by Doy Moyer<\/p>\n
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons<\/em>” (Galatians 4:4-5).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While the Gospels of Matthew and Luke give considerable space to the birth of Jesus and the surrounding events, the rest of the New Testament shows us what His coming into this world really means. He came into this world not merely to be born and be a man, but with a greater purpose of bringing redemption and salvation. Both Matthew and Luke highlight this purpose.<\/p>\n
To Destroy the Works of Satan<\/h2>\n
Paul points out in Galatians 4 that Jesus was born at the right time and with great purpose. The phrase, “born of a woman<\/em>,” may seem obvious as a physical fact, but I believe it underlines the connection back to Genesis 3:15 where the promise was made to the woman that her seed would bruise the head of the serpent (a fatal strike). In other words, as John would put it, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil<\/em>” (I John 3:8). The Hebrews writer shows that Jesus partook of flesh and blood “that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives<\/em>” (Hebrews 2:14-15). The serpent’s head is crushed by the Seed of woman who also is the one true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:15-18).<\/p>\n
To Fulfill the Law and Set Men Free<\/h2>\n
Though Jesus was “born under the Law<\/em>,” His purpose was to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) and thereby “redeem those who were under the Law<\/em>.” The Law could not do what Jesus came to do. The Law accomplished what God intended for it, but it was never meant to be the end goal of God’s plans. It was a vehicle through which God would bring about the ultimate fulfillment of His plan in the Son (cf. Galatians 3:23-25). This would make it possible, then, that those who are in Christ would be set free from sin and death:<\/p>\n
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh…<\/em>” (Romans 8:1-3).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Because Jesus was born into this world to die and rise again, we can live confidently in Him knowing that there is no condemnation. We are forgiven, redeemed, and sanctified unto Him. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you<\/em>” (Romans 8:11).<\/p>\n
To Give Men Adoption as Sons<\/h2>\n
Further, because Jesus was born, Paul writes, we may “receive the adoption as sons<\/em>” (Galatians 4:5). Salvation is more than forgiveness of sin. It is more than being spared from condemnation. Salvation is a complete change of status. We are adopted into God’s family with all of its rights of inheritance. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God<\/em>” (Galatians 4:6-7).<\/p>\n
“Abba, Father!<\/em>” is the cry of sonship. It is what Jesus cried out in the garden as He yielded Himself to the will of the Father in going to the cross (Mark 14:36). Because Jesus did this, we become God’s children in a special way that will provide the inheritance of life. We have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…<\/em>” (I Peter 1:3-4). Because Jesus was born, we may be born again to hope, life, and the inheritance that belongs to the children of God. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are<\/em>” (I John 3:1).<\/p>\n
Because Jesus Was Born<\/h2>\n
When Mary was expecting, she praised God for His mercy which is “upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him<\/em>” (Luke 1:50). Because Jesus was born, we are the recipients of His great mercy shown throughout the generations. We receive salvation and redemption by His grace, and more, we receive the adoption as sons and the grand inheritance provided by Him. The blessing of being able to cry out, “Abba, Father!<\/em>” is beyond words.<\/p>\n
Thank God for His great gift of Jesus, the true Seed “born of a woman<\/em>” to redeem us all from the curse of sin and provide the means of adoption through which we become God’s heirs!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Doy Moyer “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). While the Gospels of Matthew and Luke give considerable space…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[73,47],"class_list":["post-64832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-jesus","tag-salvation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":64320,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-birth-of-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":0},"title":"The Birth of Jesus","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Talking about the birth of Jesus Christ is needed at any time of year, but it seems especially fitting to do so when people are thinking in that direction. If we are not careful, we may too easily dismiss an opportunity to speak about one of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42311,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-am-i-supposed-to-get-from-john-112\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":1},"title":"What am I supposed to get from John 1:12?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning. I really don't know. What am I supposed to get from reading and studying the Bible? For instance: \"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.\" What should this mean\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-miracles-could-have-caused-sodom-to-repent-why-didnt-god-do-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":2},"title":"If miracles could have caused Sodom to repent, why didn’t God do them?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello brother, I have a question for you. It is in Matthew 11:20-24. If God knows what people need in order to repent, why didn't he do it? Answer: \"Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34551,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-we-or-should-we-call-jesus-our-brother\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":3},"title":"Can we or should we call Jesus our brother?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can we or should we call Jesus our brother? Answer: \"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31722,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-jesus-was-born-under-the-law-argument\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":4},"title":"The “Jesus Was Born Under the Law” Argument","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 6, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry W. Benton The Argument Stated: Jesus was \"born\" under the law (Galatians 4:4) and he died on the cross to \"end\" the Old Testament law of Moses (Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14). The Argument Answered: First, while Jesus was born under the law and lived perfectly under the law,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41561,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/back-to-basics-christ-and-the-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":64832,"position":5},"title":"Back to Basics: Christ and the Law","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Frank Jamerson When brethren are confused about whether Christ came to fulfill the law and prophets or to perpetuate them, it is time to get back to basics! 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