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.
Galatians 4:4–5
God is glorious. The pages of the Old Testament are filled with people falling on their faces before him and of people crying out for their lives because they’ve seen him. Moses removed his sandals when on holy ground and his face shone after speaking with God. This God is greater than our understanding, higher than our ways, more powerful than we can imagine. We cannot abide in his presence—he is too holy—and yet his plan involved bringing his physical presence to us.
According to his plan, time reached its fullness when the Creator became part of his creation. This holy, mighty God decided to engage with his rebellious creatures in the most personal way: God sent his son to be born of a woman. The infinite confined himself in the human experience. Fully God and fully man in the person of Jesus.
The author of justice and ultimate authority was “born under the law.” We had sinned, forever separating ourselves from our perfect God, forever convicted under a charge we could never repay. This is what the Law made clear: we stand forever condemned. In becoming man, Jesus submitted himself to his law to fulfil the requirement we could not meet, so that he could clear the charge in full. As the Christmas carol joyously proclaims: “God and sinners, reconciled.”
Paying this debt is just the beginning. As well as freeing us from the Law, Jesus came to adopt us as his own. Rather than being struck down in the presence of God, we are welcomed into his arms and given a heavenly inheritance. Rather than being banished as strangers from the Almighty God, we have unrestricted access to him. He is our Father, and we are his children.
Advent is a time of anticipation. Every day we look forward, counting down until Christmas morning. In Galatians, Paul reminds us that from the moment of Adam’s sin, creation began counting down to the moment God would walk the earth so that he could redeem it.
Centuries later, Advent also reminds us to look forward to when time will reach a new fullness, and our Saviour will return to this earth and finish the work he began.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.
Father, as we celebrate the humble advent of your Son, help us to also anticipate the climactic advent of your Son. As we look back with gratitude, may we also look ahead with joy.
Rebecca Roebuck
* Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, ©The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995. Used by permission.
** The above was taken from Glory to God in the Highest: A Christmas Devotional (Oakville: Proclamation, 2024).
By job title, Alice is the office administrator at Oakridge. But her behind-the-scenes efforts go far beyond that! She is actively involved in the leadership team for the Tuesday evening women's bible study, she is on the mission committee, and she has recently both stepped into the leadership of church bridal and baby shower celebrations, and started teaching in our Ozone kids program. Oh, and if you see any special seasonal or holiday decorations around the church, it's a safe bet that Alice was involved!