" Perfect Timing ! "

Galatians 4:1-7 "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, GOD sent forth HIS SON, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, GOD hath sent forth the SPIRIT of HIS SON into your hearts, crying, ABBA, FATHER. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of GOD through CHRIST."

    According to HIS eternal counsels, GOD had marked on HIS calendar a date for the MESSIAH to come into this world (v.4). CHRIST's birth did not arrive a day early nor a day late. JESUS was destined to appear at the time appointed by the FATHER (v.2). While GOD alone understands all the reasons for choosing this date, we can make several observations:

1.) GOD's amazing Seventy Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27 pictured above) indicated exactly when MESSIAH the PRINCE would be presented to the Jewish nation (probably at the Triumphal Entry). Obviously, CHRIST's birth had to predate this even.

2.) For around 1,500 years the Jewish people demonstrated that they were totally incapable of keeping the Mosaic Law. It was time for a new economy, that is, time for the grace of GOD which brings salvation to appear to all men (Titus 2:11; John 1:17).

3.) Following CHRIST's birth, death, and resurrection, it was the ideal time for the disseminating of the Gospel because: First, one common language was spoken in the Roman Empire, namely, Greek; the early missionaries did not need to learn a new language every time they entered a different country. Second, the Romans had built a network of roads that greatly facilitated travel from city to city. Third, the Romans had established Pax Romana (Roman peace), which provided political stability for Gospel outreach (1st.Timothy 2:1-6). Fourth, about 150 synagogues throughout the Roman empire served as Old Testament Scripture depositories, enabling Christian missionaries to reach both Jews and Gentiles proselytes. All of these factors led to great multitudes throughout the known world coming to know GOD's "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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