Precursors to Christmas.The Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:4, 5

Precursors to Christmas: The Fullness of Time

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.[1]

The fullness of time—this is an arresting phrase, is it not? The occurrence of the phrase is designed to focus attention on the Incarnation of Christ Jesus our Lord. As is so true of our rich heritage within the English-speaking world, incarnation is a large word which has lost residency within our vocabulary, but it is a word worth learning. Whatever else may be true, Jesus, the Son of God did come to earth. Despite the hostility of multitudes of politicians fearful of history, lawyers ignorant of the roots of their own legal system and educators in need of basic education in honesty, the coming of the Son of God yet divides time for all mankind. His coming to provide Himself as a sacrifice still serves to awaken a dreadful awareness within the heart of even the most jaded citizen of this fallen world. Focus with me on the thought that when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son.

Christ’s Incarnation was at a Specific Time. When the fullness of time had come… There has been so much written concerning the coming of the Messiah just as there has been considerable speculation about the timing of His advent. Whatever else may be said, His coming was at the precise time that the Father determined. Christ was not born as result of happenstance. Neither was His coming at the mercies of time and chance. His birth was at that time the Father determined it should be.

From a human point of view, the birth of the Son of God was at a most propitious time. His birth was during the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and stability. Mighty Rome ruled a massive empire commonly known as the civilised world, imposing peace upon her conquered provinces and countries. This gives us understanding of Doctor Luke’s words concerning the birth of the Saviour. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town [Luke 2:1-3].

In order to ensure peace throughout the vast empire, Rome built roads to permit rapid deployment of her troops to quell rebellion and to resist invasion from barbarians. Those roads, built to permit a military response to threats to stability, served to also permit expanded trade and rapid dissemination of knowledge.

As a boy, growing up in the United States, I witnessed something similar to this Roman concern. In the early days of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower set in motion a national interstate highway system. The purpose of building those multi-laned roadways throughout the nation was to permit rapid deployment of national troops in the event of an invasion. Indeed, that interstate highway system was expanded throughout the Johnston administration. The practical impact of the presidential decrees was to permit unprecedented growth in interstate commerce.

Whether in ancient Rome or in the twentieth century United States, preparation for war resulted in expansion of travel and communication. Practically speaking, preparing for a rapid response to threats to peace resulted in expanded commerce and growth in personal wealth. The old saying, All roads lead to Rome, was true. The farthest outpost was accessible to both military troops, and to trade.

. In ancient Rome, the expanded system of roads also permitted a rapid transmission of the message of life in Christ the Lord. It was not the purpose of the Caesar to favour one religion over another. All that truly mattered to those powerful men was that there be no threat permitted against the throne. However, the unparalleled provision for transportation ensured that the knowledge of the Messiah would spread more rapidly than anyone could have imagined.

The Christian Faith is not a quiet faith. Islam is extended by the sword. Wherever Muslims assume power, they coerce and compel conversion to Islam and adherence to the Qur’an through the sword. This current threat of international terrorism is nothing less than naked efforts to advance Islam. Most newspaper reporters and the overwhelming majority of politicians are too obtuse to recognise what is happening. Because of their fear of being labelled as intolerant, they refuse to see the obvious. The Christian Faith, however, is based upon peace with God and peace with others. Therefore, the Faith we embrace and declare cannot be coerced. This does not mean that we are not aggressive in advancing the cause of Christ, however.

The Christian Faith demands evangelism. Evangelism is nothing more and nothing less than shedding light in the darkness. The child of God will always long to light the darkness through pointing others to Christ the Lord. This is what evangelism is, and it is this desire to shine the light of God’s love which marks us a Christians. You who have discovered life in the Son of God cannot help but speak of what you have discovered. Peter and John, haled before the Sanhedrin, spoke of this divine compulsion.

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:8-12].

Charged by these same powerful leaders to be silent concerning their belief, the apostles boldly asserted their commission. Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” [Acts 4:19, 20].

