Message Date: November 28, 2021
Bible
- 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV
- 4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. Galatians 4:4-5 NET
- 4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, 5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons]. Galatians 4:4-5 AMPC
- 4-7 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. Galatians 4:4-7 MSG
- Fullness: pleroma (play-row-mah); Strong’s #4138: Full number, full complement, full measure, copiousness, plenitude, that which has been completed. The word describes a ship with a full cargo and crew, and a town with no empty houses. Pleroma strongly emphasizes fullness.
- The fullness of time, the appropriate time, the proper time, the set time.
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The Timeline
- “Hebrew nationalism was ending, but the great religious movement which originated among the Hebrews was just beginning. With the fall of Jerusalem the Hebrews lost their place in the world of nations but found a broader place in the world of religion. Deprived of an earthly kingdom, Israel began to envision a spiritual and heavenly kingdom. The chosen people were developing a nobler concept of the character of God. Living among the nations they envisioned a God who would redeem all mankind through the coming messiah.” – His Truth Endureth by James Cecil Muir
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Persian rule
- Period of exile
- I. God’s sovereign will demonstrated in spite of Israel’s disobedience. God is faithful.
- (1) National life destroyed to save spiritual idealism
- 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV
- (2) Miracles through the remnant:
- (a) shows WHO IS GOD, the true & living God
- (b) shows WHO GOD IS (His character)
- (3) how this message of the Hebrews God gets to the nations:
- 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Daniel 3:29 NKJV
- 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. 3 How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation. Daniel 4:1-3 NKJV
- (1) National life destroyed to save spiritual idealism
- II. Hebrew worship becomes spiritual instead of formal.
- (1). Without a temple, they learn that “the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). This is a cardinal truth of the New Testament (Romans 1:17/Galatians 3:11/Hebrews 10:38).
- (2). There is a better understanding that God is no longer the exclusive God of the Jews, but of the nations (gentiles) too; and salvation is universal.
- III. Much scripture production during and after the period of exile: 1st & 2nd Kings, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Nahum, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, many Psalms (85, 102, 118, 126, 137, 146-150)
- IV. Spoken language changes
- (1) Aramaic dialect; Chaldean idioms got into the Hebrew language, paving the way for New Testament Greek!
- (2) Notes in Strong’s concordance, the “Hebrew and Chaldee dictionary”
- V. Final break with image worship and idolatry.
- I. God’s sovereign will demonstrated in spite of Israel’s disobedience. God is faithful.
- The exile lasted 70 years.
- Period of regathering: “The Jews bought property, engaged in commerce, established their religious communities, built synagogues, and carried on normal existence. Many of their number were elevated to positions of prominence in the state. Daniel and his three friends. Mordecai, Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah. Indeed so pleasant was their lot that at the end of the 70 years only a small percentage of the people were willing to risk the hazardous homeward journey and face the problems of reconstruction and rehabilitation that would inevitably be their lot in Jerusalem.” – Exploring the Old Testament by W.T. Purkiser
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Greek rule
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- 1.) Logical thought (superstition debunked)
- 2.) Universal language and literacy
- 3.) Septuagint version of the OldTestament
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Roman rule
- 1. Roman roads: travel easily and historically more quickly
- 2. Pax Romana: safe travel
- 3. Historicism: accurate and objective retelling of historical events
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- “My times are in Your Hands…..” Psalms 31:15 NKJV
- “My future is in your hands……” Psalms 31:15 GWT
- Hour by hour I place my days in your hand…… Psalm 31:15 MSG
- “You determine my destiny!” Psalms 31:15 NET
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- Christmas is a reminder that God is:
- 1.) Sovereign
- 2.) Faithful
- 3.) Present and involved
