down into three three parts three sections. If we were to outline, it would be answering why they Incarnation occurred. Number one, the need for the Incarnation, we see in verses 1, 2 3, then the miracle of the Incarnation verse for the purpose of the Incarnation verses five through seven. So we'll proceed on on that basis. First of all versus one, two, three, the need for the Incarnation. What's interesting to me is that there's a juxtaposition, there's a contrast between two types of people and in the status and way of life in which they find themselves, you have on one hand, the child And slavery. You can go to the next one. Thank you. And then by contrast adulthood and freedom And the responsibility that goes with freedom James, Montgomery boice, one of my heroes of the faith actually who is a generation older than me and it's gone on to be the Lord with the Lord. A few years ago he was the the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for a very long time and a leader in evangelicalism in our country. For many years, I always thought Tenth Presbyterian. What about the other Presbyterian? Churches in Dallas, where they, my son, John, and I were in Philadelphia and I said, Johnny I'm going to go look for 10th President. I've got to drive by so we found it and I did and I was satisfied. And so But he writes about the contrast of position of those who are children classified in this text and their slavery and bondage. If you will versus those who are now in adulthood and the freedom, he writes the English reader will miss the flavor of these verses unless he realizes that the moment of growing up was a very definite one in Antiquity and that it involve matters of great religious and legal importance. For instance, in Judaism among to choose a boy pass from adolescence to manhood shortly after his 12th birthday at which time he became a son of the law and that's called what The bar mitzvah the bar mitzvah son of the law in the Greek world. The minor came of age later at about 18. But there was the same emphasis on, and entering into full responsibility as an adult. At this stage at the festival of operatoria. The child passed from the care of his father to the care of the state and was responsible to it under Roman law. There was also a time for the coming of age of a son, but the age when this took place, may not have been as fixed as is often assumed with the result that the father may have had discretion and setting the time of his son's maturity if this is. So it leads one to think that the Apostle Paul was referring primarily to the Roman custom as he observed that a child is under Guardians and trustees until the time set by his father which you can see in our texts And then he would be adopted as his acknowledge son and Heir and receive the toga virilis in place of the toga pre-taxed. Which she had previously worn. So even if the garments would indicate his status, this is the general background weather of Greek law, Rome and Laura are both of Paul's words in these forces when the child was a minor in the eyes of the law, it is this word that Paul actually uses. His status was no different from that of a slave even though he was the future owner possibly about vast estate, he can make no decisions had no freedom. On the other hand, at the time, set by his father, the child entered into his responsibility and Freedom. The application of this illustration is obvious as Paul applies it to the inferi condition of a person under law. Both a minor and a slave and the new freedom and responsibility that comes to him. In Christ.
Paul applies. The illustration in the way already indicated. Before Christ came, we were children and slaves. Before God and under the law. Slaves to the basic principles are Elementary spirits of this world. Exactly what that means is hard to say. It made me just for one thing under the common religious experience of people worldwide through history.
Because mankind knows that there's some kind of a standard and we all know we don't meet the standard and our conscience. Bothers us. We try to do something every religion in the world. Except for Christian, that you're always trying to do something. You try to appease the gods, you give the gods, something you make a promise and you do it repeatedly. And the gods are always angry. Never Satisfied. One more.
That's bondage. that could be with Paul is referring to when he talks about the elementary elements and so forth, Elementary principal he might be talkin about
Bondage to the law of God, which is real. Came to understand, they could not. obey and live by
They knew it what a birdie. What a burden?
The elements might be to that Paul refers to a very interesting. They could be
The equivalent in ancient times in their thinking to what we call the periodic table with all. All that that they the chemicals and all those things that are that are part of what actually makes up the world but they envisioned that the the basic elements of the world were Earth. Fire, air water eventually sun moon stars planets in the religions of mankind everywhere. These kinds of things always were. So she ate it with gods and goddesses And you appealed to a certain god or goddess. So that your your ground, as you killed it and farmed, it would actually produce something, you do something to gain the favor of the god or goddess and on fertility on and on on and that led to all kinds of idolatry and immorality and disgusting things that's slavery. And that's mankind.
