Count for Zero: Sermon Three - "Fullness of Time"

With the advances in technology more can be done now, in our lifetime, than all that has been done in the last 2,000 years. Every time God moves in dramatic visible ways, He has already been working in ways not commonly seen or understood. In Galatians 4:4 Paul describes the timing of Jesus’ arrival by using a phrase common in those days. The phrase was “the fullness of time.” This phrase was used in referencing a woman who was ready to give birth to a child. Paul’s play on words was true for Jesus’ Mother Mary, and it was also true of the world. The world’s condition was right for the pronouncement of “the good news”.  

As Christians we believe that Jesus will someday return and assume His rightful place as the world’s Lord. What did people look for at the first coming? What are we looking for at the 2^nd coming? In light of this reality, are you compelled to do something for nothing? Are you willing to do something for Zero?

God has acted in marvelous ways throughout history. This work has been done when times were right. This work shocks people because there comes a time when we realize that something has changed…and that change changes everything. 

            Looking at Galatians 4, we find such a day in the people of God. This is the day they realized something had changed. They were expected to grow up and see that God was going to be working in a way He had not done before. Along these lines, this post offers the following observations based up the words of the Apostle Paul found in Galatians chapter four. 

1. God works through us as sons and heirs.  

             From the time of Abraham until the arrival of Jesus God's people may have been viewed as slaves to the law. However, through Jesus, God's people were now to live as children and heirs. This new position resulted in their heats being filled with the Holy Spirit resulting in a heart that cries out for God as "Abba". 

2. God works though us by moving us into a future of freedom. 

            People have a propensity to go backwards. This backward movement may be because they accept the labels of past mistakes. It is easier for some to life with these labels rather than accept the challenges that come from newly found freedom. With freedom comes responsibility and many would rather retreat in their past. A path into the future is realized as Christ is formed within His people. This formation is the desired outcome of all those serving others by preaching the Gospel.

3. God works through a liberating promise.          

A look at how Paul speaks of Hagar and Sarah leads to the application that a misunderstanding of ones past may cause the mistake of holding on to it. God has been promising freedom not bondage, yet many see their relationship with Him as being in bondage to rules. This is caused by a failure to recognize the original purpose of those rules. 

            The challenge that is now present for those following Christ is to ask a few related questions. Has anything changed in your life that changes everything? Have you allowed the Gospel to change your whole life, or do you keep going back to the same old sins of your past? We are to be renewed by the reality that we are no longer slaves, but children of God. This is the freedom into which we are to live and invite those we love. May there be Zero around you that fail to understand the freedom proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.