The Amish Voice 4
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together”
(
Romans
8:16-17).
ILLUSTRATION:
There is an old missionary tale that describes in a simple fashion
why Jesus Christ’s coming was so important.
The missionary was becoming frustrated over his inability to
communicate the gospel to his lost friend. There was a very real
mental and spiritual block. One day while walking in a field they
came upon an ant hill. The missionary and his friend were struck by
how hard these ants were working. As they were observing this
wonder of nature, they suddenly looked up to see an ant
‐
eater
lumbering toward them.
“
Well, this looks like the end of this ant hill,” remarked the
missionary in a casual tone. Sorry that their study of this ant hill
was coming to a close he said, “I wish I could warn them about the
ant
‐
eater.”
“
That’s it!” said the missionary. “My friend, God saw man as
ants who were working as hard as they knew how to. But sin was
killing them. The only way to warn them was to become one of them.
Then they would understand and take action to save themselves.”
God sent His Son into the world as a man to save you from
destruction. The choice is yours: listen to Christ and be saved, or
shut your ears to Christ and be doomed to death!
QUESTIONS:
1.
What is the real reason God sent His Son into the world?
2.
Do you sometimes forget the great price God the Father
and His Son paid for you?
3.
What are some of the results of God’s sending His Son to
redeem men?
4.
What is the secret to becoming an heir of God?
5.
What kind of relationship did Jesus have with the law?
What is your relationship to be?
A CLOSER LOOK:
(
Galatians 4:4) Fullness of Time: the coming of Christ upon the
world scene was not by chance. His coming was under the strategic
timing providentially set aside by God. His coming was not one day
before or behind the appointed time. A child who is placed under
the control of guardians is under their control until “the date fixed
by his father” (Galatians 4:2). God and God alone decided the
fullness of time for the coming of Christ. Christ was born of a
particular person, at a particular time, in a particular way
(
incarnation), under a particular system (the law). He shared the
frustration and agony of being subjected to the very system from
which He came to save men. The world had been wonderfully
prepared for His coming.
1.
The law had done its educational work. It had shown through
the Jewish nation that men are terrible transgressors, and despite all
of God’s favor and blessings, men still failed to worship God in
love. The world now had a picture of the depraved heart of man.
(
See Ro.3:10-18 for a clear description of man’s sinfulness.)
2.
The world was full of people spiritually starved. The worship
of self, pleasure, gods, philosophical ethics—all had left many
empty and barren. The soul was now ready to have its hunger met.
3.
The world was at peace under Roman rule. The world was an
open door for the spread of the gospel—without any restraint.
4.
The world spoke Greek as a basic language, making
communication possible with many from all over the world.
5.
The world had a system of roads for mass travel which
allowed Christian missionaries to reach the farthest parts of the
earth. It also brought commercial travelers to metropolitan centers
where Christian believers were concentrated.
“
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark.1:15).
QUESTIONS:
1.
What did God do to prepare the world for the coming of
His Son?
2.
God is always on time. When do you feel most uncertain
of that fact? Why?
3.
How can you learn to wait on God’s timing, to become
more patient?
A CLOSER LOOK:
(
Galatians 4:5) Adoption: the word adoption means to place as a
son. The picture of adoption is a beautiful picture of what God does
for the Christian believer. In the ancient world, the family was
based on a Roman law called “patria potestas,” the father’s power.
The law gave the father absolute authority over his children so long
as the father lived. He could work, enslave, sell, and if he wished,
he could pronounce the death penalty. Regardless of the child’s
adult age, the father held all power over personal and property
rights.
Therefore, adoption was a serious matter. Yet, it was a common
practice to ensure that a family would not become extinct by having
no male children. And when a child was adopted, three legal steps
were taken.
1.
The adopted son was adopted permanently. He could not be
adopted today and disinherited tomorrow. He became a son of the
