S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law" (Galatians 4:4). This verse declares that God the Father sent His Son when "the time had fully come." There wer...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lexie Duncan Supporter

Gods timing is perfect, even if He tried to explain it to us, we probably wouldn't understand. It's hard for us to except Gods timing at times, but it helps to know that He is God, and He will carry forth His will.

August 08 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

"Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) The apostle Paul reminds us that some things remain a mystery, as God has chosen not to reveal them to us. But everything that God has revealed, is available for us to fully know and experience in this life.

God recorded in the bible over 300 prophecies (predictions) concerning the coming of Jesus (the Messiah) as the Saviour of the world. The apostle Paul also said "For no matter how many promises God has made they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Consider the very first prophecy God made about his Son in Genesis 3:15 "he will crush your head and you will strike his heel." God is speaking here to Satan (appearing as a serpent) and is predicting Jesus first coming to suffer and die on the cross (you will strike his heel) and Jesus second coming as judge of the world (he will crush your head) when Jesus will completely defeat Satan and cast him into the lake of fire for eternity (Revelation 20:10). It is clear from this first prophecy, that God had decided all his plans and the timing of these events, before the universe was created. Jesus did not know the timing of his second coming, but the Father had already decided it (Matthew 24:36).

It would take a God who was "All-Powerful" and "All-Knowing" and "Present Everywhere" to fulfill all these prophesies at the exact time and manner as they were predicted. And that is true. God has revealed his nature and character to us in the bible so we would not be surprised by these things.

God is all powerful
Job 37:23 - the Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power, in his justice and great righteousness he does not oppress.
Jeremiah 32:17 - you made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is to hard for you.
Isaiah 44:2 - he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you.

God is All Knowing
Isaiah 46:10-11 - I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.
Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God is Present Everywhere
Jeremiah 23:24 - "Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord. 
Psalm 139:7-12 - Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

God's timing of events is always perfect because all His plans and purposes are perfect. Why? Because God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere. And because we know that God's will is always good, pleasing and perfectly suited for us (Romans 12:2). 

We don't need to know all the "why's" (the mysteries) because we are able to know the "Who" (God's nature and character) very well indeed.

August 10 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

I think one idea has been forgotten about Galatians 4:4. Roads. "All roads lead to Rome" is an expression most of us are familiar with. News, even the Good News, travels fastest with good roads.

Around 300 BC, the Greeks conquered the known world. The Greek language slowly became the language of commerce; therefore, many people in all the major nations spoke Greek. Then, around 146 BC, Rome began conquering the known world. But in order for the Roman Legions to travel efficiently and quickly, their "Army Corp of Engineers" built roads throughout the Empire. Now, that was a major, multi-year project! There were many valleys, gullies, ravines, etc. That hindered the army's movements, so the road builders leveled hills and used the material (rocks and dirt) to fill in nearby valleys, ravines, etc. They also cleared the level land of boulders, big rocks, etc., and actually "paved" some areas with flat stone. Thus, "Every valley should be raised up, and every mountain and hill should be made flat. The rough ground should be made level, and the rugged ground should be made smooth."

November 30 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did God send Jesus when He did? Why not earlier? Why not later?

Firstly, 2 things in relation to the question:

1: The account recorded in Daniel Chapter 9:

By means of his prophet Daniel—a man of unwavering faith—God had given a prophecy involving "seventy weeks." That prophecy would enable first-century Jews to know that the appearance of the promised Messiah was approaching. In part, the prophecy stated: "From the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Leader, there will be seven weeks, also sixty-two weeks." (Daniel 9:24, 25) 

The French Manuel Biblique, by Vigouroux, Bacuez, and Brassac, states: "People knew that the seventy weeks of years fixed by Daniel were drawing to a close; nobody was surprised to hear John the Baptist announce that the kingdom of God had drawn near." 

Jewish scholar Abba Hillel Silver wrote that according to "the popular chronology" of the day, "the Messiah was expected around the second quarter of the first century C.E."

2: Galatians 4:4 ESV: "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law," In commenting on this verse, Matthew Henry wrote: "We are here told... how the people took occasion, from the ministry and baptism of John, to think of the Messiah, and to think of him as at the door..... Daniel's seventy weeks were now expiring."

God sent Jesus at exactly the right historical moment—often called the "fullness of time"—to ensure the maximum spread of the Gospel.

Why Not Earlier?

Humanity needed to experience the reality of sin and its consequences fully. The Old Testament law and the sacrificial system acted as a "tutor," demonstrating that humans could not achieve righteousness on their own. This historical delay made the need for a saviour glaringly obvious to everyone.

