Galatians 4:4-5 - Final Christmas Messages

Morning Service:

“Born under the Law”—Christmas Question 4: Why was Jesus Jewish?

(Galatians 4:4 – Part 4, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 24, 2017 10:30 AM)

What is the story line of the Bible?

The entire Old Testament is an epic of preparation, and the New Testament is a story of fulfillment and mission. God had an eternal purpose, “to unite all things” in a Messiah, “things in heaven and things on earth (Ephesians 1:10). The Bible is the account of this plan from beginning to end. His perfect ending of heaven on earth required the coming of Jesus.

What was the special role of the Jews as God's chosen people?

An essential part of the preparation half of the story involved the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, also known as the Jews, the chosen people group of the Old Testament. God made a promise to Abraham 4000 years ago that through one of His descendants, Jesus, all the people groups of the earth would be blessed. That promise was passed on to Abraham's son and grandson, from whom would come all the tribes of Israel, and eventually the eternal King of the Jews who would be from the line of David, who lived 3000 years ago. Jesus, who was born about 2000 years ago is this promised Messiah, and He has become not only King of the Jews, but Ruler over a resurrection kingdom that has begun in the hearts of all who receive Him.

What does it mean to be an Old Testament Jew according to the Bible?

It was the glory of the Jews to be “entrusted with the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2), the divinely inspired words of the Torah, the Prophets, and the other writings of the Hebrew Bible such as the Psalms of David. Through God's Word Israel was given rituals like circumcision and an entire system of law, worship, and life, whereby they were a separate people who would be kept by God even to the present day. To be a faithful Old Testament Jew, walking “blamelessly” (Luke 1:6) before God, one needed to keep that divine Word, including provisions for the forgiveness of their sins. All sinned, but they were to seek the mercies of God through a coming Messiah.

Was Jesus Jewish, and why does that matter? (Luke 2:21, 22-32, Leviticus 12:8, 23:5, 9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:23)

Jesus was and is that Messiah. The Coming One has come. If He were not Jewish, the entire story line of 2000 years of preparation would be a lie. He needed to fulfill all righteousness, and He has—living without sin, dying as Passover Lamb, and rising as Firstfruits of a new world.

What exactly does it mean to be under the Law?

While all of humanity is subject to God's commandments, Jews were uniquely “under the Law.” Others groups were not entrusted with the oracles and life of holy preparation for the Savior.

Was it important that Jesus kept the Old Testament Law?

But only one Jew entirely kept the Law, and in keeping God's just requirements, He who was the Word made flesh has provided the works that are the foundation for divine grace. Without this larger story, there is no heavenly grace for us and no eternal joy in Christmas. Application: Celebrate Jesus, and love the Jews, all the people groups on earth, and the church for His sake!(Romans 9:1-5, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Evening Service:

Christmas Question 5: Why would God care about me?

(Galatians 4:4-5, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 24, 2017 5 PM)

But when the fullness of time had come, …

God is the Definer of time, and especially of perfect timing in every life and in the history of the world. His salvation comes at just the right time—both in your life and in the turning of the ages from the era of preparation, the Old Testament, to the day of global mission, the New Testament, and all the way to the eventual moment of second coming. (Christmas is the sufferer's holiday.)

God sent forth his Son, …

Christmas was part of God's eternal plan in timing and content. Jesus is just as entirely divine as the Father. Only God could have suffered an eternal punishment for us in space and time in such a way that He could declare, “It is finished.” And only a Savior who is fully divine could handle the job that Jesus has now, since “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to Him.

Born of woman, …

God is the only one who could decide what was required in order for us to have fellowship with Him forever. He determined that that blood of animals could not take away our guilt and shame. Only through Jesus of Nazareth, the real God/Man, could we have what we desperately needed.

Born under the law, ...

Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, kept the Old Testament Law flawlessly. Without the amazing works of Jesus' obedience to the Law of God, there would be no heavenly grace for us and no eternal joy in Christmas. Jesus was born to be our Redeemer and King. Does Jesus care about you? Most definitely. You need to know who He is, to encounter Him in the Word, and to respond to that encounter in a way that is appropriate.

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

The historical facts and life-changing importance of Jesus came first to the Jews who had a burden of the Law that they could not bear. Jesus lifted them from that bondage. The thousands of other people groups on the face of the earth have their own law problem. While they may not have had the temporary Old Testament rituals to guard and keep, they did have the requirement to worship God, to give Him honor, and thanks. They knew in their consciences that it was wrong to covet and to steal. All of us, Jew and Gentile, have a law problem because we have a sin problem. But now we have Jesus, and each in our turn, at just the right time, are brought into the family of God through Him. (Consider one woman's story: Luke 13:10-17)

1. Who is Jesus? God. Man. Redeemer. Savior. Lord.
2. What does it look like when people encounter Him personally? Life.
3. What is an appropriate response for all who are found by Jesus through His Word? Love.

(These three points are from Andrew Vogan of Young Life who is a real person I encounter every week!) Jesus is real, and He gives life to people who meet Him. Receive Him. Love Him.

“To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)