Title: “In the Fullness of Time” Script: Hab. 2:3; Gal. 4:4; Lk. 2:9-11
Type: Topical Christmas Where: GNBC 12-6-20
Intro: There’s a familiar song that begins with: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.” It is a beautiful song that brings back a lot of memories. One stanza says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start. And the thing that will make them ring - is the carol that you sing right within your heart.” To us, Christmas is special because it celebrates the birth of Jesus. And because of Him, it is also a time when we can envision a world the way it could & ought to be. There was an article a few years ago in which a man gave his idea of a perfect world. He said, "In a perfect world you would feel as good at 60 as you did at 17. And you would be as smart at 60 as you thought you were at 17." "In a perfect world professional basketball & football players would be complaining because schoolteachers were signing multi million dollar contracts. In a perfect world,” he said, “potato chips would have calories, but if eaten with dip, the calories would be neutralized." That was his idea of a perfect world. What would make this a perfect world for you? Ice cream that's good for the heart? Apple pies that prevent cancer? Cheese cake that helps take off pounds? I can think of all kinds of things for my perfect world. Since we're thinking about perfect things, notice what Galatians 4:4-5 says: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law”. I love that phrase: “when the fullness of time came”. My friend, God has perfect timing! The Lord Jesus was born at the perfect time! You have come into the world at the perfect time! Today, I want us to examine three passages of Scripture which address God’s perfect timing.
Prop: Christmas time displays God’s perfect timing in the affairs of man.
BG: 1. Make no mistake, there was no mistake in Christ’s 1st Advent and make no mistake, Christ’s 2nd Advent will be in the Father’s perfect timing!
2.”Time” is an important concept in all of life. Our lives are governed by time. Our activities, our work, our hobbies and sports, are days are divided into hours and minutes and seconds.
3. Christ stepped out of eternity and into time…into a specific time…into the fullness of time…in order to bring salvation to man!
Prop: Let’s examine 3 passages to better appreciate God’s perfect timing in the affairs of man.
I. Let’s Look to the OT to Realize God’s Perfect Timing in the Affairs of Mankind. Hab. 2:2-3
A. The Word of the Lord to Habakkuk gives us great insight into the Perfect Timing of God.
1. God is actively involved in the affairs of man.
a. I want to put this passage in it’s proper context and state up front that it does NOT have direct interpretation to the prediction of Christ’s birth. However, it does give us a very strong application of the absolute assurance of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of mankind and the events of both history and the future. The reason is given why the oracle is to be committed to writing. Is yet for an appointed time. The vision will not be accomplished immediately, but in the period fixed by God.
b. Write the vision and make it plain: God told Habakkuk to record this “question and answer” time for the benefit of others – that he may run who reads it. Habakkuk’s revelation wasn’t just for himself, but also to strengthen others. Those who read it would make rapid progress (may run), but they couldn’t make this progress if Habakkuk did not make it plain.
2.Let’s take a moment to better understand what God was saying to the prophet.
- Habakkuk first had to see the vision. The prophet cannot make anyone else see what he does not see for himself. Habakkuk then had to make it known. The prophet must do what he can to make the word of God known, and make it known in as many ways as possible. Habakkuk had to make it known as permanently as possible – he was told to write the vision. The prophet must do what he can to make a permanent impact on his listeners. Habakkuk had to make it plain. “I have sometimes thought that certain ministers fancied that it was their duty to make the message elaborate, to go to the very bottom of the subject, and stir up all the mud they could find there, till you could not possibly see them, nor could they see their own way at all . . . They tell people all the difficulties they have discovered in the Bible, – which difficulties most of their hearers would never have heard of unless their ministers had told them” (Spurgeon). Habakkuk had to make it practical – that he may run who reads it. It doesn’t say, “that he who runs may read it,” but “that he may run who reads it.” The running – the activity and progress – comes forth from God’s word. For the vision is yet for an appointed time: Habakkuk spoke to an age beyond his own. The Babylonian conquest in the future.
B. God has an appointed time for the affairs of mankind.
1. God has a plan that is progressing through history.
- History is moving in a specific direction with purpose and intentionality. Time and chance cannot create purpose and intentionality. The impersonal force of evolution cannot create purpose and intentionality! Only a Personal, Creator God can CREATE direction, purpose, and intentionality in life and history! A cyclical view indicates that there was no beginning to the universe and no goal for it; rather, history creates itself and eventually repeats itself—forever. It was this ancient perspective that generated the skepticism that inspired Friedrich Nietzsche’s view of “the myth of eternal recurrence.”
Contrast that to the Biblical view of linear-progressive history. This understanding does not say that history moves in a steady incline, moving toward some evolutionary climax; rather, it indicates a movement of history that looks more like a corporate chart displaying troughs and peaks while in the long term moving in an upward direction. The most important part of this linear-progressive view of history is that, as the Bible says, the world had a beginning, and that at the beginning an action began, a movement guided by divine providence to an ultimate telos—a culmination of purpose, aim, or goal. This purpose or telos of history is both personal and cosmic. Every individual moves from birth to death, from a beginning to an end. In like manner, the world itself looks forward to a future ordained by God.