You who know Christ will experience a strange desire which will not permit you to rest as you witness the hurt and sorrow of fallen humanity. The love of God will compel you to speak to those seeking hope. The grace of Christ the Lord will drive you to point to Him as those about you stumble in exhaustion. This is the Faith of Christ the Lord as detailed in the command which Christ issued to all disciples and which we have received as the Great Commission.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age [Matthew 28:19, 20].

Not only was this the Pax Romana, but this time witnessed facilitation of travel and transportation over Roman roads. With the increased commerce, a common language was demanded. Greek became the lingua franca of the empire. Whether Roman or Parthian, Elamite or Galilean, all spoke Greek. Thus, the Bible was written in the common language of the day. It is meant to be read in the language of the people. For this reason, Christians feel compelled to translate the Bible into the native tongues of all peoples, so that all mankind may read the Word of God in the language of the heart.

From the human perspective, the world was ready to receive the message which would attend the Advent of the Son of God. All mankind longed for a Saviour and looked for some great event to occur. The furthest corners of the empire were readily accessible to those who would carry the message surrounding His coming. All spoke a common language. Never, in the course of human history, were events so propitious as was true of that day—until this present day.

What can it mean? The hearts of the most jaded of all people long for some undefined something. We speak of peace, but we know that it is but a longing to be reconciled with God. We know that we are guilty, but we are uncertain what to do about our guilt. We attempt to close our eyes to our condition, hoping that someone will perhaps tell us some easy way to change our world. Communications are virtually instantaneous. We can witness events as they take place around the globe. Nearly all people understand the English tongue, so that communication can instantly be assured. What a glorious and exciting time to be alive!

Yet, behind the dark mystery of the words which remind us that it was when the fullness of time had come that the Son of God was born, lies this singular truth. The time which had been ordained by the providence of God was seasonable and fit. Therefore, God alone was the judge of when His Son would be revealed.

Likewise, it lies within the imponderables of God to determine when His Son shall return. Perhaps you will recall the words of caution that Jesus gave to the disciples. It is not for you to know time or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority [Acts 1:7]. Of the days which shall attend His return, Jesus said, in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away [Mark 13:24-31].

Then, when He had spoken those words, he warned all who name His Name. Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake [Mark 13:32-37].

There is so much more in this phrase, the fullness of time. I haven’t sufficient time to fully explore the implications, but of necessity, some must be pointed out for us. The Father chose the time to send forth His Son. By implication, the Father chose the time of our adoption to sonship. Do you recall the message from this past Sunday? At that time I spoke of the fact that God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ [Ephesians 1:5]. I took pains to point out that this adoption as sons is neglected in many new translations or altered to imply that the Apostle is focused on relationship. Paul was not then focused on relationship, but rather he was focused on our inheritance. Likewise, in the current text, Paul is looking forward to our adoption as sons [Galatians 4:5]. Again, the emphasis is not upon our relationship as children of God (sons and daughters in many contemporary translations), but upon our inheritance together with Christ.

Some Bible teachers and preachers, overly sensitive to any nuance of gender discrimination, have distorted this Word. Don’t ever let us be so fearful of truth that we cheapen the language of the Word of God or neuter it to fit our own preconceived notions. Paul is presenting a glorious truth which should comfort us, knowing that we have a rich inheritance precisely because the Father chose the time according to His wisdom to send forth His Son—Jesus who is the Messiah.

There is a final point which I must bring to your attention, and that is that the time of spiritual maturity in Christ has arrived. We are no longer under the law, but rather we now enjoy freedom in Christ. The inheritance is already being enjoyed by us who are accepted in the beloved Son. Now, we have peace with God. Now, we have access to His throne. Now, we are free of all condemnation. Now, we are accepted in the Son. This is true because God chose to reveal His glory at the fullness of time.

