The Fullness of Time

Someone Else’s Schedule

I don’t care for being on someone else’s schedule. Last week we spent over 2 hours getting our photo taken. I get it, they had some equipment go down, but meanwhile while we are sitting in the lobby, every manner of conceivable breakdown was happening with the kids waiting with the other parents, also for 2 hours. Then. After waiting for 2 hours, and I watching these families with these little kids finally go in to get their picture taken and no surprise these little kids are loosing their minds.

You know, as a parent, you don’t put a toddler in a small crowded room for 2 hours with nothing to entertain them and expect to survive the experience unscathed.

But, when you are getting your picture taken. You aren’t the one in control of the schedule. And if you have any hope of getting the pictures you spent the entire morning getting ready for, that you may have spent the week deciding what to where, then you are just going to suffer through.

I will brag on them, our kids did pretty well. I don’t really even remember hearing them complain. But they didn’t really have a say in the matter did they?

Mom has a say. Let’s be honest, Dad doesn’t really have a say in this experience, but Mom has a say. The kids certainly don’t have any say.

It’s the kids job to do what the parents tell them to. I can already imagine that some of the kids listening to this aren’t thrilled with that statement, but that is what the Bible says. Most of the kids here this morning are familiar with Eph 6:1-3

Ephesians 6:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

The Bible actually gives you a promise. If you obey your parents then things are going to go better for you. That doesn’t mean that no obedient children are ever going to sick or die early. That isn’t a claim that we can make. But, it’s clear that if as children we are obedient, then we will have better adult lives.

And to this point, we read what Biblical justice is for a disobedient child in Deut 21:18-21

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 KJV 1900

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Am I advocating we stone our children. No, absolutely not! We don’t live under Old Testament law, for the Nation of Israel. And aren’t you glad. And children, there are plenty of things that adults do that are grounds for stoning also. But here is the point: A child that doesn’t live according to his parents rules is expected to grow up and be a drain on society. If a child doesn’t obey the laws of their parents then they won’t obey the laws of the land or their employer. Justice would be to just take them out so that they aren’t more of a problem as they enter adulthood.

Our passage this morning is in Galatians 4:1-7. The conversation in Galatians is a conversation about children, and growing up. But it’s also a passage about the coming of Christ. So follow along with me.

Galatians 4:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

​Pray

Do What I Say!

Children Are Like Servants

Children are like servants. Sorry kids, that is what verse 1 is saying. And every kid who has had to get up and grab something for their parent who is sitting in the living room watching TV knows this is true.

Imagine the house of a rich man in the first century. One day his son is going to inherent all that he owns. In the mean time though his son is just a kid and he needs an education. So the rich man hires teachers for his children. The son might be the heir of all that the father owns but the teacher is in charge over the child. The teacher has the authority not just to educate but to punish the child if need be. Likewise the same is true for what our bibles refer to as governors in v2. A governor is like a nanny. Someone who is responsible for the child, day in and day out and that child is bound to listen to the instructions of the nanny. If the child disobeys then the nanny has the authority to provide the appropriate corrective action to deal with the disobedience.

Then they grow up

But then the child grows up. And what does v 2 say?

Galatians 4:2 (KJV 1900)

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

At some point that relationship changes. At some point the heir is no longer under the rules and authority of caretakers but has come of age and is no longer required to live under their laws.

A Matured Faith

So why does Paul bring all this up about kids who are wealthy enough to have some great inheritance and their private tutors and nannies?

It’s because it illustrates the coming of Christ. How’s that? Paul explains, look at verse 3

Galatians 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Under the Law

Humanity was in bondage under the elements of the world. This phrase elements of the world isn’t one that is easily understand but it alludes to the basic teachings of something. The word elements here is στοιχεῖον (stoicheion). We find this in another, more well known passage in Hebrews. And as we look at Hebrews chapter 5 verse 12, remember that we are going to be getting to this soon when we resume our study of the book of Hebrews…so, just act surprised when we get there.

