January 9 – Divinely and Parentally Reimaged

“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.” -  Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)

This is a verse that demonstrates a need to close a gap in our means of interpretation. Adoption, in the time that Rome ruled the world and Paul wrote his letters to the churches in the first century was not like the adoptions we are familiar with today. It was not babies or young children but adult men that were adopted by families seeking to have an heir to carry on the family name and business. It was different in many ways to adoption familiar to us. “Adoption” is the act of bringing someone who is the offspring of another into one’s own family. Since unbelieving people are by nature not children of God, the only way they can become God’s children is by spiritual adoption. Indeed, we are made members of our Father God’s family”. With respect to this adoption, it surpasses anything that takes place on earth. It confers upon its recipients not only a new name, a new legal standing, and a new family-relationship, but also a new image, the image of Christ. We are adopted by God because He has chosen us to become one of His family. It is a permanent action and standing. 

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August 24 – Knowing We Love Each Other

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” – 1 John 5:1-2 (ESV)

We have been promised a victorious life. Tomorrow we will consider the substance of this promise in the following verses but today we have the promise of what it takes to have that triumphant life. All who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Anointed One, the Messiah who was promised from the beginning to make a way for our reconciliation with God the Father. Everyone who believes this is born spiritually by the power of God. We who have been born into God’s Spirit will manifest love for God the Father. We also will have and show love for all others who have been born of God. Our love of others is made possible by our love and obedience to God. Our promise is this, we can know that we love each other when we obey His commandments. These are the precepts in the teaching which Christ gave to all when He was on this earth. Recorded and written by the Holy Spirit into the inspired writings of our Scriptures, we know what the commandments are from the Bible. 

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May 28 – It Takes Saving Faith to Overcome

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” – 1 John 5:1 (ESV) 

We have been finding promises of God in the first letter written by the apostle John. Our verse today is essential in understanding the characteristics of who is a Christian. Using the label and claiming to be a Christian is not enough in itself. It’s sincere belief in Jesus of Nazareth and that He is the promised Savior that results in spiritual rebirth by God. Christians become overcomers, but not by their own good works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Saving faith is the first characteristic of an overcomer. The term “believes” in our verse expresses the idea of continuing faith, which marks authentic believers. They continue in faith throughout their life. Saving belief is not simply intellectual acknowledgment, but is unreserved dedication to Jesus Christ that is eternal. Jesus is the Christ. If one asks who his Christian brother or sister is, the answer is that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. It is not by being born to Christian parents. It is a believer’s faith in Jesus, that He is the promised Messiah or “Anointed One” whom God sent to be our Savior from sin, to die for sins of all people, and to rise again.

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May 15 – Time on Time

“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.”  - Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)

We hope that you do not struggle with questions that spring up from your worries. Do you ask whether you truly have a place in God’s family? Are you concerned that God might change His mind and renege on His acceptance of you?  Such worries are unfounded and come from not understanding or believing this truth – that our salvation is completely the work of God. We’re responsible to respond but we did nothing to be saved. This verse tells us that it was God’s timing, God’s plan to include His Son, and God’s choosing how it was to be done.  And it was God’s purpose that we are adopted as sons the moment we believe. God does not lie or change his mind or renege on His promises because He is perfect in all he says.  A true promise, the kind God makes for us is one that will be fulfilled because He made it.  God kicks no one out of His family. Jesus was born under the Law but His submission of himself as a perfect sacrifice removed the consequences of failing to keep the Law. 

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January 31 – Of the Truth Hears

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.””  -  John 18:37 (NASB)

This verse selected for today has the promise that if we are of the truth, we can hear our Lord’s voice. Pilate, who is about to condemn Jesus to a criminal’s death by execution on a cross mocks Jesus.  He is skeptical and asks sarcastically “So, you are a king?”  We notice Jesus affirms Pilate’s words and says not only that He was born for that purpose but also that He “came into the world to tell us the truth.”  Jesus existed before he was born a human man.  He did not originate or began His existence at His human birth.  When He came into the world, it was to take on the form of a servant, He was born in the likeness of men, and He was found to be in human form but He was much more and had existed “from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2) All humans (except Adam and Eve) are created and formed in their mother’s womb. Jesus was not a 'creation' but his entry into the human race was an 'incarnation.'  His essential person-hood existed before His body, by the Holy Spirit, began to be formed in His mother’s womb. If we are of the truth and the way and the life, we hear our Lord’s voice. Let's listen for what He has to say.