Christ’s Incarnation had a Specific Method. God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law… God sent forth His Son. The very phrase anticipates the pre-existence of the Son of God. Christ existed before the world began, as we saw in a previous message. The Son of God is the wisdom of God [1 Corinthians 1:24, 30] and this Son of God was likewise the agent of God at work in creation [see 1 Corinthians 8:6]. Surely, this is what is meant by the apostolic affirmation found in Colossians 1:15-17. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Likewise, He is the One who accompanied Israel on their journey through the wilderness [see 1 Corinthians 10:4].

The Eternal Father demands an Eternal Son, and it was this Son—Jesus the Christ—who was sent forth by the Father. I suppose that God could have chosen any way He desired to present His Son to a world steeped in sin and under the curse which resulted from the Fall of our first parents. No doubt, Jesus could have appeared majestically on the clouds of the heavens, bearing His glory. He was taken up into the heavens in this manner, and it would have been no great difficulty for the Father to provide for such an entrance for His beloved Son.

I have no doubt that had the Father desired to do so, the Son of God could have been revealed in the palace of the Caesar or displayed in glorious splendour in any setting which the Father desired. That He did not do so should give us reason to wonder at what God was doing in revealing His Son.

The Son of God was born of a woman. He was born under the law. It is as though God is emphasising the humility of His origin in time for some purpose. The fact that He was born of a woman is not of particular importance to the argument Paul is presenting in this passage. His argument is emphasising the inheritance we have received through Christ, and thus the fact that He was born of a woman is not immediately vital to the argument.

However, I suggest that the Apostle was careful to note all that surrounded this coming. Throughout the long ages prior to His coming, multiplied prophets had spoken of the manner in which the Son of God would come. As noted in a previous message, at the time of the Fall, God graciously promised a Redeemer from the seed of the woman. This promised Redeemed would crush the head of the serpent [see Genesis 3:15], though His own heel would be bruised.

Isaiah would speak of the fact that the coming Messiah would be virgin born. A virgin would conceive and bear a son, a son called Immanuel—God with us [Isaiah 7:14]. I suggest that throughout the long centuries since Isaiah’s prophecy, many young Jewish girls descended from the lineage of David wondered if they might be the one who would bear the Messiah.

At last, however, the time arrived when God had determined before hand to send forth His Son, and all was in readiness. Doctor Luke treats the birth of the Son of God with respect, however I must think that as a physician he wondered at the mechanics. The scientist in me asks questions—questions which cannot be answered.

When Gabriel announced that Mary would be God’s chosen vessel to bring His Son into the world, she questioned the announcement. How will this be, since I am a virgin [Luke 1:34]? Literally, Mary wondered at what was to transpire because she had never slept with a man (ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω). Young girls do not become pregnant spontaneously. Parthenogenesis is not a feature which has ever been observed in humans, much less in any mammalian species.

The answer to Mary’s wondering question is that God drew a cover over His work. The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you” [Luke 1:35]. Mormons unite with unbelieving liberal church leaders to ridicule this account. They mock the thought that God can do as He pleases with His creation. They laughingly suggest that anyone “filled with the Spirit” might become pregnant. Creatures of the flesh, they cannot rise above the flesh.

God did this marvellous deed with the young girl’s concurrence. How thrilling to think that there are in this world individuals who respond to the call of God, saying, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word [Luke 1:38].

No less exciting is the intervention of the Father to change the heart of Joseph. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus [Matthew 1:18-25].

Matthew takes great pains to inform the reader that though Joseph was obedient to the divine revelation that Mary was carrying the Messiah, yet He did not consummate the marriage. In fact, according to the language employed, Matthew could not have more precisely made the point that Mary remained a virgin until the birth of our first son, Jesus. Other children would be born to her in the natural way, but Jesus was born of a virgin.

Paul said that Jesus was born under the law. I should suppose that he is emphasising that the former condition of anticipation concerning our inheritance is now passed. The law was but an instrument of God to point us to the freedom which was to be ours in the Messiah. I suppose, in light of the fact that he has stated that the Christ was born of a woman, he is also emphasising the lineage through which the Son of God must come. This is a theme which Paul uses elsewhere.

