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!