People often say, “The key to success is to be in the right place at the right time.”
Timing is the ability to select the precise moment for doing something for optimum effect.
This is how the Bible describes how he came to earth: he came to earth at the perfect time. Jesus came at the right time. In eternity past, God had the plan of redemption. In God's redemption plan, he appointed the right time to send His son to earth to save the world. Jesus Christ came to the world at the perfect time, which is roughly 2000 years ago. The world was waiting for the coming of the Savior. Some of you might wonder how and why. How did Jesus come to the world, and why? What was His purpose?
Galatians chapter 4, verses 4-7 teaches us the mean and the purpose of the first coming of Jesus so that you might believe in Him and receive adoption as sons and daughters of God.
First, Jesus came into the world by being born of woman, being under the law. The fact that Jesus was born of a woman indicates that Jesus was fully human. Jesus was just like one of us. He was hungry, thirsty, and tired. He had to learn. He read the Scripture and studied the word of God. Also, because Jesus was born of a woman, he was under the law. Like us, Jesus was responsible for obeying or fulfilling the law of God.
However, here is the bad news.
Romans chapter 3, verse 23 tells us, "For all of us have sinned and fell short of the glory of God." There lies the problem. We are sinful. We all lie, steal, and look at women with lust, and we were angry with our brothers and sisters in our hearts. We all fell short of the perfect standard that God requires of us. The consequence or the penalty of our sin is death, eternal punishment, and the wrath of God exercised upon us for eternity.
Here is the good news. God is gracious, and He wanted to demonstrate His love toward us. God sent His Son. Here is the purpose of God sending His Son: to redeem those who are under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians chapter 4, verse 5 states, “To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be born of a woman. He experienced the pain of living in a fallen world and yet without sin. However, He lived the perfect life that God has required us to live, but we failed to live. Jesus loved the Father perfectly. Jesus obeyed all the commandments that God expects us to live. Not only Jesus lived the perfect life, but he also died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin.
Our sins demand punishment and death, and God's wrath and Jesus died the death that you deserve on the cross to pay the penalty of sin. Jesus not only died but also he raised from the dead to demonstrate His victory over sin and death.
If you turn away from sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, God promises that you will receive the forgiveness of sin, the eternal life, and adoptions as sons and daughters.
An adoption is an act of transfer of an alien into God's family, and thus receiving all the inheritance and privileges of the natural son.
When you trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you are adopted as sons and daughters by God and become heir to the inheritance that God promised.
During the Roman time, adoption was one of the most popular practice, and the most popular adoption is Julius Caesar’s adoption of Gaius Octavius who later became the emperor Augustus. By the middle of the first century, Julius Caesar needed an heir to his throne. He had a daughter, and his wife passed away. His hope of having a son ended. So, Julius Caesar officially adopted Gaius Octavius as his legal son. As his son and heir to the throne, Octavius receives all the inheritance and privileges of Julius Caesar. He received all the power, the military, and the Roman empire.
Likewise, as sons and daughters of God, you will receive all the inheritance, which is the total sum of what God has promised to us in salvation: justification, sanctification, the forgiveness of sin, glorification, eternal life, and heaven. You will receive this inheritance now if you repent from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ now.