Hebrews 5:12 KJV 1900

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

first principles, the first — archē (ἀρχή) — principles στοιχεῖον (stoicheion). This is talking about the first of the foundational elements of something. The ABC’s. In Hebrews the subject is the basic principles of Christianity but in Galatians it goes further back. The foundational principles of worlds system.

Hendrik Berkhof says of these foundational principles of the world are things like politics, democracy, social class, public mores, sports philosophy, etc. It’s hard to argue with Berkhof. What drives people today? What will people sacrifice to support their favorite sports teams? What investment in time and money do families put in youth sports? How many of our friends and neighbors have their entire identity tied up in their politics or how they look to their friends and neighbors. These are the places people go to worship today and it reminds me of what Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill in Acts 17:29-30

Acts 17:29–30 KJV 1900

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

See there was a time when God ignored the ignorance of the world outside of Judaism that worshipped false gods, he just let them go to do as they pleased.

But a time came — And God called men everywhere — gentile and jew alike — to repent — the fullness of time had come.

Promises Came Due

Why then?

There were some promises that were made that had come due....but why then? Why did God providentially set some 2,000 years ago to be the time and not 1,000 years earlier, or 500 years after?

We don’t know exactly why, the Bible never tells us, but here are some things that we know are true about this period in history that we can consider:

At the time of Christs coming, the Jews were worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem, but had no power to execute who they deemed to be a heretic. This forced them to be more patient in dealing with Jesus than they would have otherwise.

Rome had conquered most all of the known world. As a result they had built an elaborate road system throughout that world and had established a common language that would be understood anywhere. So when our New Testament was penned by its authors in its original Koine Greek, it was written in a language that was as universal at its time as english is today. — Spreading the gospel as widely and as quickly as it was spread was never possible at any other time in History.

This was a rare period of time where Rome wasn’t fighting any wars.

And Judaism had devolved into a system of religious legalism. Where the righteous were overwhelmed by the ritualistic obligation and cried out to God for mercy.

No longer was the world in waiting for the time to come. The time had come.

Adoption

Not Just for Jews

What is good for us to know in all of this talk about children in a household coming to age, and this picture it is making of Christ, is that this isn’t a truth that had been extended only to the Jews.

Adopted

There is some language that is used, but I think the most beautiful picture painted is that of adoption. We have been in Galatians 4 this morning, turn back there with me if you turned away and look with me again at v5

Galatians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

So what happens? In the fullness of time that little baby is born in a manager. But the baby grows up and at the time appointed by His Father the time comes and He is executed on a Roman Cross. When He raises from the dead, what does he say to His disciples:

Matthew 28:18 (KJV 1900)

18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

The time appointed of the Father had come. Christ, the Messiah was no longer restrained. But for Christians though, there is more, because those who follow Christ are given the spirit to call God Father. We are adopted into that family and have become heirs along side of Jesus, of eternity.

Closing

There is a reason for God’s timing, and while we can speculate what we do know is what we read in 2 Corinthians 6:2

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV 1900

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

We are no longer looking to that future time when the promises will be fulfilled, when Messiah is come. That time is now.

Now isn’t the time for being consumed by the things that the world holds to be important. Now isn’t the time to be in bondage under a law that was designed to teach us of God’s righteousness…Oh what does that verse say again:

Galatians 3:24 KJV 1900

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Where are you?

This morning I don’t know where you are with your relationship with God. What I am going to assume is that one way or another the law of God has impacted you somehow. I am willing to assume that you know in your heart that you don’t line up with God’s standards. That you have a heart that is prone to lying and lust and covetousness, and hate and all manner of things that violate God’s law.

But this morning you have the opportunity to graduate that school of the law. And to come under he freedom of grace, as an adopted child of God.

This morning, if you haven’t already made the decision to follow Christ then I invite you to do so. To repent, in other words, to reject your life of sinfulness and to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I you haven’t done that then I invite you to this morning.

If you have questions about salvation or about this message, in just a moment we are going to close in prayer. When we do, please be encouraged to come speak with me afterwards. There is nothing on this earth that would give me greater joy than to talk to you about our savior. If you are watching from home, the invitation is extended to you as well. if you reach out through our churches’ page I will respond to you confidentially.

Let’s pray