THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
MAY 1ST, 2005
THE FULNESS OF TIME
I. “When the fulness of time was come.....”
(4).
A.
This refers back to the example given in verse 2 (“the time appointed of
the father”).
B.
The fulness of time (the crucifixion) also marks the dividing line
between Law and Grace.
II. “....sent forth.....” means to send
away with a commission.” (4)
A.
God sent His Son from Heaven to earth with a commission to turn servants
into sons.
1.
The phrase “God sent forth His Son” shows that Jesus did not begin with
the Christmas Story.
2.
When God sent Jesus into the world, notice that Jesus was already the
Son of God BEFORE the Christmas Story.
B.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; past, present, and future.
- When we speak of the Trinity, we are
referring to three eternal persons - but one God.
III. The Son of God was “made of a woman.”
(4)
A.
The eternal Son of God was “made flesh” (John 1:14) in order to
establish Himself as the “seed of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:16)
B.
This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, and plainly declared as
the fulfillment of that prophecy in Matthew 1:23.
IV. The Son of God, (the Seed of Abraham),
was born “under the law” (4).
A.
Notice how the life of Jesus compared to the Law of Moses:
1.
He came to fulfill the Law, not to destroy it (Matthew 5:17).
2.
He was circumcised according to the Law (Luke 2:21).
3.
Mary and Joseph presented Him to the Temple when He was 40 days old
(Luke 2:22).
4.
He participated in the Passover when He was twelve years old (Luke
2:41-52).
B.
Even though He was born “under the Law”, He never broke or violated the
Law in any way.
1.
He lived under a law that pointed to Himself.
2.
Since Jesus was the fulfillment
of the Law, and the Law was intended to reveal our sin - we no longer compare
ourselves to the Law but to Christ (Who is the fulfillment of the Law).
V. Two reasons why Jesus came into the
world and was crucified: (5)
A.
“To redeem them that were under the Law.”
1. Jesus paid (redeemed) the penalty that we
owed against the Law.
2.
The Law cannot punish an innocent man.
- We are now declared innocent because of Him.
B.
“That we might receive the adoption of sons.” (5)
1.
A child must be taken out of the custody of the schoolmaster in order to
inherit the position of a son.
2.
No one could inherit sonship while under a legal schoolmaster.
- So also, no man can be Justified (declared
innocent) while under the Law.
C.
We are free from the Law, but now we have the responsibilities of
sonship.
VI. The Holy Spirit authenticates our
sonship to our hearts in three ways: (6)
A.
He reveals to your own heart the relationship between yourself and God
(John 14:26 and 15:26).
B.
He reveals His own presence in your heart.
C.
He cries: “Abba, Father.”
Conclusion: We know that we are the children of God when our hearts are crying out to God as a son to his father.