Adoption

 Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the fullness of 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."

I love this presentation of the gospel message.  God sent Jesus at just the right time so that he could redeem us.  This is often where we stop when we think of the gospel message.  We focus on the redemption - and the redemption is a good part.  But people could be bought and redeemed as a slave - and this is the whole context of this section of Galatians - the difference between a slave and an heir.  

No, God did not just redeem us, but he says in Galatians 4 that he redeemed us so that he could give us something even better - adoption as sons.  We become heirs of God through Christ.  Think of it - whatever Christ has been given we get to participate with Him in this and receive it because through our adoption we are brothers with Christ!  Sisters with Christ!  What a glorious reality.  God sent Jesus to be born of a virgin (at just the right time) to obey the Law perfectly so that he could redeem you and I - sinners who have no natural birth right - and make us His heirs.  This is the glory of Christmas!

Advent

 This week we started the advent reading cycle at our church.  It is for us a simple but important reminder that we need to focus our attention of the promised coming of Jesus.  It is important for a number of reasons that I wonder if you would consider.  

Celebrating the advent and not just Christmas reminds us that all of this is going somewhere.  Christmas in many ways has become very consumeristic.  Even our family celebrations and newsletters are often more about how we are doing well than about the coming of Christ.  Taking the time before the holiday gives us more time and space to reflect on the fact that what we celebrate on December 25 did not happen accidentally.  Galatians 4:4 reminds us that Jesus came at precisely the intended time.  

Celebrating advent also reminds us that this is still going somewhere.  We look back to Jesus' first coming to earth and look forward to His second.  In celebrating advent we remember that it is not just about a day, but it is about the arc of human history being aimed in a particular God-given direction.  This is also an important reminder when things feel so out of control - God is moving all of our lives toward a particular and planned end.  

Celebrating advent also reminds us that we should be anticipating the celebrations of the Christian calendar throughout the year.  Christmas is not then end (though because it is at the end of our year we often think of it in these terms.  Advent is the beginning of something greater - a pointing not just to the birth but to the death and resurrection of Christ.  It points us to the coming of the Spirit.  It points us to our perpetual need for the work of God in our lives.  

So celebrate advent with us.  And may God remind you that Jesus came to earth so that you could have life in His name.