The need for the Incarnation is to be very clear. We come into the miracle of the Incarnation verse 4. And I would say there are two Miracles. If you willed, it are referenced in some fashion. In this verse, I read again but when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son, born of a woman born under the law. I think that is possible. Probable the Apostle Paul there. When he says born of a woman he's referencing what we call the Virgin birth. Jesus, actually the miracle, you know, is not the birth. the miracle, is that conception, We read of that in Matthew one and then Luke to Luke one, I should say Matthew and Luke 1. The conception. The angel Gabriel comes, does he not to marry and said you're going to Bear the one that the scriptures have foretold and promised. She goes with him and I'm not married. God says, I'll take care of that. the holy spirit will come upon you overshadow, you And then you will bear the son of God.
Born of a woman. Not born of a man and a woman. But born of a Woman by the act of almighty God.
There's a miracle. For tolls and Isaiah 7:14. Which in Matthew one, which Juliana read quotes And a virgin will conceive. And one shall bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel God With Us.
I think there's another miracle to, if we could call it, that that's of providential timing. Do you believe in Providence? We talked about that some last week under the circumstances, nothing. Is outside of God's plan the control. I mean, nothing good and bad read. Isaiah chapter 45, I send the good in the bad. He says, who creates the storm says in Isaiah 40, I do.
The timing of anything are being here. Today, is the result of myriad's and Myriad of decisions and events that have taken place prior. To this very moment, you realize that I was staggered that idea was brought to me is I was studying and teaching our Sunday school class for the adults in the book of Nehemiah. And it came up How did Cyrus the Persian Emperor? Come to be? That told the people of Judah, they go back home.
One of the commentators said, And Cyrus Came long, is a Persian emperor. 150 years after God talked about him coming and Isaiah by name and was interesting at that time in Persian history Cypress was a name but God knew what would happen? How many different turns to prevent decisions? Couples getting married, having children adopted out the door to come down. 150 years later, when this guy Cyrus is born to do what God intended him to do, which is send his people back home. Do you think Jesus was born where? And when he was born, was any kind of just
Providential timing under God's absolute Sovereign control of everything. I stagger at that thought, almost get weak, knees thanking, our God is so great. We cannot comprehend them. Not until he comes to us. And says, let me tell you about myself and about the world and about you and what you need. Isn't that Grace? That is Grace.
Bible scholars and historians have long realized. Looking at. Galatians 4:4 in the fullness of time. Or when the time had fully come, is another rendering of that Greek. I choose to say as the sermon Taylor at the perfect time, God sent his son. How was it? Perfect. I don't know for sure, but as one who is hysterical about history thing, they were a, storical factors that were spiritual factors that were cultural factors. And I don't know what all that fit into the time. When Jesus was born, how we calculated between 7 BC and 4 BC that he was born in Bethlehem in the prot, Roman providence, province of Judea. For one thing, it was Messianic fever and Israel. There, there was a crescendo of of Desire of Jewish people living in the land and in the diaspora out there across the Greco-Roman world, if they wanted their Messiah to come so badly. They said now now now they were under so much oppression, not only the Romans before that the Greeks during the inner test tomorrow. Before, that it was the the Persians before they was the Babylonian before it was the Assyrians before, that was the Philistines and the end and the Egyptians and everybody else in the world. Always had their thumb down on this people. We want Messiah Russia. and to come in the New Testament gospels, we realize that there were a number of people in that time that presented themselves as the Messiah But they weren't so there's Messianic fever Jewish. People were so ready for this one to come separately. There was a spiritual thirst in the hearts of pagans and it's a reference to few moments ago about the nature of Pagan religion. They had to discuss many a discussed with the gods and goddesses of Rome and Greece. Didn't, they were just sick to death of the immorality of gods and all that related, then and translated to how people lived. I wanted something different. Another factor is What's called the Pax Romana that is Latin, which means the Roman peace. The Roman Empire ruled with an iron fist all odd. Daniel predict that an iron fist, you don't disobey or do anything. Contrary to the rule of the Roman Empire. Are you the shattered? They established a piece. The Roman Legions were everywhere. And the administrative system, which was so efficient. And the communication system. And so a fourth factor is that road system and communication system across the Mediterranean Basin? Which was the Roman Empire? I mean information traveled lightning-fast compared to other places and times prior And the gospel. Could you go unlike at other times, the Greek language which was known and used all over the Roman Empire, it was like the English of its dead the lingua Franca everybody of any consequence new Greek. The New Testament is written in Greek coin, in that version of break. The high classical, that only the elites new pointy, the common man's language in the New Testament, written. That's what the apostles that is they would travel about they would use the koine Greek to communicate.
