"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Gal. 4:4-7).
It is easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle of Christmas and to forget what it is really about. Christmas is about celebrating the gracious gift of God: his Son. Although Paul wasn't addressing the holiday of Christmas, his words here in Galatians reminds us of why Christ came.
Paul tells us that God sent his Son so that we might be redeemed. Let's explore. Paul describes the sending as timely. Jesus came to earth "when the time had fully come." In other words, the moment was ripe for Christ's coming. History had been building to his arrival.
He was born of a woman. Paul is most likely clarifying the fact that Jesus, while the Son of God, was also fully human. We shouldn't hear terms like "Son of God" and "born of woman," and assume that Jesus is the flesh and blood offspring of a union between God and Mary. The conception of Jesus was a supernatural act worked by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was fully God and fully human.
He was born under the law. Jesus had to obey the law just like anyone else. He faced temptation just like we do, but he didn't sin. If Jesus was to live and save those he came to save, he could not break any law. He was born under the law, and kept it perfectly. By keeping the law, Jesus was able to redeem us by becoming our substitute. He stood in our place and received our punishment.
What does redemption mean? Paul describes it as receiving "the full rights of sons." Paul explains those rights as receiving the Spirit and being an heir. Paul states that believers have the Spirit in their hearts. The Spirit's presence in the believers' hearts is an act of God. Paul says, "God sent the Spirit into our hearts."
The Spirit provides access to the heavenly Father. Paul says the Spirit "calls out, 'Abba, Father!'." The presence of the Spirit creates an intimate bond between the believer and God. Because God called us sons or children, we can call him Abba.
Paul concludes that if we are God's children, then we must also be heirs. We are shares in all that is his. We share in his plans, his promises, and his providences. That is what Christmas means. It means that God has sent his One and Only Son, so that we too, could be called the children of God.
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