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December 21 – Perfect Timing

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 (NASB)

We do not know the exact date Jesus was born. That is not recorded for us. We do know that He did come perfectly on time.  In God’s timetable, when the exact religious, cultural, and political conditions demanded by His perfect plan were in place, Jesus came into the world.  And He had set the hour and the place as well.  God sent His Son to bring all who believe out from under bondage to the law—a truth Jesus repeatedly affirmed.  “Born of woman” emphasizes Jesus’ full humanity, not merely His virgin birth.  In the same way still, it is true with the events of our lives. God allows things to come into our lives to fulfill His purpose for us. Things don’t just happen and they aren’t accidental. Let us praise God for that and trust Him. The promise is that Jesus came to redeem all who would believe and adopt as sons* all who receive Jesus as Savior. 

* The Greek word for adoption as sons is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.

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December 23 – Born to This Purpose, Born to Us

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 (NIV)

We come back to this important announcement in the Gospel of Luke.  We've considered it once before, several days ago.  We do this to think again of the reason for His coming to earth.  The glitz and glamour that surrounds this time of the year as well as the many activities and commercial appeal can too easily cause us to lose focus on why the season is important to all.  The words the angel announced to the shepherds were important for them and they are important for us.  The shepherds response showed that they realized they needed a Savior.  The went immediately to find the baby.  They spread the news of what the angel had said, and the also praised God when they returned from seeing the baby.  Jesus came as a baby because we all needed a Savior.   As we have believed in Him He has saved us from the consequences of sin, the sin of rejecting God.  What a big difference that has made in our lives.  He has brought us to Himself by coming and becoming a human as we are.  He was born to us for this purpose.  We are His today if we have believed this Promise that He is the Messiah, the Lord.

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December 21 – Perfect Time

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,  so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  Galatians 4:4-5  (NASB)

It is more than 2000 years now since Jesus was born.  Before He was born many people had lived and died here on earth.  We have a promise from the Bible in today's verse which reminds us about the timing of the birth of Jesus.  God had sent an angel to Mary to tell her about His plans.  He also arranged for the official order from the Roman emperor for a census so that Joseph and Mary, living in Nazareth, would be in right place, in Bethlehem, for the right time of the birth.  This was all in accord with the prophecies given centuries before.  Our verse today tells us that Jesus came when the time had fully come for Him to be born, the time which our God had chosen.  The circumstances and time was exactly as God ordained in order for Him to carry out His plan to bring us who believe into His family.  It is by faith in what God did for us that we have been adopted into His family.   God picked the day and the hour and now, He calls us to Himself to be His sons and daughters.  

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December 16 – The Gift of Gifts

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.”  Isaiah 9:6a (NIV)

We come back to this verse in Isaiah that is a prophecy of the birth of Jesus.  We focus on the first part and the prediction of His purpose.  When we sing Christmas carols we are aware that some of them refer to the baby Jesus as a new King born to sit eventually on the throne of David.  We realize that some of the prophecies about His reign as King have not yet been fulfilled and this would include this prediction of the government being on His shoulders.  We do want to recognize, however that Jesus came to be governor in our lives.  We will do well to let Him be in control of the details of our lives and also of the general plan of things which concern us.  We can allow Him to be our governor and our King with confidence because we trust His promise that He loves us and He will lead us in the best way at all times.  God the Father gave us His Son so that we could be born again as a child of God with Jesus as our King and Lord.  Let that fill our thoughts today and result in praise and thanksgiving for this Gift of gifts.  

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December 12 - Who is Christ the Lord

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 (ESV) 

At the time of the birth of Jesus, there were several messages from heaven which told people on earth what an important event the birth was.  One message came through the angels who came to announce the birth to the shepherds near Bethlehem.  We read about this message in Luke's record in and today's verse from chapter 2 is part of that message.  We've considered that when the baby born in Bethlehem was given the name Jesus, this meant that He would save His people from their sins.  Now in our verse today the angel mentioned that He came as our Savior.  We also notice in our verse now that the baby would be Lord.  That is also a very important name.  When we see pictures of the manger scene with a baby lying there, let's remember that He, Jesus our Lord, deserves honor from us in our lives each day.  He is our Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  It is good to understand Jesus, had the title Christ which means, “the anointed One”, or “the chosen One.”  Jesus is His human name as announced to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:31), and Christ is His title, as the promised, chosen, anointed, Son of God.

What does Christ mean?

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