The gospel Christ and self and an audience among Jews and Gentiles. When he came Christianity, spread fast throughout the Empire, as Acts 1:8 says from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.
The Syria. The Asia Minor modern day. Turkey to Rome in about 15 years, maybe less. God does all things. Well, I would say he does things perfectly well
I choose in response to praise him. I choose to worship Him. I choose to trust him in the good and the bad times. Do you? I see a lot of people don't like that. I'm reminded that this point that the Bible teaches that God places people. The Common Man and leaders where he wants them. And when he wants them, According to his eternal plan of purpose, even that we live here in the triangle area in the year, 2025 is no mistake, it's part of an eternal plant. It's a, it's a part of God's, providential timing and the unfolding of his great plan, For mankind in this world. He's at work. Always Daniel 2 and 4. Say God raises up leaders, political leaders, and he brings them down. According to his purposes, and desires, and Isaiah, 45 and 46. We have that same kind of thought An inch and Daniel chapter 4, the great King Nebuchadnezzar humbled by God. When he comes to his senses, you says, the god of Daniel is the god of gods. You know? It's not true. He is the god of gods. He does what he desires and no one can Fort his plan. That's what Nebuchadnezzar said. He knew the truth.
Ephesians 1:11. Speaking of God in his work in Salvation, Paul rights, according to the purpose of him who works all things, according to the counsel of his own will.
Do you know Romans 8:28? Okay if you don't you want to know it. May I just read Romans 8:28 and following, and we know that for those who love God.
All things work together for good. For those who are called according to his purpose for Those whom, he foreknew y'all. So predestined to be conformed, to the image of his son in order, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And Those whom we predestined, he also called Those whom, he called he also Justified and Those whom he justified, he also
Leaders rise and fall. Nations rise and fall. But God's Eternal overarching purpose. That is to save a people for himself and bring them into fellowship with him. For all eternity stands and is unfolding. He's doing that today. I find great joy and expectation in the fact that there seems to be a spiritual awakening, taking place across America today on University campuses and not just in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk it has been going on for a couple of years prior and University campuses. Some of them Christian colleges that needed to be revived. And then to State University's young, men coming into the church, not only in America but in Western Europe to its discernible, God is at work, he's doing something as he always is, you know? Statistically the percentage wise, you know, where the fact that what country the church is growing, the fastest in today and has been for two, three, four, five years. You're on the places, you're on. What's happening in Nigeria is heartbreaking. Radical Islam. Is slaughtering Christian people. Elise Christian people are standing and there are many that are coming to faith in Christ. In the midst of this persecution
his ways are mysterious. Why are there murders in the church?
We don't know in any given instance but the big answer is that God May save a people that brings boring to himself and give up most Grace and goodness to us. Who are these people? The purpose of the Incarnation verses 5 through 7 full detail. Specifically, would God intended to and did accomplish and sending his son for specific things. Each one could be a sermon, not going to do that going to race through for wonderful aspects of our Salvation mentioned here. Their nuances, their aspects of, we can say, I'm saved. Oh well, Jesus save me from my sin that's a bit better, right? Oh, I'm so happy. That's even better. We can cross over the significance of the Incarnation of the Life of Christ, his death, Resurrection Ascension, intercession. We can glance over cuz it gets to be cliche. Let us not do that.
