December 08, 2022 – Thursday
Why Jesus Came – 1
Galatians 4:4-5 NIV
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4-5 CJB
4 but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm,
5 so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God’s sons.
Galatians 4:4-5 BLB
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the Law,
5 that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the divine adoption as sons.
Comment
These two wonderful verses come at the suggestion of a reader with his own ‘literal translation’ as follows with a bit of explanation in his parenthesis, When, however, the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, that He might redeem (ransom) those under the Law, so that we might receive divine adoption as (His) children. With some research the Berean Literal Bible version above was found which is close to his ‘literal translation.’
Beyond that, these two verses provide a good amount of explanation of why Jesus came, so let’s take a look at them. When the fullness of time had come or the appointed time arrived is when Jesus was sent to us, to the world and it was God’s predetermined time as the preparation for both Jew and Gentile was complete. Likely it had much to do with so many Gentiles living among the Jews – mainly Roman soldiers, but also so many Jews living among Gentiles as in Caesarea.
Next, we learn God’s son was born of a woman, this emphasizes His son’s absolute humanity as well as His deity; He would be born fully human and fully God. Notice He was sent by God, thus His pre-existence is made clear by Paul, just as it was in John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And He was born – according to the Complete Jewish Bible – into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm. Jesus would call out many of those perversions of the law.
The why of His coming is answered in the next verse, to redeem [pay the ransom] those under the law. There was a price to pay for our sin and He would pay it. But why would He do that? Out of love, so that we might receive the divine adoption as sons. We means that anyone who accepts the gift of grace, believing Jesus paid the price to redeem us on the cross and repenting of our sins while calling on Him as our Lord and Savior will be adopted as a divine son or daughter.
Paul concludes this section of Galatians by writing, 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. A member of God’s heavenly family, who could ask for more?
Bottom Line: Jesus came to pay our debt for our sins and He did it to make it possible for us to join the heavenly family as a son or daughter.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that Paul would take the time to explain this to the Galatians and to us as well over the centuries as we wait for Your Son’s return. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek