God's Plan In The Birth Of Jesus

Well, if you're like me and our family, you have a series of Christmas plans to execute in the next few days.

Your schedules with family have been synchronized.

You've arranged your travel.

You've made final preparations for how you're going to tackle the monster that is the Christmas week.

And perhaps even this moment, maybe this is in your plan.

This is kind of a jump start for the week.

Kids are finished with school now.

They're on Christmas break.

Maybe you get a few days off.

And kind of the jump start of your Christmas celebration is this worship service here in this place.

Whatever your plans may be, Christmas is coming, ready or not.

And the text that we're going to study this morning, a simple text,

is introducing us to the execution of God's Christmas plans.

Plans that were prepared in eternity past.

Plans that were carried out in history.

Plans that are wonderfully beneficial for anyone who has eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to believe them.

So I want to draw your eyes to Galatians chapter 4.

Galatians 4 · chapter mention

Just two verses here.

Verses 4 and 5.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law,

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Well, since we're kind of parachuting into the middle of this paragraph here,

I should at least summarize for you the context here,

really a much larger context in the letter,

so that we might better grasp Paul's intention in writing these two verses.

He was writing to a group of churches who were being heavily influenced at the time by a heretical group

that sought to merge Christian discipleship with conformity to the Mosaic law or the Old Testament law.

These individuals known as Judaizers, as we might refer to them now,

they taught that while following Jesus was important,

if you were to truly be right with God,

then you must also observe such ceremonial laws as circumcision,

feast days, festival days that were put out in the Mosaic law.

Dietary restrictions, as we see being referred to.

All three of these issues are highlighted in Paul's letter to the Galatian churches

because this heretical group has come in,

and it says, yeah, Jesus is great, he's important, but he's not enough.

What you also need to do is you need to merge together this following of Jesus with conformity to the law.

And if you do those two things, you have your faith, plus you have your works,

and you bring those two things together,

then and only then can you be truly justified before God.

Can you be truly made right with God?

So Paul's letter to the Galatians is a polemic against such heresy.

It's a warning that adopting such beliefs is tantamount to abandoning God himself

and the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now that sounds like strong language, but it's the language that Paul actually uses.

If you just look back in chapter 1 and verse 6,

he opens the letter without thanksgiving for the church, which was unusual for Paul,

but he says in verse 6,

I'm astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ

and are turning to a different gospel.

So the issues that are unfolding in the churches of Galatia are not issues of,

that we might treat with any kind of indifference.

They are serious issues.

They're gospel issues.

In this portion of the letter in chapter 4,

Paul is arguing that the function of the Mosaic law

was never actually to offer salvation to begin with.

That's basically what the Judaizers were saying.

That's basically what a lot of people that would claim to be Christian today are saying as well.

That the function of the law,

that there is a certain measure of righteousness that you must have

and in exchange for your obedience to a list of rules and a set of traditions,

in exchange for your obedience,

God will then grant you the salvation that you then deserve.

Paul's pushing against that.

He's arguing against that fiercely here.

And he contends that the function of the law

is to expose our sinfulness

and to point us to salvation through God's promised Savior.

And beginning in chapter 3,

he uses this illustration that he begins to repeat a number of times.

An illustration that refers to the law

as a guardian,

or a tutor,

or a steward,

a household manager,

all words that Paul is using here

to describe the true function

of the Mosaic law.

And the role of this guardian

would be just as a guardian

in the homes in Roman culture

who were tasked

with overseeing the child

until he comes of age.

And it's when he becomes of age

that he is then granted

all the benefits

that belong to an heir.

That's the illustration he's using,

and that's the illustration that he's using here in chapter 4.

And so we understand then

that having started in faith,

some of the Galatian Christians

were in danger of turning back,

that's Paul's language,

turning back

from grounding their salvation in Christ

to actually grounding it

in their efforts

at obeying the law.

So that's what Paul was writing to confront,

and it's the context in which

this passage must be interpreted, okay?

And there's a lot more to that.

I would encourage you to actually go

study it on your own in detail.

Not just on your own, though.

Perhaps you would even be benefited more

by studying it along with a partner,

a husband, a wife,

maybe a friend in the church.

Just decide we're going to meet together

maybe for a few weeks,

and we're going to read through

the book of Galatians together.

We're going to work against each other

to make sure we understand this context,

because it is quite important.

But what we're going to do

is we're going to zero in

on these two verses

that I read just a moment ago.

These two verses,

what they do,

the way they're functioning

in Paul's argument,

is they are revealing to us

the one that God's law,

this guardian,

points to.

It shows us the eternal plan of God,

perfectly fulfilled

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

It expresses for us

the glorious truth

of God's Christmas plans,

which make it possible

for us to be forgiven

and to be reconciled to Him.

And this is the gospel truth

that I hope to show you

from these two verses this morning.

Four things I want to point out to you

as we break the verses apart, okay?

The first thing is this.

I want you to see

the unfolding plan of God.

The unfolding plan of God.

Just the very first phrase

in verse four

is where we get this.

But when the fullness of time

had come,

the fullness of time

had come.

Now remember,

the language

is connected

to this illustration

Paul is using.

If you just set your eyes

on verse two

in chapter four,

the illustration refers

to a child

being under guardianship

until the day

set by his father.

That's the illustration

he's using.

But he's under guardians

and managers

until the date

set by his father,

Paul says.

Now we get to verse four.

This statement

about the fullness of time

coming

is the explanation

of the illustration

Paul's using in verse two.

So he illustrates it.

He says,

there's this kind of scenario

he puts forth

where there's a child.

He's raised by this guardian

until the date

that the father

has determined.

And then he turns

to the plan of God,

the unfolding plan of God

in history,

redemptive history.

And he says,

the fullness of time

has now come.

The date set

by the father

has come.

Now what he does

not mean here

is that when God

felt that the world's

circumstances

were most favorable

that he suddenly

decided to take action.

That's not what Paul

means by this statement.

What he means

is that the events

of Jesus'

incarnation,

including the historical

circumstances

into which he was born,

took place

at precisely

the time

God

intended.

At precisely

the time

when the fullness

of time had come,

when everything

had been accomplished

that God had intended

to be accomplished

in the orchestration

of his sovereign plan

and his providence.

Then

and only then

Christ came.

It's the unfolding

plan

of God.

Now,

I hope this

doesn't happen

to you,

but the chances

are something's

going to happen

this week.

It's going to mess

up your Christmas

plans,

right?

A few weeks

ago,

Ashlyn's birthday

is tomorrow.

Ashlyn's 13

years old tomorrow.

We celebrate,

do you want me,

do you want us

to sing to you?

You don't want us

to do it?

A couple of weeks

ago we celebrated

her birthday.

This year she wanted

to go to Winterfest

at Carowind.

She wanted to take

some of her friends

with her and some

of the girls here

went along with her.

Julie and I had,

it was a Friday night,

we had to set up

this whole plan together

where Julie was

going to drive

to Troutman

to get Annette

and Phoebe

and then she was

going to drive

down to Mooresville

to get Clementine.

Then she was

going to drive

to Matthew's

to get my niece,

Kate,

and then she was

going to drive

to the Zaxby's

next to Carowind's.

Now while she

was doing that,

Harper and I

were taking Charlie

to Gastonia

so we could drop

her off with my parents

and then we were

going to rendezvous

with them at Zaxby's

so that we could

eat dinner

before it cost,

you know,

50 bucks a plate

and then we were

going to go

into Carowind's

and enjoy the time

together.

Well,

things don't ever

happen the way

that you want

them to happen,

do they?

And Harper

and I are on

77,

485,

and 85

all at about,

I don't know,

430.

And we just

weren't going to make

it to Zaxby's

so I called Julie

and I was like,

we're not going to

be there in time,

she was already

at the restaurant,

if you'll just get

Harper and I

something to eat,

we'll eat dinner

in the parking lot

at Carowind's

and we'll go in

and we'll enjoy

the night.

So Harper and I

go straight to Carowind's,

plans have already

changed,

we get there,

we're in line to

get into the parking

lot and finally

they open up the

gates and we go

into the parking

lot and we find

our parking space,

Julie pulls in

behind us and we

get out,

we're so hungry,

we haven't eaten

all day,

we say,

where's our food

we would love to

eat and she says,

oh,

I forgot to get

you food.

So,

plan B

is already

changed.

So we go inside

and we think,

okay,

we're just going

to find us a

restaurant immediately.

Well,

there's no

restaurants immediately

unless you want

Cinnabon,

right,

when you walk

into the thing

and then there's

these shows that

we want to go to.

It's like two

hours later,

Harper and I

finally get

something to eat

at Carowind's.

The plans were

just constantly

changing,

right?

Our plans do

that.

Your plans are

going to do

that this week.

Listen,

one person or

one being that

never happens

to is God.

His plans never

change.

Nothing takes

him by surprise.

There's nothing

that he's hoping

to happen or

waiting for to

happen before he

decides to act.

That's not how

it works for

him.

No,

God has an

eternal plan that

he executes in

time and space

according to his

sovereign will and

that plan has

everything to do

with Jesus and

saving sinners from

his own wrath through

Jesus.

Now,

there's a lot of

text we could turn

to for this.

Let me just show

you one in

Ephesians chapter

one.

It's on the

screen for you

to see.

God chose us in

him, in Christ.

God chose us in

Christ, watch this

phrase, before the

foundation of the

world, before

creation.

In eternity past,

God had a plan to

save sinners.

In love, he

predestined us to

adoption to himself

as sons through

Jesus Christ.

Here's the phrase,

according to the

purposes of his

will.

He planned to do

it in him.

We have

redemption through

his blood, the

forgiveness of our

trespasses, according

to the riches of his

grace, which he

lavished upon us in

all wisdom and

insight, making known

to us here the

mystery of his

will, or we might

say his plan,

according to his

purpose, which he

set forth in Christ

as a plan, and

here's this phrase

again, for the

fullness of time.

In him, we have

attained an

inheritance, having

been predestined

according to the

purpose of him who

works all things,

according to the

counsel of his

will.

What am I saying?

I'm saying that God's

plan in Christ was

not spontaneous.

God's plan in Christ

was not happenstance.

It is his sovereign

purpose from before

creation.

It is the unfolding

plan of God in

history, the pivotal

moment of which is

the incarnation of

Jesus Christ.

You say, how do you

know that?

The Bible tells us

all about it.

You can start from

the very beginning.

Jesus is the seed of

the woman whom God

promised to Adam and

Eve that he would

rescue fallen humanity.

Jesus is the ark of

our salvation from

God's judgment pictured

in the story of Noah.

Jesus is Abraham's

offspring through which

all the families of

the earth are blessed.

Jesus is the perfect

spotless lamb pictured

in the worship of

Israel.

Jesus is the son of

David who will rule

God's eternal kingdom.

Jesus is the Messiah

foretold by the

prophets.

The birth of Jesus was

not a coincidence.

God didn't wake up one

morning and say, oh,

this might be a good

time to try to make

something happen.

No.

This was the pivotal

moment of human history

orchestrated by the

sovereign plan of God

as the event to which

all the scriptures

pointed.

So using this

illustration, Paul

reminds the Galatians

that in God's

unfolding plan, the

time to which the law

pointed was marked by

Jesus' advent, his

coming.

And because of what

God did through Christ

in the fullness of

time, we are no longer

under a guardian.

No longer under the

condemnation of the law

held in bondage to it.

The unfolding plan of

God.

Number two, I want you

to see the agent of God's

plan.

The agent of God's plan.

Now we're still in verse

four.

Just look at the next

couple of phrases.

In the fullness of

time, God sent forth

his son, born of

woman, born under

the law.

Now these brief

statements, they give

us an introduction to

the true nature of

Jesus.

He is the agent of

God's plan, carrying

out this plan in real

time and space.

Now that he was sent

forth from God, is

Paul's way of

indicating that Jesus

actually existed before

he was ever born.

That's strange.

None of us can say that,

can we?

Oh, we came into

existence at our

conception, didn't we?

Not Jesus, though.

No, Jesus was actually

sent forth in order to

be born of woman.

He existed before.

John chapter one.

In the beginning was the

word.

John's using word here as a

proper noun for Jesus.

In the beginning was the

word.

The word was with God.

The word was God.

He was in the beginning

with God.

All things were actually

made through him.

Jesus is the creator.

And without him was not

anything made that was

made.

And then in verse 14 he

says, and the word

became flesh.

This preexistent word,

this one existing with

God as God in eternity

past became flesh,

became a man and

dwelt among us.

And we have seen his

glory, John says,

glory as of the only

son from the father,

full of grace and

truth.

Jesus makes this very

claim himself.

In John 17, four and

five, Jesus prays to the

father, I glorified you

on earth, having

accomplished the work

you gave me to do.

And now father glorify me

in your own presence with

the glory that I had with

you before the world ever

existed.

He says.

Jesus' birth is not the

beginning of his

existence.

It's just the beginning of

his incarnation.

That's important.

That's important.

That the essence of his

eternal existence is as

God's son corresponds to

the reality that his

coming indeed was via a

virgin birth.

Just as the scripture says.

People keep trying to

explain this away.

Can't explain it away if

you're using the Bible.

It just doesn't work.

He didn't become God's

son.

No.

He's always been God's

son.

Luke chapter 1.

Luke 1 · chapter mention

The angel comes to Mary.

Behold, you will conceive in

your room and bear a son.

You shall call his name

Jesus.

He will be great and will be

called the son of the most

high, the son of God.

And the Lord God will give to

him the throne of his father

David.

He will reign over the house

of Jacob forever and of his

kingdom there will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel,

how will this be since I'm a

virgin?

I've never known a man.

And the angel said, the Holy

Spirit will come upon you.

The power of the most high

will overshadow you.

Therefore, the child to be

born will be called holy, the

son of God.

And then in Matthew chapter 1

Matthew 1 · chapter mention

in Matthew's account, all this

took place, Matthew says, to

fulfill what the Lord had

spoken by the prophet.

Behold, the virgin shall

conceive and bear a son and

they shall call his name

Emmanuel, which means God is

with us.

Not one from God is with us.

No, God is with us.

So in this simple phrase, this

simple statement in Galatians 4,

as Paul is making this argument

of the sufficiency of Christ in

his gospel, he reminds us of

Jesus's true nature, underscoring

Jesus's true divinity, deity.

But he also underscores Jesus's

true humanity.

This is the mystery of it, isn't

it?

It's the very next phrase.

That Jesus was born of woman

highlights the fact that Jesus

was not only truly God, but he's

actually truly man.

He's a real man.

That he was born under the law

means that as a true man, Jesus

was fully subjected to the

demands of God's law like every

other man and woman.

Jesus truly is the God-man.

A mystery to be sure, but a

reality that's made plain in the

scriptures.

Jesus's nature as truly God and

truly man is absolutely essential.

to God's saving plan.

He's the agent of God's plan

because only he can be the agent

of God's plan.

So we've got the unfolding of

God's plan.

We've got the agent of God's plan.

Third, we see the execution of

God's plan.

The execution of God's plan.

Now we're going to look at verse

five, just the first phrase there.

Why did he come?

Why did he send forth his son?

To redeem those who were under the

law.

To redeem those who were under the

law.

Now how is it that this child

whose birth we celebrate

executes God's plan to save

sinners?

What did the father send the son

to do so that those who are under

the law, that's me and you, that's

mankind,

what did he send him to do so that

we could be redeemed?

The manger in Bethlehem is of

course shadowed by the cross in

Jerusalem, isn't it?

The execution of God's plan

necessitated the execution of God's

son.

To redeem those who were under the

law,

Jesus was born so that he could die.

And it was all according to God's

sovereign plan.

A plan that was foretold hundreds of

years before it took place.

Isaiah tells us all about it in

Isaiah 53.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to

crush him.

He has put him to grief.

When his soul makes an offering for

guilt, he shall see his offspring.

He shall prolong his days.

The will of the Lord shall prosper

in his hand.

This is the plan of God.

Now how could the execution of

Jesus be a means of redemption for

us?

How is that even possible?

What does a Jew and his death from

2,000 years ago have anything to do

with your life today?

This is why understanding Jesus'

true nature is so important.

That's why Paul is laying out the

argument the way that he is.

He doesn't just say that Jesus is

the son of God born of woman born

under the law just because he's

trying to fill up space and he's

being real wordy like I am.

No, there's an intention to it.

It's only after you understand that

nature that you can actually

understand this redemption.

Though as a man, Jesus was fully

subjected to the demands of the law

unlike any other man.

Jesus perfectly obeyed and fulfilled

that law.

Therefore his death was not a

judgment for sins that he committed

but it was an atonement for those

who have indeed sinned against God.

That's how he did it.

That's why it matters.

In other words, Jesus lived the life

that we were meant to live

and then he died the death

that we deserve to die.

On the cross, he laid down his life

to suffer the wrath of the Father

meant for sinners so that God

might count those same sinners

as righteous before him.

That's amazing.

Let me give you just a few passages

that echo this.

from Galatians itself.

If you want to just flip back a page

to chapter 3.

Galatians 3 verse 10.

Galatians 3:10

All who rely on the works of the law

are under a curse.

In other words, if you're counting on

your ability to just kind of be good

and do your best and try your hardest

that how could God ever condemn

somebody like me

if that's what you're counting on?

Paul says you're under a curse.

He says the reason you're under a curse

is because the scriptures say

curse be everyone who does not abide

by all things written in the book

of the law and do them.

He says in other words

if you're counting on your goodness

to make it

you're under a curse

because none of us have been good enough.

All of us have fallen short

and somebody has to pay for that.

Somebody has to reckon with that.

But then look at verse 13.

But Christ redeemed us from that curse.

How?

By becoming a curse for us.

For it's written

cursed is everyone

who hangs on a tree.

Paul says the same thing

in Romans chapter 8.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

For God has done what the law

weakened by the flesh could not do.

How?

By sending his own son

in the likeness of sinful flesh

and for sin

he condemned sin in the flesh.

In his flesh

with his flesh

with his body

in the execution on the cross

he condemns sin.

He deals with sin

Paul says.

Why?

In order that

the righteous requirement of the law

might be filled in us

who have not truly fulfilled it

and yet we're counted

as righteous.

2 Corinthians 5 29

For our sake

he made him to be sin

who knew no sin

so that in him

we might become

the righteousness

of God.

We sing about this

every week

bearing sin

and scoffing rude

in my place

condemned

he stood

sealed my pardon

with his blood.

Hallelujah

what a savior.

But of course

death isn't the end

for Jesus.

He defeats death

by rising from the dead

three days after that crucifixion

and this too

is the execution

of God's eternal plan.

This is what was meant to happen.

John chapter 10 tells us

John 10 · chapter mention

Jesus says it

for this reason

the father loves me

because I lay down

my life

that I may take it up again.

No one takes it from me

I lay it down

of my own accord.

I have authority

to lay it down

I have authority

to take it up again

this charge

this mission

this plan

I have received

from my father.

Oh it's not just

that his execution

was a part of the plan

so was his resurrection

and you can't have one

without the other.

the resurrection

it shows us

that God actually

accepted Christ's crucifixion

as sufficient

for us.

Now why in the world

would Paul be referring

to this in Galatians 4?

Because he's talking

to a group of people

who are being deceived.

Somebody's telling them

that yeah

Jesus is fine

but he's not enough.

But in the resurrection

itself

God himself

tells the world

Christ is enough.

nothing else

need be done.

Receive salvation

through him.

Christ

fully satisfied

God's wrath

against every sinner

who will receive him

by faith.

There is nothing

left for you to pay.

But his resurrection

it guarantees

our future resurrection.

salvation.

Because he lives

we have the full assurance

that we too

will live.

It's the execution

of God's plan.

Fourthly and finally

the purpose

of God's plan.

The purpose

of God's plan.

Look at the last phrase

of verse 5.

It's a purpose statement.

We know that

because the first two words

so that

it's a purpose statement.

so that we

might receive

adoption

as sons.

So that we might

receive adoption

as sons.

There is a popular

idea out there

that maintains

something like this.

We are

all

God's children.

We're all God's children.

Perhaps you've heard that.

Maybe you've said it.

But here's the thing.

That doesn't actually

come from the Bible.

That was a phrase

that was brought to bear

at the end of the

enlightenment

when culturally

men had decided

that God and religion

was no longer necessary

that mankind

can get by just fine

on pure reason

and rationality.

But yet there was still

hundreds and hundreds

of years worth

of religion that existed.

They didn't want to

just do away with it all.

So what they did

is they tried to merge

the two together

and they said

they spoke of

the universal fatherhood

of God

and the universal

brotherhood of man.

In other words

we all belong to God.

We're all the children

of God

and we're all brothers

and sisters together.

A nice sentiment.

Not true.

It's not what the Bible

teaches.

We are all God's

creatures.

We do belong to Him

in that sense

but we are not

all His children.

In fact

in our sinful condition

the Bible describes us

as God's enemies

not His children.

That's why the New Testament

so often uses this idea

of adoption

in reference

to God's salvation.

You see it right here

in the phrase

don't you?

If Christ executed

this plan

with the purpose

that those who believe

Him might receive

adoption

might become

children of God

that means

necessarily

that those same people

at some time

were not the children

of God.

God's purpose

in His eternal plan

as executed

by Jesus Christ

is to make

His enemies

sons.

It's to make

His enemies

sons.

I just want you

to let that sit

on your mind

for just a second.

It's kind of amazing.

Who of you

would ever look

at an enemy

who hates

your guts

and wants

nothing to do

with you

and say

you know

what I'm going

to do?

I'm going to

make you

my child.

I'm going to

give you

everything that's

mine.

I'm going to

forgive everything

you've ever done.

I'm going to

turn away

from every bit

of hatred

that you've

ever put

towards me

and I'm going

to give you

everything that's

mine.

None of us

would ever

do that

and yet

that's exactly

what God

does in Christ.

Why?

God's plan

of salvation

it's not a

provision that

he makes

for us

out of pity.

Sometimes we

get this idea

that because

of God's

holiness

that you

know he

feels like

he has to

do something

because he

kind of

feels sorry

for us

so he

kind of

pinches

his nose

and he

sends Jesus

and I

go do this

thing for

anybody who

wants to

deal with

it

and he

just kind

of keeps

his distance.

That is not

at all what

we find in

the scripture

remember

this is

God's

unfolding

plan

from all

of eternity.

This is

his plan.

Why?

Why would

he do

that?

What is it

that he

actually

desires?

He desires

to be

reconciled

to us

his enemies.

Why does

he want

what's

motivating

this desire?

Love.

Love.

Romans

Romans 5

8

God

shows

his love

toward us

how?

That while

we're still

sinners

his enemies

and in that

moment don't

even want

him we're

not asking

for salvation

don't think

we need

it.

Even

then

he shows

his love

for us

by sending

Christ to

die for

us.

Ephesians

too

but God

being rich

in mercy

because of

the great

love

with which

he loved

us

even when

we were

dead in

our

trespasses

made us

alive

together

with Christ

by grace

you've been

saved.

1 John

4

9

and 10

in this

the love

of God

was made

manifest

in this

the love

of God

was put

on display

how?

That God

sent his

son

into the

world

so that

we might

live

through him

in this

is love

not that

we've

loved

him

but that

he loved

us

and sent

his son

to be

the propitiation

the full

satisfaction

for our

sins

unless we

begin to

think that

Jesus is an

unwilling

participant

in this

hear the

words of

the writer

of Hebrews

in Hebrews

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12

and verse 2

he says

look to

Jesus

the founder

and perfecter

of our

faith

who for

the joy

that was

set before

him

endured

the cross

despising

the shame

and is

seated at

the right

hand of

the throne

of God

what do you

mean by

that?

you go to

Chick-fil-A

you go to

the drive

through

you do

your mobile

order

you say

you got a

mobile order

for Jared

B

they say

you want

to make

any changes

they say

no

they say

alright you can

pull forward

they say

thank you

and they say

my pleasure

it is my

joy

to serve

you in this

way

and I don't

think they

really mean

that all the

time

God sends

his son

not as an

unwilling

participant

it is

his joy

to give

himself

for us

why?