2. We can demonstrate unflinching Confidence in the Promises of God.
a. We are told in this verse to “wait for it” to “wait patiently”. Is there anything harder to do in life? We waste our youth hurrying to get old only to wish we had more days! Wait patiently! Illust: No less a cultural commentator than Tom Petty sang: “The waiting is the hardest part…” Heinz Ketchup: “Anticipation!” God’s timing is perfect…but it is not always our time table.
b. Illust: At Christmas we are reminded of two individuals who had waited patiently for the promises of God to be fulfilled: Simeon and Anna. (Luke 2:21-38). In Luke 2:25 we read of Simeon that he was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”. "Waiting" is the Greek verb prosdechomai, which has two senses, (1) "to receive favorably, welcome," and "to look forward to, wait for."[11] The Holy Spirit has made Simeon a promise. Luke employs the word "revealed," the Greek verb chrematizo, "impart a divine message, make known a divine injunction or warning."[12] The message to Simeon is that he won't die until he has seen the Messiah. The phrase "the Lord's Christ". In vv. 36-38 we meet Anna, an elderly widowed prophetess who DAILY was in the temple with fasting and prayers. In v. 38 it says: “And at that very moment she came up giving thanks to God…” (And saw Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus!)
C. Applic: Friend, God is in the business of perfect timing and perfect plans! Illust: I love that closing scene in the movie “Leap Year” where Anna from Boston is proposing to Declan, having come back to Ireland and says: “I propose we not make plans and let’s see where this thing goes.” “I reject your proposal. I don’t want to NOT make plans with you. I WANT to make plans with you! You do? Will you marry me?”
II. Let’s Look to the NT to Realize God’s Timing Was Perfect in Sending the Lord Jesus. Gal. 4:4
A. The Apostle Paul States that Christ’s Coming was in the “Fullness of time”.
1. What does this verse mean?
a. Verse 4 - 5 summarize the powerful, beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ. In the previous verses, Paul compared life under the law to a child living under the care of a guardian. Though that child is entitled to a grand inheritance, the child's daily life is similar to that of a slave until the predetermined date set by his father arrives. He is waiting for the freedom his inheritance will bring. Now Paul says that date has come for those who were under the law. In fact, the moment has come for all who want to share in the inheritance of Jesus. The date set by God the Father arrived right on schedule. When the "fullness of time" had come, God's Son Jesus was born to woman. This woman, Mary, was a virgin (Matthew 1:18), and her pregnancy was a mysterious miracle. She carried the child of God. He was born "under the law." Jesus was the only human being ever to keep the law perfectly. He had "fulfilled" the law (Matthew 5:17). He satisfied all of its requirements, then died on the cross to pay all of the penalties for the sins of others (Galatians 3:13).
b. Illust: Historians have commented on how perfectly determined the world was at the time of Christ’s coming. “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace) had for nearly a century brought security and law and order to a time that was known for turbulence. 3 Centuries before Alexander the Great had conquered the world and brought with him Greek learning and language that unified most of the Western world. The Jewish religion had paved the way for the coming of the Messiah.
2. This passage demonstrates God’s sovereign control over the timing of events in life.
a. In the fullness of time God did what man couldn’t. Nay, Jesus is born through Mary by the result of God’s gracious intervention in history! In the fullness of time God provided what man could not. God sent His Son so He could be our Father!
b. Illust: As we consider what it means to call God our Father, we need to realize this is a confused concept in our society. The avg. person either doesn’t believe in God or of opinion that “we are all God’s children.” The Bible refers to all human beings as God’s “offspring” (Acts 17:28), but in so doing it speaks only of His role as our Creator. This is very different from the father- child relationship that the Bible has in mind when it refers to the Lord as our Father—a relationship. Illust: When Mary was in HS I was the parent coordinator for the CHS XC team. Several of her teammates looked to me as a father figure. Several parents divorced or father dead. I went to every race and would cheer for each them. They had a nickname for me and about 10 had a variation of that nickname. After races would want me to congratulate them. Now, no matter how loud cheered. No matter how supportive I was. I only had a father/daughter relationship with one member of that team: Mary. This relationship is ours only when we are united to Christ by faith and receive “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). We must be united to the only One who is the Son of God by nature, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not trust in the Savior, our relationship to God is merely that of a creature to its Creator, and we are under the Lord’s holy wrath (Rom. 1:18–32).
