But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4-6)
Please note: I’m using “Christmas” as a capsule word that contains the whole process of God’s Son’s coming into the world. It is in that sense that I can say “Christmas” was on time.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God made them coats from the skins of animals. God could have come upon the womb of Eve on that day to channel His only begotten Son through Eve. But that wasn’t God’s plan. The time was not right for God to do what He was going to do.
The Apostle Peter tells us: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1Peter 1:18-20)
Prolonging the time of Christ’s coming into the world provided several points of reference by which the coming messiah could be measured. Some able scholars tell us that Jesus fulfilled a great portion of over three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming of the promised messiah. Without these reference points being given hundreds of years in advance of His coming, it would have been much more difficult to measure the accuracy of His claims of who He was. I have confidence to believe that the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled because of the fulfilling of so many other prophecies.
True, the resurrection of Christ from the dead would have been a great stand-alone proof of outstanding power being displayed in the resurrection. But, the resurrection is even greater proof if it is woven into a significant web of prophecies, which it is.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:9-10)
Jesus employed the prophetic power of proof in upbraiding the unbelieving disciples: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
We go through layers of crisis in strengthening our faith. The process results in a much-strengthened faith much like the healing of a wound results in scar tissue. The wounded place is stronger after it is healed with scar tissue. We need to remember that Jesus talked to His disciples in terms of “enduring to the end.” He talked in terms of taking up our cross, daily. The cross was a known instrument of death and many Christians were nailed to crosses.
The point I am making here is that Christmas was on time. Christ was born on time. While we are on the subject, I would remind you that you, also, were born at the time and place of God’s choosing. It is no accident that you were not born during the time of the Roman Empire or in the middle of the American Civil War.
It gives me a great amount of confidence in God’s plan for my life to realize that I was born in the time and place of God’s choosing. In the same way, it is a pillar of faith to realize that Jesus was born in the fullness of time and God thought it important enough to include that information in His word. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
DECEMBER 4, 2017 - MONDAY
A.M. Daniel 3-4 P.M 1 John 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Verses to Memorize:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Song for Today:
The Old Rugged Cross (2:59) (Alan Jackson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXAqoZuYvyA&list=RDyXAqoZuYvyA
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