Reasons Why Jesus Lived, Died, & Rose

I am mildly stealing the title of this post from Piper's 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die if you were wondering. As a side note, I just started this book (on audiobook) and it is worthy of long hard stares at the Savior and why he came and the numerous blessings we receive through his death. When I say death I mean to keep the cross as the central, climactic point of Jesus life, and indeed all of history, but I also imply his life and resurrection for they are essential to fully understanding and grasping his death on that Roman cross and its purpose.

With all that said, I want to point out a reason why Jesus came to Earth that I discovered today.

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

God, at the exact time he had planned, sent his Son into the world as the Christ humbly clothed himself with flesh. This was at the proper time, indeed, all the prophecies pointing to the Messiah were ready to be fulfilled and 2,000 years ago, the "fullness of time" indeed came to the timeline of humanity and the Savior was born.

He was sent by the Father, he was born as any other human was - through physical growth and the special virgin birth, though he is eternal - he was born as a Jew with a heritage of Jews and Gentiles. The Son of God came and lived perfectly under God's law so that people under the same law might receive adoption as sons.

Jesus was born, lived his life, died on the cross, and rose again so that I might be adopted as a son of God and made a co-heir with Christ.

That truth should simply be mind blowing. That truth should lay such an amazing bedrock for Christians as we doubt who we are before God, as we doubt what God will say to us as we stand before his throne. As the hymn goes, I know that "before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea, a great high priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me." And yet, if you were to ask most Christians, I would be willing to bet that they have never or rarely heard this glorious truth and doctrine preached. What a shame that this doctrine has been lost and neglected for reasons of which I know not.

In short, the Son of God humbled himself to death on a cross so that I could be adopted by his heavenly Father. This is one reason why Jesus came to us.

I do have one question for you readers:
Has the doctrine of adoption been preached to you? If so, describe it. If not, tell us why you think this is.

evening devotion

This post will be 99% verbatim from my written journal that I do not write in enough. Commence.
12/14/2009 - Devotion
Devote your time to God's exaltation through your exultation. (Side note: if you don't know what either of those two words mean...click here and here.)
I prayed before my dinner tonight and the Spirit reminded me how I need to pray more than just at meals. May my prayer life not be anemic! If prayer is "communion" and communion is God's presentation of Himself to us, then we as Christians should innately feel and express joy, because of God coming to us in love. He does not come in wrath to the righteous, but as glorious and affection-gathering. God communes with us in prayer so he may be made glorious in our eyes and with this we have joy. Psalm 43:3-4 pictures man's response to God's sending out of "truth and light" as one of "exceeding joy". Don't skip over the Gospel!
Galatians 3:13 - Christ bore the curse of the Law for us.
Galatians 3:10 - If man relies on his works for righteousness, works that are under the Law, in trusting in such obedience to the Law, he will be cursed because he cannot fulfill the Law. Man is cursed by not abiding by the Law.
Galatians 3:11 - Righteous people live by faith. Faith is the qualifier for righteousness. No man is justified before God's judgment seat by the Law. Every single human is guilty according to the Law.
Interrupted with at thought: Is this verse by verse exploration of the bible normal Bible study? Or is it an outlet of my passion for the Word, pointing to a specific way I must use it? I want to spread this! I want to spread the truth in these pages!
Galatians 3:12 - The law is not of faith. See Romans 10:5 .
Galatians 3:13 - Man is under the curse of the Law due to his disobedience to the Law. Christ saved us because he became cursed with the curse of the Law we were to bear. Who is the "us" in this verse? It does not say "all".
Deuteronomy 10:13 - Do I believe that keeping God's will is "for [my] good"?
Exodus 34:6-7 - God promises future forgiveness for transgressions.
Deuteronomy 9:23 - Rebellion is caused by the failure to believe God.