In the fullness of time. God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law that he might redeem those under the law. Redeem means to purchase in ancient times. It meant to set free by paying a price at the slave market and the person buying that person to be a Slave could either be used as a slave by that person who bought him or could be set free. This is the New Testament sense of redemption Christ, paid the price, for our sins are slavery and bondage.
By dying for us. And now he says your redeemed, your free, praise God.
Any game. for the purpose of adoption to declare that those who have come to faith in Christ who have been converted, are declared now adopted by the Eternal God, too, because song a daughter Of the true and living God, no longer considered a child by God. With no ongoing, real relationship with the Father, which was the common situation in ancient times. That is guarded by Guided by a guardian, but now considered an adult in status, adopted by God.
In a personal relationship with God are of God all things given by the father of the Christ are ours in Christ as well and we obey God of love. And not out of fear. We are rich in Christ and we have a future. The future has been secured and guaranteed by the next shift. The purpose of his Jesus. Coming to Holy Spirit, granting to watch the Holy Spirit to be with us in dwells us, Emmanuel God With Us. God With Us, by the presence of the Holy Spirit. A personal relationship and therefore in inheritance Christ came to secure our future, our relationship with God, our home in heaven, our eternal blessedness. Because God has done all this. We are a child. And we have a father. A relationship with almighty God. That's a very personal. We experienced sonship so Jesus said call God Abba that was the word that a Jewish child would call their father daddy daddy. Sweet. God is toward us. Very personal, we have Assurance of Salvation because the Holy Spirit, testifies to our spirit that we are children of God. The book of Romans, he's interested in us. God Almighty is truly interested in each of us. He hears our prayers. And he's preparing us for heaven. That surely good news. as many of, you know, my mother died, three years ago, on the 20th of December, it'll be 3 months. She trusted in Christ, both growing up in the church where she made a confession of faith. But it became very personal and live transforming for her. And my father, whose background was about the same as my mother's when it comes to church and she was young adults. My parents had been married, only a couple of months and they were invited. My, my dad's brother to go to a Billy Graham meeting your second, major Crusade, the first in LA, in the fall of 1949. The next one is September of 1950 in St. Paul Minnesota. My parents went with my uncle Vernon. The gospel was declared by Billy Graham.
And my parents realize they needed to make a personal commitment to Christ and they went forward receive Christ and their lives and the lives of many others or change fraternity. They were adopted by the god of the universe. She walked with the Lord for over seventy years dying at age, 93. She came to our last days. After her, heart attack with peace and comfort of Soul. She died in faith. She died with faith. In Jesus Christ, her funeral was a celebration of God's love and goodness. And Grace was filled with joy laughter and hold. Because she we knew she was in heaven with the Lord. We could not be sad. and I said in my remarks in her funeral celebration service quoting, the psalmist, Blessed in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his Saints.
R.c., Sproul is written concerning Galatians 4:4 the options for the believer. Are good better and best. It is good to enjoy reconciliation to God in the present life. Oh yes. Better to be free from pain in heaven and best to enjoy our glorified resurrected embodiment. In a new creation, the state for which God designed us.
All of this. because, In the fullness of time. God sent forth his son, born of a woman born under the law that he might redeem those under the law. Our heavenly father, we Rejoice considering what your word has taught us. What we have reviewed together this morning, we praise your name, we worship you, we trust you in all things at all times because you are a good god, gracious, and loving father who wants only the best for us and we'll accomplish that through our life because of the work of Christ and it will extend into eternity where the best is yet to come. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. Would you stand and will read together article. One of the Evangelical Free Church of America statement of faith about God himself, and then we'll sing to close our service. Would you read with me? We believe in one God creator of all things. Holy infinitely, perfect and eternally existing in a loving Unity of three equally, Divine persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, having Limitless knowledge and Sovereign power. God has graciously purpose from eternity to redeem, a people for himself and to make all things new for his own Glory.
