Galatians 4:4, 5 Why Jesus Came

Kowloon International Baptist Church Kowloon Tong
Harry Lucenay, Pastor

25 December 2006

Christmas story is story of a birth that leads to an adoption.

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4, 5

1. Who was born? God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law

The whole meaning of the Advent season is this: a gift from God is on the way.

1. God sent his son: He gave his one and only Son. John 3:16

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 2 Corinthians 8:6

God sent his Son not just from Galilee to Jerusalem, not just from the manger to the cross, but all the way from heaven to earth.

b. born of a woman: (a human being) his own son in the likeness of sinful man. Romans 8:3

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

3. under the law: For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.

Romans 10:4 (New Living Translation)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21

2. Why did he come? To redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights as sons.

According to the Bible the Easter Celebration of the Resurrection is a very real part of Christmas. Remember:

You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

a. redeem: (to buy out of slavery — He saves us from ourselves, from our selfishness and sin.) He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him — people who are always wanting to do good deeds.

Titus 3:14

b. that we might receive full rights as sons: so that he could adopt us as his very own children (New Living Translation)

The adopted person:

1. Lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a fully legitimate son in the new family.

2. Gained a new father.

3. Became an heir to the new father.

4. Had his old life, including his debts, completely wiped out.

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us — in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 The Message

3. What time is it in your life? When the time had fully come

According to the biblical historians, politically, intellectually, morally and geographically, everything in the Greco-Roman world was ready for the coming of Jesus.

What time is it in your life? God may be saying, “This is the time for which you were born. This is the fullness of time. I can redeem the wrong time; I can unravel the confused time; I can balance the busy time, and I can give confidence to the uncertain time.” God could be saying, “This is the right time. Because you know your need, I can enter your life. I can adopt you as my own. In Jesus’ name you will become my child.”

The New International Version is used unless otherwise stated.