Christmas isn’t just about celebrating a birth – it’s about recognizing God’s perfect timing in human history. When we look at the story of Christ’s coming, we see a God who orchestrates every detail according to His divine plan.

What Does “Fullness of Time” Really Mean?

In Galatians 4:4, Paul writes, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law.” This phrase “fullness of time” comes from two Greek words: chronos (duration) and kairos (occasions). Together, they reveal that God controls both the length of time and the specific moments when He acts in human history.

God Controls All Times and Seasons

This truth should bring incredible peace to our hearts. Whether we’re facing political uncertainty, technological advances like AI, or personal struggles, God remains sovereign over every season. He raises up leaders, orchestrates world events, and works through human history to accomplish His purposes.

The disciples once asked Jesus about the timing of His kingdom, and He responded in Acts 1:7: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” God calls the shots in human affairs, and we can rest in that reality.

Why Did Jesus Come When He Did?

The Perfect Historical Moment

When Christ was born, the world was uniquely prepared for His arrival. Roman roads connected the known world, Greek language provided a common tongue for communication, and the Pax Romana created relative peace. These weren’t coincidences – they were divine preparations for the gospel to spread rapidly.

The End of the Law’s Tutorial Period

For 1,500 years, from Moses to Christ, the law served as humanity’s schoolmaster. It wasn’t meant to save anyone – it was meant to show us our desperate need for a Savior. The law is like a mirror that shows you what’s wrong, but you don’t try to fix your appearance by working on the mirror itself.

What Is Soul Suffering and How Does Jesus Address It?

Understanding Our Deepest Problem

Modern psychology has given us terms like “sociopath” and “psychopath,” but these words literally mean “soul suffering.” Sin has twisted every human soul, causing us to act out in various ways as we search for relief from our inner pain.

The Futile Search for Solutions

Soul sufferers turn to many vices to calm their pain – medication, alcohol, drugs, relationships, even religion. But only Christ can truly heal the suffering soul. Only by saying “yes” to His plan and purpose can we find the peace we desperately seek.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

God Becomes Man

The miracle of Christmas wasn’t just the birth – it was the conception. Jesus was the second person to come to earth bypassing natural reproduction (Adam being the first). He was 100% God and 100% man, a mystery we can’t fully comprehend but must believe by faith.

Born Under the Law to Fulfill It

Jesus was “made under the law” – He lived under its requirements and fulfilled them perfectly. What the first Adam couldn’t do, the second Adam accomplished. He climbed not the mountain of law (Mount Sinai), but the mountain of grace (Calvary).

How Does Redemption Actually Work?

The Price Had to Be Paid

Humanity needed a representative who could pay sin’s price, but no human could step up to the task. We tried monasteries, religious rituals, and moral improvement, but nothing worked. Only Jesus, as both God and man, could bridge the gap between holy God and sinful humanity.

Breaking Every Chain

The word “redeem” means to buy back, to pay in full, to break every chain. Jesus didn’t come expecting us to clean up our lives first. He came knowing exactly who we were – in our sin and shame – and accomplished real redemption for anyone willing to receive it.

What About Religious Efforts and Good Works?

Why the Law Can’t Save Us

Religious people often think they can earn God’s favor through good deeds, keeping certain rules, or avoiding specific sins. But Romans 3 clearly states that “by the law shall no flesh be justified.” The law’s standard is so high that even our thoughts condemn us.

The Danger of Self-Justification

Some people think avoiding certain foods or keeping religious festivals will offset their secret sins. But God’s standard requires perfection in thought, word, and deed. Only Christ met that standard, and only through Him can we be justified.

How Do We Receive What Christ Has Done?

It’s About Receiving, Not Achieving

Salvation is like receiving a gift with your name on it. You don’t have to pay for it, clean yourself up first, or prove you’re worthy. Christ accomplished everything necessary for your redemption. Your part is simply to receive what He’s already done.

Adoption Into God’s Family

When we receive Christ, we’re not just forgiven – we’re adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family. This isn’t about becoming religious or following rules; it’s about entering into a relationship with the God who created us and loves us.

Life Application

This week, instead of trying to earn God’s favor through your own efforts, focus on receiving what Christ has already accomplished for you. Stop looking to temporary solutions for your soul’s suffering and turn to the only One who can truly heal your deepest wounds.

• Ask yourself these questions:
• Am I trying to justify myself through good works or religious activities?
• What “vices” am I using to calm my soul’s suffering instead of turning to Christ?
• Have I truly received what Jesus accomplished for me, or am I still trying to earn God’s love?
• Do I trust that God’s timing in my life is perfect, even when I don’t understand it?

Remember, God’s timing is always perfect. He’s in control of every season of your life, working all things together for His glory and your good. The same God who orchestrated world history to bring Christ at exactly the right moment is orchestrating the details of your life today. Trust Him, receive His gift of redemption, and let your soul magnify the Lord.