B. God’s timing is perfect because God is perfect.
1.Notice three perfect items in this verse.
a. In this passage we find 3 perfect items: Perfect timing - when the time was exactly right. t. The perfect gift - God sent His Son (Someone told you or you received?). And the perfect purpose (Ever got that job you were made for?) - to redeem us. But this morning let's focus on the perfect timing. Paul says, "…the time had fully come." Now in the Greek language there were two words for "time". One is "kairos" which means "opportune time" - an opportunity that comes your way, that just pops up -maybe quite by accident. Then there’s "kronos" from which comes our word "chronology", the orderly progression of events, when everything follows its proper sequence. And that is the word used in Galatians 4:4, indicating that God didn't decide on the spur of the moment, but rather planned with purpose.
b. Illust: Finals week next week. Some students will soothe their consciences by telling themselves that successful students were: “Lucky or professor’s favorites or…” Yet, don’t see the countless hours students were studying. Some people will look as successful athlete and say: “They’re lucky or their talent comes “naturally”. Yet, they don’t know the hundreds of hours of practice or disciplines of eating and sleeping or other sacrifices it takes to be successful. Same is true with the affairs of man and God’s great “Drama of Redemption!” As RC Sproul used to say: “There’s not a chance that God left anything to chance!”
2. God provides perfect deliverance through His perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus.
a. Christ was sent to the earth as one “born of a woman” (4:4). This was necessary to fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:15, and also was a necessary part of the incarnation, so that Christ could die for man as man. In addition, Christ was born “under the Law” (4:4) so that He was able to bear the curse of the Law to enable men to receive the blessings which God promised to Abraham’s offspring (2:13-14). The “adoption as sons” (4:5) is that enjoyment of the promises of God to Abraham, and the passing from the restrictions and confinement of the Law to the fullness and freedom of grace.
b. Illust: IN December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news—man had flown! (Our Daily Bread, 12-23-91)
C. Applic: The really BIG news at Christmas is the reminder that WE CAN BE SAVED!
III. Let’s Look to the Gospels, Realizing God’s Perfect Timing was for our Benefit. Luke 2:9-11
A. We see the Perfect Timing of God in the Coming of Jesus Christ!
1. God’s perfect timing took place and was made known!
a.v.11 “for today” – A marked designation of time! In one distinct 24 hrs period the plan of the ages was came to fruition! Today! Praise the Lord for that glorious day! All of a sudden came to pass the long delayed and unthought of announcement! Heaven and earth mingled together as an angel stood before the bedazzled eyes of the frightened shepherds! Fear vanishes when instead of judgment the angel announces glad tidings! Good News! It was just as if the angel had waited for God’s signal to come to earth…and he had! From before the “foundations of the world”.
b. When the sacrifices were laid upon the altar of the Temple music burst forth in 3 sections, each marked by blasts of the priests’ silver trumpets. Those 3 blasts were symbolic of proclaiming the Kingdom of God, the providence of God, and the final judgment of God with every sacrifice. Christ fulfilled all three!
2. God’s perfect timing presented a “Savior”.
a. “there has been born for you a Savior” – What an announcement it was! Prior to the pronouncement of Christ’s birth, there had only been one other time in history that the singing of angels had been heard by the ears of mortal man: Isaiah’s vision when heaven’s glory invaded Heaven’s High Temple. Here and now, in the passage, that same glory enraptures the shepherds on Bethlehem’s plain. In Isaiah’s vision the angelic choir announced the coming Kingdom, here, in the fulfillment of time, the angelic choir proclaimed the coronation of the come King!
b. Illust: God’s timing is perfect for us. We need a living Savior because we are spiritually dead. In Eph 2:1: "You being dead in your trespasses and sins . . . " Eph 2:5: "Even when we were dead in our trespasses . . . " If you were to ask most people why sin is a problem, and why we need a Savior from it, they would say that sin makes us guilty before God and brings us under condemnation; and so we need a Savior who can forgive our sins and take away our punishment. True, but not all.. The reason we need a Savior is not just that we are in the doghouse with God and need to be forgiven. We need a Savior because we are in the morgue. In the doghouse you might whimper. You might say you are sorry. But what can you do if you are in the morgue?
B.
1. Never forget, today is your day of salvation! II Cor. 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. Friend, God is concerned about you. Today is your time! Are you saved? God’s timing is perfect in our lives even when don’t think so.
2. Illust: “European traffic calming began as a grassroots movement in the late 1960’s. Angry residents of the Dutch city of Delft turned their streets into ‘woonerven,’ or ‘living yards.’ What were once channels for the movement of cars became shared areas, outfitted with tables, benches, sand boxes, and parking bays jutting into the street. The effect was to turn the street into an obstacle course for motor vehicles, and an extension of home for residents. “Woonerven were officially endorsed by the Dutch government in 1976. Over the next decade, the idea spread to many other countries. Laws and regulations were changed to permit woonerf designs in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England, France, Japan, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland. By 1990, there were more than 3,500 shared streets in the Netherlands and Germany. “The end result was bringing neighborhood traffic speeds down to ‘walking speeds,’ meaning about 10 mph!.” Ever feel like God is throwing all manner of crazy roadblocks in your way as you are zooming toward your desired destination in life? Any manner of strategically placed road blocks (illness, financial distress, broken relationships, you name it) can slow us down, or even stop us in our tracks. Trials can be God’s road blocks to slow us down, cause us to focus on what really matters in life, and ultimately save us from calamity. At Christmas time we need to slow down, recognize God’s perfect time. Time of salvation.
C. Applic: God is concerned about you personally. Christmas time is God’s perfect time to show you that He intimately cares for you.
