The Advent Series: Freedom Thru Christ

Galatians 4:4-5 ^{New Living Translation}

“… when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

                 The Jews had been waiting for a very long time, wondering when their Messiah would come.  A messiah is a savior or liberator by definition.  The Jews were seeking liberation from their Roman oppressors at the time of Jesus.  Little did they realize that when their Messiah came they would reject him because their limited understanding would not allow them to see God’s plan. Their shortsightedness was our gain, which is what the Lord knew would happen all along.  God set the time for Christ’s arrival.  It was a time when his promises would be fully realized.

                 Christ was born under the Law and thus was obligated to fulfill it.  He could then identify with sinners of whom he was sent to save.  The liberation that the Messiah would provide was from the curse of sin.  The problem of Rome would correct itself over the course of time.  The much bigger problem was sin, not oppression.  Once a soul is rescued from its’ sinful state then the spirit is set free.  It is no different than healing a body of a physical ailment only to leave that same body under the bondage of sin.  That only means that a healthy body with an entombed soul would be cast into hell.  It is the spirit set free that enjoys true freedom and is open to enter heaven for all eternity.

                 Because Christ came we are set free if we accept God’s gracious gift purchased for us thru the blood shed on our behalf.  We are not set free just because we believe, we must be changed or like a pig that returns to its muddy pen, we will go right back to our sinful ways.  The Advent Season is a season of freedom, joy, and hope for our eternity.  We have been blood bought and just like God’s everlasting, unconditional love for us, that fact will never, ever change.  It’s what we do with that news that makes all the difference in the world.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible, the Life Application Study Bible, and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.