THE FULLNESS OF TIME

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. (verses 4-5).

When is a child freed from the restrictions of the home? The correct answer is "at the right time." When is the right time? If I knew the answer to that, I would be a world renowned expert on parenting. One of the most troubling problems for a parent is trying to figure determine when to let go and just how much to let go.

God made the decided to give us "the full rights of sons" in the "fullness of time." I don't know all the reasons why God chose what we call "the first century" as the right time for Jesus to come into the world. From a human point we can see some times that make it look like the time was right for the preaching of the gospel.

• Alexander the Great had marched from the shores of Asia Minor to India, leaving behind him the Greek culture and language. For the first time in history a diplomatic language was being used throughout the known world. That common language made it much easier to communicate the gospel.
• The Romans built highways and made widespread travel possible. The road system was unparalleled in the history of the world. The New Testament evangelists had free access to the cities and countries of the empire.
• The dispersion of the Jews may have played an important role. They established synagogues throughout the empire, which opened the way for public discussion of the Word of God.
• Old religious systems were breaking down. Paganism has degenerated into cynicism. The Jewish religion was splintered by warring factions. The world was looking for a message of hope.

All of these may have been factors that made the first century, "the fullness of time."

In the fullness of time, Jesus came to do two things.

1. He redeemed those under the law. The word "redeem" means "to be set free by the payment of a price." Slaves were sold on the auction block in Rome and the master who bought a slave had the power to grant freedom to that slave if he so chose. Sometimes when a master had no children of his own, he would legally adopt a redeemed slave and make him his heir. That is precisely what Jesus did for us.
2. He gave us the privileges of sonship. Galatians 4:6 "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

But what does that mean in terms of our own relationship with God? Verse 9, should be of particular interest to us.

But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Paul says to us that any attempt at justification on the basis of law keeping is like going back to slavery when you've already left childhood. It's like going back to kindergarten after you've graduated from college. It's like owning a set of the Harvard Classics and yet choosing to read "Dick" and "Jane" books from the first grade.

In verses 10-11 he offered an example of this as it applied to the Galatian situation.

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

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