The Fullness Of Time

Temple Baptist Church - 6-27-2010

Galatians 4:4

Introduction:

A. Galatians 4:4 speaks of the First Advent or the Birth of Christ. The nation of Israel had long expected the “seed of the woman,” their Messiah, to come. A little over two thousand years ago, God fulfilled His promise of the Saviour of the world.

1. Christ came at the Right Time

2. Christ came in the Right Way

3. Christ came in complete fulfillment of Prophecy

4. Christ not only came right, He lived Right

5. Christ died Right

6. Christ resurrected Right

7. Christ did all things Right

B. I said all of that to say this: everything comes to pass in the “fullness of time!”

1. The Bible declares that there is a season for every purpose under heaven. As seasons change, so do our circumstances. A man once said that “good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people but neither one of them will stay that way.”

2. There are “dispensations” mentioned in the Bible which are specified administrations, stewardships, or economies. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

3. The phrase “fullness of time” means that thee is an allotted time for a certain event to run its course and an expected action is required by God to end that event.

4. As finite beings, we do not know the exact length of these events unless it is specified in the Bible. Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

C. Here are just a few things that will run their courses in time.

1. In The Fullness Of Time, Sin Will Run Its Course - James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (Though a sinner live an hundred years, the Bible says that it will not be well with him. A person may seem to get away with sinfulness for a while but it will come to a devastating end.)

2. In The Fullness Of Time, Salvation’s Call Will Run Its Course - Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Today is the day of salvation with no promise of either a tomorrow or a second chance.)

3. In The Fullness Of Time, Sorrow Will Run Its Course - Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (I have found that time is a great healer and, no matter how great the loss, there will be better days ahead.)

4. In The Fullness Of Time, Sickness Will Run Its Course - Psalms 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (One way or the other! God will either heal physically or eternally.)

5. In The Fullness Of Time, Suffering Will Run Its Course - 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (Circumstances will one day change for those who suffer. Life is often a “roller coaster” with highs and lows. There are both mountain tops and valleys in life.)

6. In The Fullness Of Time, Satan’s Reign Will Run Its Course - Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (There is coming a day when his power and influence will no longer be. Hell was prepared for him and his angels and the time of their incarceration is nearing.)

7. In The Fullness Of Time, States Will Run Their Course - Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (God sets nations up and takes nations down. Empire after empire has risen to its zenith of power only to fall. America had better take note of the great empires that went before her.)

8. In The Fullness Of Time, This Sin Cursed World Will Run Its Course - Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (11) They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; (12) And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (This wonderful world will be once again as it was in the beginning and we will be home. The Lord will come again and it may be today.)