Around this time of year, we read and hear Scripture passages about the birth of Christ. It’s a great time for us to consider what Christmas means. Because of this, my favorite passage about Jesus’ birth is not found in the Gospels. It’s actually from Galatians:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)”
In what some scholars think might be a creed recited by the early church, we get a rich and poetic statement of the benefit that resulted from the birth of Christ.
This passage teaches us seven things about what Christmas means.
But when the fullness of time had come…
This first part marks the transition between an old state and a new state. In other words, things have changed. Galatians 4:4-5 is part of a larger section (4:1-7) that carries a number of parallels with Paul’s previous section (3:23-29). In all of this content, we see a contrast between life under the law and life with Christ. Here, we see that something profound started with this transition.
…God sent forth his Son…
With God sending his Son, we see the beginning of something new: God enacting his plan. In a manner much like John 3:16, Galatians 4:4 shows that God is the One who initiated the act of salvation. It was his plan, and he carried it out by sending the Son. This was no accident; Jesus came with a mission. Notice that Jesus is called the Son here. This sets up the parallel idea later that we who follow Jesus can become sons (and daughters) of God.
…born of a woman…
The birth of Christ is the first part of God enacting his plan of rescue, or moving people from life under the law and life with Christ. Also, Paul here reminds us that Jesus was born a human. Not only was he born from a woman just like each of us are, but Jesus also experienced life just like we do, with all its highs and lows, joys and pains, and temptations.
…born under the law…
Not only did the eternal Son take on human flesh, but he was also born a Jew, under Jewish law. Jesus obeyed the same law which his fellow humans could not. By being born a Jew under the law, he took on the requirement of obeying the law, and he did so completely without sin.
…to redeem those who were under the law…
Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law in order to redeem, or purchase the freedom of the Jews, those under the law. The law proved to reveal the Jews’ sin and helplessness. The word redeem is also used earlier in Galatians 3:13-14, which tells us that it was Jesus’ death on the cross that secured redemption. Under the law, Jews are guarded by the law as if under custody. But with Christ, they are redeemed: purchased like a slave who is set free.
…so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Not only did Jesus redeem those under the law, but that ‘we,’ those who follow Jesus, receive adoption into sonship–with all its rights and privileges. Consider the beauty of this: the Son of God became human so that humans could become sons of God! We, who by faith are united with Christ, can share sonship with him. Verses 6-7 make it clear that those who have the Spirit, whether Jew or Gentile, have God as our Father, with full privileges as sons of God.
Paul passionately wrote the letter to the Galatians to affirm the message of the gospel. He was driven to make sure his readers understand that those who believe in Jesus Christ and his redeeming death on the cross are righteous–having a right relationship with God. The birth of Christ was a glimpse into the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring righteousness to both Jews and Gentiles.
Christmas isn’t just about a baby in a manger. When Jesus was born of a woman, born under law, it set into motion God’s plan of rescuing those who are enslaved to sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it so that you and I can become part of God’s family forever.