What is the meaning of Galatians 4:4? But when the time had fully come • God never rushes, and He never runs late. From Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) to Jesus’ own words, “The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15), Scripture shows that history moves on a divine schedule. • The “fullness” included: – A unified Roman Empire with safe roads and a common language, making rapid spread of the gospel possible (Acts 1:8). – A widespread spiritual hunger, as even Gentiles were gathering in synagogues (Acts 13:42-44). – The culmination of the Mosaic era, so that Christ could usher in the promised new covenant (Ephesians 1:10; Romans 5:6). God sent His Son • Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem; He was “in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2, 14). The word “sent” highlights His pre-existence and divine mission (John 3:17; 1 John 4:9-10). • Sending also reveals the Father’s heart: love initiates rescue (John 3:16). • Because the Sender is God, the message carries absolute authority (Hebrews 1:1-2). born of a woman • The eternal Son truly became human (Philippians 2:7-8). He entered the world just as we do—through birth—yet in a unique, miraculous way foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23. • This genuine humanity means: – He can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 2:14-18). – He qualifies as the perfect representative and substitute for mankind (1 Timothy 2:5-6). born under the law • Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21), presented at the temple (Luke 2:22-24), kept every feast (John 7:10), and obeyed every command. • His flawless obedience fulfilled the law’s righteous demands (Matthew 5:17). Because “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4), He could redeem “those under the law” (Galatians 4:5). • By bearing the curse of the law on the cross (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21), He opened the way for adopted sonship and the gift of the Spirit (Galatians 4:6-7). summary Galatians 4:4 compresses the entire gospel story into one sentence: at the exact moment God planned, He commissioned His eternal Son to enter our world as a real human, fully subject to the law, so He could fulfill it for us and free us from its condemnation. The verse celebrates God’s perfect timing, Christ’s divine origin, His genuine humanity, and His flawless obedience—all converging for our redemption and adoption. |
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