“The saint’s peace is a peace with God, but not with sin. The sinner’s peace is a peace with sin, but not with God.”
—Matthew Mead
Christmas is a celebration of God sending forth his dear Son into the world to redeem for himself a people. The apostle Paul in writing to the Galatians made clear the purpose of Jesus’ incarnation, “God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal. 4:4b-5) Jesus was born to Mary and lived a life under the law. He was a Jew who lived under the restrictions, requirements, and demands of the law. He fulfilled them perfectly and the punishment that brought us peace that was upon him was efficacious. In other words, it was capable of producing the desired effect, the complete redemption of his people.
Furthermore, Paul informed the Galatians that because of this redemption and subsequent adoption as the children of God which followed, the Spirit of his Son was also sent forth, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Gal. 4:6-7). God has sent forth his Son radically changing the world and working a renewal which is and will be astounding. And he, into the hearts of his children, has sent forth the Spirit of his Son working a renewal which is and will be astounding.
Finally, the sending forth of the Spirit into the hearts of his people is a proof of us being heirs through God. Here are two examples where “Abba, Father” appears in the New Testament:
36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15-17)
Please note that the cry of “Abba, Father” is a cry of dependence that occurs within the context of suffering. Believer, has that not been your experience? When various afflictions assail you and you feel overwhelmed, the very Spirit of God within us causes us to cry out to our dear Father who has not abandoned us. May that be our experience in 2024 and beyond.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
