Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Birth of our Lord: Jesus our
Liberator
Alex Abraham
Epiphany MTC, NY
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so
that we might receive adoption as children.
The birth of our Lord is often seen a beacon of freedom, one that marks the epitome of human’s liberation from sin and damnation. But does it have greater implications for our relationship with God? If so, how can we characterize this new relationship to develop a more profound relationship with God?
As stated in Galatians 4, before the birth of Jesus, humans were “no different from slave[s].” They were merely children, “subject to guardians and trustees” until our father in heaven grants us deliverance from bondage. The analogy of the relationship between children and father, in this section of Galatians, is used to describe our relationship with our God. By doing so, Paul, the author of Galatians, suggests that preceding the birth of Jesus, humanity, like a child, wasn’t responsible enough to inherit the treasures of the “whole estate.” Following the birth of Jesus, however, we received “the full rights of sons”, implying that the Jesus symbolized humanity’s deliverance from ignorance and sin.
Paul’s writing also hints at the proper relationship between God and his followers. The relationship between God and his followers should be analogous to the relationship between a Father and son. In other words, our heavenly Father should get the same respect as our earthly father. In his writings, Paul accentuates the philanthropic nature and wisdom of the Father, suggesting that God sent the “Spirit…into our hearts” so that we can escape slavery.
It is undeniable fact that many of us have faltered in our faith as time progresses. How can we rectify this issue, forming a closer relationship with God in the process? To forge a more profound relationship God, pray at least once during the day. Praying to God opens up a way for us to communicate with God, bolstering our beliefs. By doing so, God will take pity on us, seeing us as his children. Only though prayer can we be labeled as God’s children, allowing us to inherit the grand treasures of Heaven.
The birth of our Lord is often seen a beacon of freedom, one that marks the epitome of human’s liberation from sin and damnation. But does it have greater implications for our relationship with God? If so, how can we characterize this new relationship to develop a more profound relationship with God?
As stated in Galatians 4, before the birth of Jesus, humans were “no different from slave[s].” They were merely children, “subject to guardians and trustees” until our father in heaven grants us deliverance from bondage. The analogy of the relationship between children and father, in this section of Galatians, is used to describe our relationship with our God. By doing so, Paul, the author of Galatians, suggests that preceding the birth of Jesus, humanity, like a child, wasn’t responsible enough to inherit the treasures of the “whole estate.” Following the birth of Jesus, however, we received “the full rights of sons”, implying that the Jesus symbolized humanity’s deliverance from ignorance and sin.
Paul’s writing also hints at the proper relationship between God and his followers. The relationship between God and his followers should be analogous to the relationship between a Father and son. In other words, our heavenly Father should get the same respect as our earthly father. In his writings, Paul accentuates the philanthropic nature and wisdom of the Father, suggesting that God sent the “Spirit…into our hearts” so that we can escape slavery.
It is undeniable fact that many of us have faltered in our faith as time progresses. How can we rectify this issue, forming a closer relationship with God in the process? To forge a more profound relationship God, pray at least once during the day. Praying to God opens up a way for us to communicate with God, bolstering our beliefs. By doing so, God will take pity on us, seeing us as his children. Only though prayer can we be labeled as God’s children, allowing us to inherit the grand treasures of Heaven.