As he begins the Roman letter, Paul writes these introductory words. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord [Romans 1:1-4].

It was vital that the Son of God be a descendant of David to fulfil the promise which the Father made to David. Listen to the promise provided through the Davidic Covenant. God spoke to Nathan the prophet, and the prophet of God faithfully transmitted this promise to the King.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever [2 Samuel 7:12-16].

As you trace the Promise of a Redeemer which God gave our first parents, you see that line narrows and narrows. The Promised Messiah must be a descendant of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. He cannot be an Arab—a descendant of Ishmael. He must be a Hebrew, of the lineage of Judah, descended through David. However, Coniah was cursed and God promised that he would never again have a child to sit on the throne.

As we review the genealogies of the Messiah which are provided in the Word of God, we discover two. The first is that found in Matthew 1:1-16, and the second is that which is provided by Doctor Luke in Luke 3:23-38. The observant reader will note that the lineage described by these two accounts appears to be completely different, and so they are. The careful reader will note that Matthew’s account gives the lineage of Joseph, who descended from David through Solomon and Jechconiah. Luke’s account carefully preserves the descent of Jesus through Mary, who was herself a descendant of David through Nathan, instead of through Solomon.

At His birth, Jesus could lay legal claim to the throne of David, as He was the descendant of David through the legal line which passed through Solomon and on down to Jechconiah (also known as Coniah). He circumvented the curse of God on Coniah because He was a descendant of David through David’s son, Nathan. Jesus had both legal and prophetic claim to the throne of Israel. He, and only He, could lay such a claim.

You will notice that throughout the years of His ministry, no Pharisee questioned His right to rule. They questioned His claim to be the Son of God and they doubted His credentials to speak with authority as He did, but they did not doubt the validity of His claim to David’s throne.

This is the thrust of Paul’s statement concerning the conditions of His birth. At the time of God’s choosing, the Son of God was sent forth. He fulfilled all the prophecies concerning His birth. His coming was not secret and hidden from the view of mankind, but instead, God deliberately chose to send His Son into the world according to the promises which He had made throughout the long years.

Christ’s Incarnation has a Specific Purpose. God sent forth his Son … to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. No more succinct summary of the Good News can be imagined than the expression, God sent forth His Son. The coming of the Son of God was in humility, for He came to present Himself as a sacrifice for sinful man. This is the argument which the Apostle makes in his second letter to the Corinthian church.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [2 Corinthians 5:17-21].

God sent forth His Son to redeem us, so that [we] might receive the adoption as sons. Christmas points the child of God to the promised inheritance. That brings me to a rather necessary issue which I feel compelled to address in these early days of the twenty-first century. As a people, we are blessed beyond all expectation. We have an inheritance. An earlier study of Christmas revealed that our adoption is rooted in God’s sovereign election. He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will [Ephesians 1:5]. According to Romans 8:23, adoption encompasses our future resurrection. In Romans 9:4, 5, adoption heads the list of blessings given to the people of Israel. In our text, as well as in Romans 8:15, adoption refers to our present status as sons of God—those who anticipate a full inheritance. What a source of present hope is this teaching of adoption! If only we each could seize this truth, making it our own!

Christmas, and we each feel the pressure to provide gifts—to our family, to our friends, even to casual acquaintances. Our culture has created pressures unprecedented in the history of mankind. Small wonder that depression ranks as a major social problem during this holy season. We place an impossible burden upon the average person to spend himself or herself into bankruptcy and then counsel them to be cautious during the remainder of the year.

There are actually two Christmas celebrations—one popular and oppressive, the other righteous and freeing. The former is that which captures each of us early in life, making us slaves to the thought of spending money as an expression of love. Money can be an expression of love, but it can also be an expression of cowardice. If we give because we love, the recipient will rejoice regardless of what is given because it is the love behind the gift which thrills and excites the individual. If we give out of obligation, no gift will suffice to change the individual receiving.

