Alistair Begg Devotional

Alistair Begg Devotional The Qualified Savior

The Qualified Savior

The Qualified Savior

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.

One of the best ways to get a sample of a culture’s beliefs is to talk to schoolchildren. Once, for instance, when asked who Jesus was, a child who was growing up in the UK replied, “He was the one who took from the rich and gave to the poor!” (It seemed he was mixing up Jesus and the disciples with Robin Hood and his Merry Men!) When asked, “What is a Christian?” another child responded, “Aren’t they the people who grow their own vegetables?”

At this time of year, many who do not spend time thinking about God much for the other eleven months find themselves reflecting on the reason for Jesus’ birth. Countless friends, colleagues, and relatives would likely say that Jesus is, at best, something of a mystery. These responses are a sobering reminder that Christianity’s message is not as obvious to our neighbors as we may think. Who Jesus is must first be clear in our own minds and dear to our own hearts if we are going to articulate that to others.

Jesus stands out among other figures of religion, history, and humanity since He alone possesses the qualifications to be the Savior of our world. His coming isn’t regarded by the apostle Paul as an accidental intervention; it was a divine appointment. When Paul says, “God sent forth his Son,” he implies that He was sent out from a previous state of existence. Jesus’ life didn’t begin when He was “born of woman” as a child in Bethlehem; He was before time itself began (John 1:1-3). Without ceasing to be what He was—namely, God—He became what He was not—namely, a man, “born under the law,” owing the Father full and perfect obedience—which He, alone in the great mass of humanity through the ages, achieved.

If God would save, then the Savior must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the Savior must be a man. If the man who bears the punishment of sin must himself be sinless, then who other than Jesus Christ meets these qualifications? Jesus was uniquely qualified to accomplish God’s plan of salvation.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav’n and let us in.[1]

Who is Jesus? He is God the Son, born as a man. He is the perfect law-keeper, who died to free those who had not kept the law. What is a Christian, then? It is someone who has been freed from the penalty of sin and adopted into the family of God. That is a message we should preach to ourselves daily and should pray for an opportunity to share with someone else daily. For it is the most surprising and the most glorious message in all of history.

Questions for Thought

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Further Reading

Galatians 3:23–29

23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, qimprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, rthe law was our sguardian until Christ came, tin order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus uyou are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as vwere baptized winto Christ have xput on Christ. 28yThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave7 nor free, zthere is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And aif you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, bheirs according to promise.

Galatians 4:1–7

Sons and Heirs

1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,1 though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, cwere enslaved to the elementary principles2 of the world. 4But dwhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, eborn fof woman, born gunder the law, 5hto redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive iadoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent jthe Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then kan heir through God.

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Footnotes
7 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
1 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
2 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9
Footnotes
1 Cecil Frances Alexander, “There Is a Green Hill Far Away” (1848).

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.

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