GROANING
FOR REDEMPTION
Galatians
5:4-7
Galatians
5:4-5: “You who are trying to be
justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from
grace. But by faith we eagerly await
through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.”
Having just completed Gethsemane devotion series before
Easter, I’m sure that my faithful readers don’t depend on being justified by
keeping God’s laws! Believers depend on
being justified by faith in Christ, under His grace covenant. Justified means acceptable to God. Our job as Believers is to believe and trust
Him—whose faithfulness endures forever.
The opening Scripture talks about faith to
believe, trusting that what is yet to come will surely come. However, we who live through God’s Spirit
know that faith in Jesus is Believer’s righteousness to the Father right now. We embrace 2 Corinthians 5:21 that says, “God
made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the
righteousness of God.”
Immediately after Adam brought sin
into the world, all creation began longing for redemption. In fact, Romans 8:22 uses these words: “We know that the whole creation has been
groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
The Bible’s Old Testament prophets
foretold the coming Messiah. His coming
promised restoration and redemption. For
thousands of years the Israelites waited patiently, expectantly. Then when Jesus arrived, they didn’t
recognize Him as their long-awaited Messiah.
Jesus wasn’t what they wanted. They thought that redemption meant freedom
from Roman rule. But God doesn’t usually
fix short-term problems. God sees
the big picture. His focus is inclusive
for all peoples’ eternal redemption, not only for Old Testament Hebrews.
He allowed Alexander the Great to
conquer the known world. Greek became
the language of his expanded empire.
Roads were built connecting nation to nation. All this preparation took time. Time that people rarely have the patience to
wait through.
Jesus’ coming to Earth was perfect timing
for God to introduce His truth throughout the world. When Jesus’ disciples went out to preach His
saving Gospel, baptizing them into His kingdom, travel was relatively
safe. They spread the Gospel outward
from Jerusalem to England, Europe, Asia and Africa.
See the lesson linked below to learn
why people still need to learn Jesus’ saving Gospel of redemption.
Take Home Nugget
Believers are eager for Jesus to
return. We’re ready for the end of this
era. Sin’s curse of corruption seeped
into everything. Nothing is pure anymore. What was once great will never be great
again.
When Jesus returns, He will begin
His millennial reign (Revelation 20:1-7).
He will finally redeem the world.
We will be awestruck at His encompassing redemption!
Come, Lord Jesus. Come soon!
Adapted
from “Waiting for Redemption.” Dr. Charles Stanley. March 30, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.
J.D.
Griffith
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