But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 

Galatians 4:4,5 

We have been considering, of late, our adoption into the Family of God. As we continue today, let us dwell for a while, please, upon the words, ‘made of a woman, made under the law,’ as they relate to Christ, and ultimately to us. We refer to the incarnation of Christ, along with His ministry and death, as His Humiliation. We find a summary of it in Philippians 2:6-8, ‘who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.’ Remember, please, that the end purpose in view, so far as our text declares was, ‘that we might receive the adoption of sons.’ In order for God to adopt us into His Family some man, some truly human person, must satisfy all the demands of the Law. There must be an active obedience to satisfy the Law in precept. There must be a passive obedience to satisfy the Law in penalty. The only Person capable of accomplishing this would be Christ, Who being God, took ‘to Himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.’  The Humiliation of Christ was necessary for our adoption to become a reality. There were no other options. This engenders in us both love and gratitude. For Christ, Who enjoyed the unbroken fellowship with the Father and Holy Spirit, as well as the adoration of angels, to humble Himself to guarantee our adoption, is far more than we can comprehend. We can but love in return. 

Our most Gracious and Loving Savior, 
we praise You that You, the Great King, 
were willing to humble Yourself in order to raise us up and make us  
‘kings and priests unto our God.’ 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born a of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 

Galatians 4:4,5 

Salvation is, from start to finish, the work of God. It is that for which no human being can take any credit. ‘Salvation is of the Lord.’ In this discussion of adoption this holds true in every respect. For today, please, let us consider these words, ‘God sent forth His Son.’ When we consider this, let us dwell upon the fact that this adoption, of which we have been speaking, is directly the result of the Father’s action. It is one thing to plan; it is quite another to execute the plan. God has not only planned to adopt us, but He also has ‘sent forth His Son.’ To include Christ in this discussion, Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith.’ As Christ said, ‘I do always those things which please the Father.’ God sent forth His Son, with the express purpose of carrying out the plan which would result in our adoption. Christ came with the purpose of accomplishing all that was necessary in order that first, redemption, and then adoption would occur. In this respect, He acts as the ‘Finisher’ of our faith.’ It is important for us, as we consider adoption, to see it, at every stage, as the work of God through Christ. What God from eternity planned, He infallibly, unerringly has performed, and shall continue, until He brings every child into the Family of God. 

Our most Holy and Wise God, 
We rejoice that everything You plan, You infallibly perform. 
We praise You, that You have included us in that plan, 
and shall without fail, gather all of Your people together as one. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born a of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. … 

Galatians 4:4-5 

We come today to consider the implications of spiritual adoption. If we read the two verses which comprise our text for the next few days, we see that the last phrase sets forth for us the glorious end result of the plan and purpose of the Sovereign God. It reads, ‘that we might receive ‘the adoption of sons.’ As we begin our contemplations, let us consider, please, the words, ‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son….’ This indicates to us that the end result under discussion, that is, adoption, is the result of God’s Providential Plan. Verse two corroborates this idea when it speaks of ‘the time appointed by the Father.’ The Scripture teaches us everywhere that God has a Providential Plan. He has ‘foreordained, whatsoever comes to pass.’ He carries out His Sovereign Decrees ‘in His Works of Creation and Providence.’  Therefore, when we come to the matter of our adoption into the family of God, it must be the result of this Providential Plan of which we have been speaking. Beyond controversy, ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’ Our adoption into the Family of God is, in every way included in the Plan of God which He is carrying out over the course of human history. He does all things ‘in the fullness of time.’ He has included our adoption in that plan. 

Our Great and Gracious God, 
We rejoice that You do ‘all things after the counsel of Your Own Will.’ 
We praise You that You have included us  
within the fullness of Your Providential Plan. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

….looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 12:2 

We have been considering of late some of the titles of Christ. Within the last few days we have considered the second verse of the twelfth Chapter of Hebrews. Within that text lies this title of Christ, ‘The Author and Finisher of Our Faith.’ Here is a title worth contemplating, especially given all we have said about the text previously. How is Christ, ‘The Author and Finisher of our faith?’ He is the Author of our faith, in that He conceived it along with His Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the Author, in that He revealed it. He revealed it to ‘Holy men of old, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ He is the Author, of it in that He inspired the writing of the Book that details it. He is the Author, of it in that He has granted faith to believe to all who embrace it. He is the Finisher of it, in that He has come Himself to fulfill every jot and tittle of the Law. He is the Finisher of it, in that He has died the Atoning, Substitutionary, Sacrificial Death which completes the requirement for the satisfaction of the Law. He is the Finisher of it, in that He will not fail to gather unto Himself ‘all that the Father has given’ Him. He is the Finisher of it, in that, ‘All the ransomed Church of God, shall be saved to sin no more.’ Every hope of every Child of God is wrapped up in this One Great Person, ‘the Author and Finisher of Our Faith.’ 

High King of heaven, 
We rejoice in Your Grand Redemption, 
that It is accomplished and applied unto all for whom You intend it. 
We look forward to the day, 
when Your Body shall be made up and Your Church complete. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…. 

Luke 4:18 

When Christ was beginning His public ministry, He went to the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth. He read from the book of Isaiah, ‘“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ He then proclaimed, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ Today, let us spend a few moments contemplating the implications of the statement that lies in the heart of the passage as it reflects upon the ministry of Christ, both then and now. He read, ‘He has sent me, to heal the brokenhearted.’ How many of us fit the description of being ‘brokenhearted,’ and how often are we that way. We are brokenhearted for many reasons. Sometimes we are brokenhearted because of our own sin and lack of personal holiness. Other times we are brokenhearted because of the wickedness of others and the awful effects upon the innocents against whom they have sinned. We may be brokenhearted to observe the wretched consequences of all sorts of evil. Christ came to heal the brokenhearted. He comes alongside the victim of abuse and lifts them up. ‘He places the solitary in families.’ In due course of time, as the ‘Judge of all the earth,’  He will deal with the perpetrators. For now, He addresses the deepest needs of those who are the most afflicted. Christ has come ‘to heal the brokenhearted.’ 

O, Gracious, Loving, and most Compassionate Christ, 
we praise You that You heal the brokenhearted. 
We are more grateful than we can measure, 
for all Your Grace and all Your Love. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning