Paid in full

Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

God always knows the right time to put a plan into action. So at the time of His choosing, God sent His only-begotten son, Jesus Christ into the world. Humbly Jesus was born as any other man so that He might experience the fullness of man while possessing the fullness of God. Mary was subject to the law as many others, but even she was able to experience the mercy and grace of The Father through her son. God sent Jesus to redeem us of our sins and to free us from the burden of those sins. No longer were we to be slaves to sin, but instead children of God. For when we accept Christ we are adopted into God’s family that inherits the benefits of an everlasting and joyful life.

 

Author James Herriot tells of an unforgettable wedding anniversary he and his wife celebrated early in their marriage. His boss had encouraged him to take his wife to a fancy restaurant, but Herriot balked. He was a young veterinarian and couldn't really afford it. "Oh, do it!" the boss insisted. "It's a special day!" Herriot reluctantly agreed and surprised his wife with the news.

En route to the restaurant, Herriot and his wife stopped at a farm to examine a farmer's horse. Having finished the routine exam, he returned to his car and drove to the restaurant, unaware that his checkbook had fallen in the mud. After a wonderful meal, Herriot reached for his checkbook and discovered it was gone. Quite embarrassed, he tried to offer a way of making it up.

"Not to worry," the waiter replied. "Your dinner has been taken care of!" As it was, Herriot's employer had paid for the dinner in advance.

God has done the same for us. Jesus' utterance on the cross, "It is finished," is a Greek term meaning "paid in full."

Imagine knowing you had to pay the debit for your sins that you knew you couldn’t pay. Thankfully Jesus stepped up and paid in full the price for us that we might be free from sin.