so that

we might

be

his

why did

God make

such a plan

of redemption

and go to

such great

extent

to save

sinners

because of

his great

love

because he

desires to

be reconciled

to us

because he

wants to

adopt us

into his

family

and make

us heirs

of eternal

life

now let me

finish this way

let's go back

to the context

the Galatian

Christians were

beginning to

waver from

this gospel

why would you

ever want to

do that

right?

and yet

the temptation

to do that

is real

isn't it?

how many times

have we been

in churches

or maybe

we've been

the guilty

party in a

church

that see

someone come

to Christ

exemplify faith

put their

trust in

Jesus

and then we

come behind

that and we

strap on the

bondage of the

law afresh

all over again

the temptation

is real to do

that

and the Galatian

Christians were

starting to

waver from it

they were

tolerating this

idea that the

grounds of our

justification

before God

is our

conformity to

the law

so Paul

writes a

whole letter

to correct

them

if a righteous

standing before

God can be

gained through

good works

Christ died

for no reason

that's another

argument he makes

in the letter

think about that

if this is

God's plan

and God's

plan was to

send Christ

to save

sinners through

his death

and resurrection

and then invites

us to come to

him by faith

how could we

possibly say

that it's our

works then

that somehow

merit salvation

if that was

true

if we could

actually be

saved by our

works

then Christ

came for

no reason

then his

incarnation

has no

purpose

let alone

his death

and resurrection

but the reality

of God's

eternal plan

to save

sinners

through Christ

the very

fact that

that is his

plan as

presented in

the scriptures

proves that

no amount

of personal

righteous

can actually

atone for

your sins

this isn't

an exchange

of good

deeds

what a

mockery

that is

to God

the one

who in his

great love

goes to

such great

lengths

to provide

salvation

through Christ

by his own

grace

what a

mockery

it is

for any

person

to turn

to God

and then

say

look at

all that

I've

done

for you

won't

you please

let me

into heaven

what a

mockery

how then

can someone

be saved

it's not

by our

righteousness

it's through

Jesus'

righteousness

through faith

in his

identity

as the

son of

God

whose

death

satisfies

God's

wrath

and whose

resurrection

gives us

the hope

of eternal

life

it is

by faith

alone

in what

Christ

has done

that any

one of

us

can be

saved

again

Galatians

3

in fact

this is

even

closer

if you'll

just set

your eyes

up to

the top

of the

page

probably

Galatians

3

24

to 26

in the

midst

of the

same

illustration

Paul's

been

giving

so then

the law

was our

guardian

until

Christ

came

in order

that we

might be

justified

by

faith

but now

that faith

the faith

in the

revelation

of Jesus

now that

faith has

come

we are

no longer

under a

guardian

for in

Christ

Jesus

you are

all sons

of God

through

faith

that's it

that's it

that's it

salvation

is received

only through

faith

turning from

sin and

unbelief

to trust

Jesus as

Savior

which

necessarily

means that

you also

submit

to him

as

Lord

because

of this

plan

of

salvation

is

motivated

by his

love

he

accomplishes

it

and

he

invites

us

to

receive

it

doesn't

he

force

it

upon

us

he

invites

us

to

receive

it

these

are

the

words

of

Jesus

in

Matthew

11

come

to

me

he

says

come

to

me

all

who

labor

and

are

heavy

laden

what

is that

labor

the

labor

of

trying

to

achieve

something

through

the

law

that

you

can't

achieve

come

to

me

all

who

are

laboring

trying

to

do

your

best

and try

your

hardest

I

will

give

you

rest

he

says

take

my

yoke

upon

me

upon

you

learn

from

me

for

I'm

gentle

and

lowly

in

heart

and

you

will

find

rest

for

your

soul

for

my

yoke

is

easy

and

my

burden

is

light

so

then

in

all

you're

giving

and

receiving

this

week

as

you

execute

your

Christmas

plans

don't

neglect

the only

gift

that

ultimately

matters

which

is

what

God

has

given

us

in

his

Christmas

plans

salvation

through

Jesus

Christ

alone

for