Galatians 4:4-6 "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."
It’s a fascinating thing to realize that God does everything exactly on time. Not necessarily in your time, or in mine, but in His. The above verses from Galatians indicate that God sent His Son, Jesus, into this world “when the time was exactly right” (my paraphrase). But what does that mean in terms of people’s lives; particularly the people who lived then? I think if we look at the history and culture of the day we can understand just how right the time was.
THE TIME WAS RIGHT POLITICALLY – The entire world was under the heel of the Roman Empire. Many had become slaves to the Romans, and if not slaves in the complete sense of the word, they were slaves to tyranny, to massive taxes, and of course, were slaves to their sin. Take into account what Jesus said later. “…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:32)
THE TIME WAS RIGHT RELIGIOUSLY – Imagine living under a tyrannical religious system with leaders who were themselves dishonest men; men who were cheats and thieves. Imagine your family is quite poor and to bring an animal of sacrifice to the temple really was a sacrifice. When you got there you were told your animal was not good enough because there was a small blemish, but you can sell it and then purchase a proper animal. You are paid little for your animal, and you are paid in shekels. These must be traded for “temple money” and the money changers extract a penalty, so you have to add more of your own money in order to purchase a qualifying sacrifice. You go to purchase a sacrifice only to realize prices are terribly inflated. Your desire is to properly sacrifice but the religious thieves make it difficult. How refreshing it would be to learn that salvation is a “gift from God.” (John 3:16)
THE TIME WAS RIGHT LINGUISTICALLY – Before the Romans the world had been under the domination of the Greeks. This meant the world trade language was Greek; a perfect language for the writing of the New Testament.
THE WORLD WAS RIGHT FOR TRAVEL – The Roman Road is more accurately designated “ROADS” since 29 major byways led from Rome to many other countries, including Israel. Amazingly these roads provided 50,000 miles of paved roadways. Imagine how these roads assisted in the spread of the Gospel.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians. 15:57
I invite you to come join us on Sunday in the fellowship of loving and caring people! God bless.
Pastor Jim
It’s a fascinating thing to realize that God does everything exactly on time. Not necessarily in your time, or in mine, but in His. The above verses from Galatians indicate that God sent His Son, Jesus, into this world “when the time was exactly right” (my paraphrase). But what does that mean in terms of people’s lives; particularly the people who lived then? I think if we look at the history and culture of the day we can understand just how right the time was.
THE TIME WAS RIGHT POLITICALLY – The entire world was under the heel of the Roman Empire. Many had become slaves to the Romans, and if not slaves in the complete sense of the word, they were slaves to tyranny, to massive taxes, and of course, were slaves to their sin. Take into account what Jesus said later. “…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:32)
THE TIME WAS RIGHT RELIGIOUSLY – Imagine living under a tyrannical religious system with leaders who were themselves dishonest men; men who were cheats and thieves. Imagine your family is quite poor and to bring an animal of sacrifice to the temple really was a sacrifice. When you got there you were told your animal was not good enough because there was a small blemish, but you can sell it and then purchase a proper animal. You are paid little for your animal, and you are paid in shekels. These must be traded for “temple money” and the money changers extract a penalty, so you have to add more of your own money in order to purchase a qualifying sacrifice. You go to purchase a sacrifice only to realize prices are terribly inflated. Your desire is to properly sacrifice but the religious thieves make it difficult. How refreshing it would be to learn that salvation is a “gift from God.” (John 3:16)
THE TIME WAS RIGHT LINGUISTICALLY – Before the Romans the world had been under the domination of the Greeks. This meant the world trade language was Greek; a perfect language for the writing of the New Testament.
THE WORLD WAS RIGHT FOR TRAVEL – The Roman Road is more accurately designated “ROADS” since 29 major byways led from Rome to many other countries, including Israel. Amazingly these roads provided 50,000 miles of paved roadways. Imagine how these roads assisted in the spread of the Gospel.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians. 15:57
I invite you to come join us on Sunday in the fellowship of loving and caring people! God bless.
Pastor Jim