Honestly, what are you celebrating this year? Is it a family celebration? Perhaps a celebration of happiness at the fact that family is together? That is fine, and I can’t think of any argument which any rational person would raise against such a celebration. Do we need to give gifts in order to keep family happy, however?

Perhaps this celebration is a celebration of the triumph of commercialism? In that case, should we as Christians be participating? If our self-worth is measured by how much we are able to spend, we need to reassess what we are doing at this time. If our self-esteem is tied to the value of our gifts, and if we determine how we value one another by what is given and received, perhaps we need to again read the Word of God and carefully think through the reason for the coming of the Son of God.

I don’t want to be an Ebenezer Scrooge. I don’t want to gain the reputation of one who says, “Bah! Humbug!” to the joy of other people. I do, however, want to be wise in calling this congregation to assess what is being celebrated and in reminding us of who we are in Christ. We are a redeemed people. We have an inheritance. We have something which the world didn’t give us and which the world can never take away.

Focus on our inheritance. I have spoken of this rich inheritance throughout the message. Consider what we now enjoy in Christ. We have peace with God, even if we do not buy the latest album for our son or the newest doll for our daughter. We have immediate access to the throne of God, though our colleagues will not return our phone calls. We are free of all condemnation and stand without fear before the throne of the Father. We enjoy faith in a Living Saviour, not in the mouldering bones of a prophet buried in the Arabian Desert. We are endued with hope by Him who tasted death for every man, and yet He lives. We have experienced the love of God in Christ the Lord. The world cannot make us tremble, because it has no power over us.

What can this world do to the child of God? This world cannot steal our peace, for our peace is in Christ who has conquered death, hell and the grave. Those who live for this world cannot kill us, for we are immortal until God permits us to exit this world. World dwellers cannot deprive us of our friendship, for we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This world cannot take our wealth, for we have treasures stored up in heaven where neither moth nor rust can corrupt or ruin. It cannot take our hope, for our hope is founded on God’s infallible Word. This is the inheritance of the people of God. If somehow all this were insufficient, we have God who will receive us to Himself.

The word of God promises us a future. Now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we will be like him, because we shall see him as he is [1 John 2:28-3:2].

There are those who foolishly deride the child of God for believing that Christ Himself shall receive His child. That is the promise of the Word, however. We have literal death, and I believe in a literal resurrection. We have a literal devil, and I believe in a literal Son of God. We have literal sin, and I believe in a literal salvation. I’m looking for the coming of the Son of God to receive me to Himself. This is the hope of the child of God, the hope which purifies each of us. This is the hope of Christmas.

This is our inheritance which is reserved in heaven for each of God’s precious children. John saw that inheritance. I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son” [Revelation 21:1-7].

Received by the blessed Saviour. Received as His beloved child. Received to an inheritance kept for me in heaven. This is the promise of Christmas. Do you have this hope? Do you have this inheritance? Do you have this promise?

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Philippians 2:5-11].

The call of God is to faith in the Living Son of God. Therefore, with hearts seeking only your welfare and the glory of God our Saviour, we call you to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13]. Amen.

The very phrase anticipates the pre-existence of the Son of God. Christ existed before the world began, as we saw in a previous message. The Son of God is the wisdom of God [1 Corinthians 1:24, 30] and this Son of God was likewise the agent of God at work in creation [see 1 Corinthians 8:6]. Surely, this is what is meant by the apostolic affirmation found in Colossians 1:15-17. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Likewise, He is the One who accompanied Israel on their journey through the wilderness [see 1 Corinthians 10:4].

According to Romans 8:23, adoption encompasses our future resurrection. In Romans 9:4, 5, adoption heads the list of blessings given to the people of Israel. In our text, as well as in Romans 8:15, adoption refers to our present status as sons of God—those who anticipate a full inheritance. If only we each could seize this truth, making it our own!

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