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
Notice what this Scripture is saying here about the incarnation:
“God sent forth his Son.” The Father sent the Son to us. The Son came to us. He is the gift of heaven.
He was “born of woman.” God became a man in Jesus. He took our flesh. He made himself one with us, so that he could take action for us. This goes to the heart of the incarnation. Why did he have to be born of a woman? Why did he become a man? Jesus came as one of us, to do for all of us, what none of us could do for ourselves.
He was “born under the law.” The Son entered a life in which he was placed under his own commands. He fulfilled the law as one of us, and then he laid down the only perfect human life that has ever been lived as a sacrifice for the sins of all who would receive him.
God is just, and he loves mercy. And here is how he holds the two together: He sends his Son, who makes himself one with us so that he can act for us. He is born under the law, and he does what none of us could do for ourselves. He lives the life that fulfills all that God requires, and then he lays it down as a sacrifice for all who will receive him. “God is just and he is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).
What would happen if God let go of justice or if he let go of mercy? Thank God that he holds onto both through the sending of his Son.
