A Perfect Gift

A Perfect Gift

Galatians 4:4-5

December 2001

Introduction

. Christmas means that:

He descended that we might ascend (John 6:38, 14:3).

He became poor that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9, Jas. 2:5).

He was born that we might be born again (John 1:14, 3:2,7).

He became a servant that we might become sons (Phil. 2:7; Gal. 4:6, 7).

He had no home that we might have a home in heaven (Matt. 8:20; John 14:2).

He was hungry that we might be fed (Matt. 4:2; John 6:50).

He was thirsty that we might be satisfied (John 19:26).

He was stripped that we might be clothed (Matt. 27:28; Gal. 3:27).

He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken (Matt. 27:26; 28:20).

He was sad that we might become glad (Isa. 53:3; Phil. 4:4).

He was bound that we might go free (Matt. 27:2; John 8:32-36).

He was made sin that we might be made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).

He died that we might live (John 5:24, 25).

He came down that we might be caught up (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).

-- Larry Farthing

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

Body

I. The Perfect Arrival

But when the time had fully come

Historical conditions prepared for the birth of the Messiah by

A. The dispersion of the Jews

1. The diaspora

a.) The Jews were spread throughout the Roman empire

b.) Now every major Roman community had a Jewish presence

2. Impact on the early church

a.) These Jewish communities were the source for the early Christian evangelism – Paul always began his work in synagogues

b.) If this dispersion had not taken place, evangelism would have been limited to Israel

c.) God prepared all these Roman communities for Christianity

B. A favorable legal environment

1. Exempt status of the Jews

a.) Romans conquered many nations

1.) Many different religions existed in the empire

2.) One condition: proclaim “Caesar is Lord”

b.) Jewish resistance to the condition

1.) Romans killed hundreds, even thousands of Jews to force them to submit

2.) Romans finally granted exemption to the Jews

c.) God now sends the Messiah and prepares for the early church

2. Favor for the early church

a.) For many years the Romans believed that Jews and Christians were the same

1.) They believed there was no difference

2.) Early church was given Jewish exemption

b.) Impact for the church

1.) There was limited Roman persecution during the exemption

2.) Christians were not required to call Caesar Lord

3.) When the difference was discovered – It was too late

C. A favorable political climate

1. Roman civil wars

a.) There was a great deal of civil war – Julius Caesar

b.) August comes to power about 25 years before Christ’s birth

1.) August brings a new and lasting peace to the empire

2.) The peace brought change and innovation

2. New Roman productivity

a.) The Roman legions now built roads and peace keeping forces

b.) Safety in the empire rose and crime plummeted – Travelers were now protected

c.) This made it safe for the church to spread the gospel

D. A favorable cultural climate

1. A common language

a.) Not since the Tower of Babel had so many people shared the same language

b.) God made all of the people speak different languages to stop the tower’s construction

2. The use of Greek

a.) Alexander the Great conquered the world: The entire known world

1.) The Greek culture was literally world wide

2.) The Greek language spread to every nation – It was a universal language

b.) The NT was written in Greek for this reason

1.) Everyone used Greek

2.) Everyone understood the Greek culture

E. A favorable philosophical environment

1. Greek philosophy prepared the world for Christianity

a.) They prepared people’s minds with great questions

b.) They provided no real answers

2. Christianity provided the answers to the philosophical question

Please note that this section of the outline was adapted from John Maxwell’s message “A Gift Worth Waiting for” and John Macarthur’s Commentary on Galatians.

II. The perfect Atonement

God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law,

A. The position of Jesus

1. Jesus is the Son of God

God did not send an angel or raise a great leader to save humanity. God knew the vast need of humanity and sent His Son. Nothing less could have met our need and God’s desire was to meet our spiritual needs completely and compassionately

2. Jesus is divine

Paul shows us that Jesus is from God and was sent by God to this world. He also very clearly states by this that Jesus is God. He is divine in nature.