“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

Today’s verse forms a deep connection to the Christmas story by emphasizing the divine timing, purpose, and significance of Christ’s birth. The passage begins with, “When the set time had fully come,” indicating that Jesus’ birth was not accidental but a fulfillment of God’s perfect plan. At Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of the Savior at the appointed moment in history. The verse also notes that Jesus was “born of a woman,” pointing to the miraculous virgin birth, a cornerstone of the Christmas account. This highlights that Jesus, though fully divine, entered the world as fully human, identifying with humanity in every way. Furthermore, the phrase “born under the law” underscores that Jesus came as a Jew, subject to the law, to fulfill it on our behalf and offer redemption, something the law could not achieve. The ultimate purpose of His birth was “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship,” meaning that through His birth, life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made it possible for us to be adopted into God’s family. Christmas, then, marks the beginning of God’s redemptive plan—Christ’s birth is not just the celebration of a baby in a manger but the first step toward the salvation and transformation of all who believe in Him. Through this passage, we are reminded that Christmas is the fulfillment of God’s promises, offering us new life and an eternal relationship with Him. So today, know that we are the reason that God put this plan into action, such that through the birth and death of Christ Jesus we would be saved.

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (version 3.5) [Large language model].