THE FULNESS OF THE TIME -- Monday:
" But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
The Kingdom of God is one of precision, order, and timeliness. There is a Divine agenda that is being fulfilled, and it is precise in all of its aspects. The expression "fulness of time" is God's calendar language. It speaks of the time when what the Lord has appointed comes to pass. Not only does He appoint WHAT will happen, He also appoints WHEN it will happen.
This principle is seen throughout Scripture. A few examples will suffice to establish the point. The birth of Isaac, the child of promise, came at a precise Divinely appointed time–a "set time" (Gen 17:21; 21:2). God appointed when Israel would go down into Egypt, how long they would stay there, and when they would come out--"even the selfsame day" (Gen 15:13; Ex 12:40-41). The Lord also determined when the Babylonian captivity would begin, how long it would last, and when it was to conclude (Jer 25:11-12; 29:10). The Psalmist spoke of God having mercy upon Zion when the "set," or appointed, "time has come" (Psa 102:13).
Our text affirms God's Son came into the world "when the fulness of the time was come," or "when the time had fully come" (NIV). At precisely the appointed time, Jesus entered the world, "made of a woman, made under the Law." He was born of an unlikely woman–a "virgin." He was placed under an unlikely tutor–"the Law." And it all happened precisely when God had appointed it to happen.
Lest we miss the significance of this, the enemy had sought to abort the entrance of the Savior into the world. Remember, from the very first, Satan knew God was going to crush him through the offspring of the woman (Gen 3:15). Thus Satan set about to stop this from happening, and he did so with unparalleled zeal. He did not know who this offspring would be, so made a sweeping attack against the offspring of women. Through one of his own children, Cain, he killed Abel, imagining to rid the world of the appointed Savior (Gen 4:8). He no doubt was instrumental in the holy women in the Savior's lineage being barren (Sarah–Gen 11:30, Rebekah–Gen 25:21, and Rachel–Gen 29:31). He was behind Pharaoh's slaughter of the infants (Ex 1:22), and Herod's attempt to eradicate the newborn King (Matt 2:16-18). Yet, in spite of all of Satan's efforts, Jesus came into the world "in the fulness of the time"–at the appointed time, by the appointed person, and in the appointed place. God had even specified the person–"a virgin shall conceive" (Isa 7:14), and the place– "Bethlehem . . . of Judah" (Mic 5:2). The most crafty and powerful opponent could not stop it from occurring "in the fulness of the time."
Of course, this was more than simply a precise occurrence. There was an objective being fulfilled, and what a grand one it was: "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." God had appointed a time when those condemned by the Law would be redeemed, or purchased for His own possession. He had appointed a time when fallen humanity, through new birth, would be brought into the Divine family–adopted as sons. Ambitious appointments, indeed! In fact, from every human perspective such noble intentions seemed impossible.
A precise execution of Divine purpose preceded the "fulness of time." The Law was preparing people for the Savior by making them aware of their sin and need for a Savior. It was stopping the mouths of every person imagining they were good, and making all the world "guilty" before God (Rom 3:19). Also, man was being taught of the severe limitations brought on by sin. Spiritually knowledgeable people came to realize "none can keep alive his own soul" (Psa 22:29). The deep depravity of man was also being shown–that he was capable of the most remarkable expressions of sin, and was impotent to remove that ability.
When everything was ready–in "the fulness of the time," God sent His Son into the world. Nothing could stop it. Nothing could delay it. The appointment came to pass!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank and praise You for being able to fulfill Your counsel without either delay or threat. I ask that You work Your will in me.