Why Not Later?

God's timing is perfect; He intentionally orchestrated world history (politically, culturally, and spiritually) for Christ's arrival.

The Perfect Timing ("The fullness of the time"). God's timing is precise. 

Historically, the world was perfectly prepared for Christ's arrival:

The time was right religiously. The Old Testament canon had been completed. The synagogue system had developed to the point that it functioned as a school, a judicial court, and a worship centre -- a model upon which the early Christian congregations are patterned. In Israel, there was also a fervent expectation of the Messiah's coming.

The time was right culturally. There was now a common language -- Koinē Greek -- spoken throughout the known world. A common Greek culture was widespread.

The time was right commercially. The Roman system of roads connected the empire, making it easy for the Gospel to spread from city to city and from country to country.

The time was right politically. Rome had instituted a common system of law that resulted in the Pax Romana (the Roman peace) enforced across the empire. There was little armed conflict; the roads were safer from banditry. This made travel between countries much easier and safer.

These conditions wouldn't have existed, for example, a century earlier. And for many subsequent periods, the conditions would not have been right either.

The Apostle Paul is well aware of the unique timing in God's mind.

"... when the times will have reached their fulfilment...." (Ephesians 1:9-10)
"... on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come." (1 Corinthians 10:11)
"... the time of the new order." (Hebrews 9:10)

There is a proper time for everything God does.

14 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

John 6:62: What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 

Right from the creation time, God the Father saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. (Gen 6:5-6) The Lord then said unto Abraham, “Get thee out from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show unto thee.” Abraham then departed from Ha’-ran and went to the land of Canaan, and passed through Si’-chem, unto the plain of Mo’-reh, and the Lord then appeared unto him and said, “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” (Gen 12:1,4-7) The Lord then appeared unto him, in the plains of Mam’-re, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, three Men that stood by him. He ran and bowed himself towards the ground and said, "Pass not away. Let a little water be fetched to wash your feet, and I will fetch a morsel of bread to comfort your hearts.” And they said, “So do, as thou hast said.” (Gen 18:1-5) Abraham ran and fetched a calf, dressed it, took butter and milk, and set it before them, and they did eat. The Lord then said to him, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life, Sarah, thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen 18:7-10). “Earlier,” in the beginning of time, Abraham rejoiced to see the day of our Lord Jesus, for he saw it and was glad. (Joh 8:56)

Moses, who fled from Pharaoh, dwelt in the land of Midian. (Exo 2:15) Angel of the Lord then appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush, and God called him from the midst of the bush, as he had seen the affliction of His people, the children of Israel in Egypt, to bring them out of the land. (Exo 3:2,4,7,10) God then spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, “I am the Lord, and I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, by my name, JE-Ho’-VAH.” (Exo 6:2-3) God the Father, having the trinity as our Lord Jesus said, "My Father and I are one (Joh 10:30), He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father, I am in the Father, and the Father in Me, who dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." (Joh 14:9-10) The Lord then brought them out of Egypt, and Moses, by the divine tested rod of signs (Exo 4:2-4,17/12:41,51) stretched forth his hand over the Red Sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind. (Exo 13:18/14:16,21) Moses then brought them out from the Red Sea, into the wilderness of Shur, then to Marah, to Sin, to Reph’-i-dim, then to Si’-nai. (Exo 15:22-23,27/16:1/17:1/19:1). 

God then spoke to Moses the Commandments on mount Si’-nai (Exo 19:20/20:3-17), and then said unto Moses, “I send an angel before thee, for My name is in Him, obey His voice.” (Exo 23:21) Moses was called up again and was given the tables of stone with the law and commandments written by Him and was there forty days and forty nights. (Exo 24:12,18/31:18) When people saw that Moses delayed coming, they made a molten calf to prepare a feast for the Lord. The Lord then said unto Moses, “Go, thy people have corrupted themselves.” When Moses came down to the camp, he cast the tables of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exo 32:1-5,7,19) Lord then said unto Moses, “Hew thee two tables of stone.” The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him and spoke unto him, the commandments and said, “Write thou these words, for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and Israel.” (Exo 34:1,4-5,14-27) When they came to the desert of Zin, there was no water for the congregation. The Lord said, “Take thy rod and speak ye unto the Rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth His water.” (Num 20:1-2,8,11) The Rock that stood before him, Moses wrote of Him, the Rock was our Lord Jesus. (John 5:46/1 Corin 10:4) In the times of the end, His feet shall then stand on the mount of Olives, before Jerusalem. (Zec 14:1-5)

John 5:25: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

6 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report