Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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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.