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The Timing of God in Sending His Son

The Timing of God in Sending His Son

The Bible says:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6 NIV84).

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:4, 5 NIV84).

What made it the right time for Jesus’ incarnation? Why do you think God wait thousands of years to fulfill His promise to send our Savior? (Genesis 3:15).

What ideas have you heard?

Because God is not arbitrary, because He doesn’t do anything on a whim, we can be sure that He doesn’t have some cosmic clock that He closely monitors, waiting for the hands to hit a certain point and, ready or not, then He acts. No, God is intervening in human history and is acting for the purpose of eradicating sin and saving people. Therefore, God’s timing is to fulfill His purposes. It is never arbitrary; it is strategic, meant to accomplish His goals.

I have heard it suggested that God waited as long as He did for Jesus to be born because God needed a human government that had pacified the world, built roads, and established commerce—all so that the gospel would be more easily spread throughout the world. Yet, this argument could be countered with Rome’s limited capacity to travel to China and the Americas; one could argue that if this was the primary reason, waiting for more modern forms of communication and transportation would have been even more advantageous.

I would like to explore another possibility, one that focuses our attention on a larger aspect of Jesus’ mission—the securing of His entire universe in addition to saving humanity.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19, 20 NIV84).

In sending His Son, God was absolutely working to save humans from sin, but He also was acting to prevent Satan’s rebellion from spreading throughout the heavenly realms, to secure the unfallen beings in their loyalty to Him.

Remember, angelic perfection had already failed in heaven. While two-thirds of the angels remained loyal to Jesus and His Father, the questions that deceived one-third of the angels had not been fully dealt with and resolved. God, through Jesus, not only had to provide what was necessary to save human beings from sin, but He also had to do it in such a way that His actions would resolve the issues raised by Lucifer and secure the unfallen angels in their loyalty to Him.

We read about this in various places like the passage in Colossians quoted above, but Jesus also spoke about it when He said:

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (John 12:31, 32 NIV84).

If your version has “men” in it, as I’ve highlighted it above, that word is supplied by the translators; it is not in the Greek. The passage actually says “draw all to myself.” Jesus wasn’t drawing only humans to Himself at the cross, but heavenly beings as well.

Jesus’ crucifixion would pronounce judgment upon this world and the prince of this world; what kind of judgment was this? Was this judgment on this world in a legal court setting? No! It is the same judgment that Paul wrote about in Romans 3:4:

Let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged” (Romans 3:4 NKJV).

The war began in heaven when Lucifer lied about God and deceived one-third of the angels into judging God falsely and rebelling against Him. While two-thirds stayed loyal, they had questions that needed answering, lest they also eventually lose trust in God and rebel.

Jesus was saying that at the cross, when He would be lifted up, He would reveal the truth about God, His character, and methods of truth, love, and liberty and, at the same time and by the same action, He would expose Satan as a liar and fraud and reveal Satan’s methods to be the source of pain, suffering, and death. Then, when this truth would be fully revealed, Satan’s power to deceive would be broken in the hearts and minds of all who see and embrace the truth; thus, Satan would be driven out. He would be driven out of the shadows, out into the open for all to see him for who and what he really is, and when that would happen, his power would be broken and Jesus, by being lifted up, would draw all beings who value truth to Himself, including the angels in heaven. This is what Hebrews describes “that by his [Jesus’] death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (2:14).

The heavenly beings witnessed this and had their questions about God answered; Satan was revealed as the liar and murderer that he is and, thus, the heavenly host judged that God and Jesus are holy, holy, holy (Revelation 4:8); Satan was cast out of their affections. From that point forward, Satan’s rebellion was restricted to Earth, not by physical force or some energy shield, but by the reality that every angel in heaven was completely settled into their loyalty to God and would no longer listen to anything Satan had to say. Only on Earth are intelligent beings still listening to Satan and believing his lies about God.

 

Perfect Timing

So, with all this in mind, why wait until that time in human history for Jesus to come in order to provide salvation for humans and reveal truth to the angels?

What is the central issue in the war—God’s trustworthiness (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)—and what is Satan’s angle to undermine trust in God? His angle was never that God isn’t powerful but that God is untrustworthy in using power, that God abuses His power by imposing laws that require God to punish lawbreakers.

During his temptation of Eve, we see Satan’s intimation of God imposing law and punishment:

Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman (Genesis 3:1–4 NIV84).

Satan is saying: “There isn’t anything inherently harmful about disobeying God. God wasn’t telling the truth that disobeying Him would result in death. Oh, yes—it is true that God has the power to kill you for it, but it isn’t true that disobedience to God harms you. The problem isn’t sin; the problem is God, who will kill you for sin. But if you eat this fruit, you will become like God yourself, your eyes will be opened, and you will be able to tell the difference between good and evil and won’t need God to tell you what to do any longer—no more rules for you.”

Satan’s lies about God are rooted in lies about God’s law and methods of governing, specifically that God’s laws function like human laws, made-up rules requiring God to use power to punish. This makes God out to be the source of death and the one from whom we need to be protected. These same lies have persisted throughout all human generations and have led to every form of paganism and every theology that teaches sacrifices must be paid to this punishing god to do something to the god so that the god won’t lash out with power to torture and kill the sinner. This false law view that Satan originated undermines trust and incites rebellion against God.

How does this connect with when Jesus came in history?

It was the first time in human history that a group of people could be found to be keeping the law, the Scripture, the blueprint that God gave them through Moses. They were:

  • Sabbath-keeping
  • Sacrificing the right animals, in the right way, at the right times, and in the right place
  • Eating the right foods
  • Paying the right tithe
  • Dressing in the right way
  • Behaviorally obeying the right commandments
  • No longer sacrificing to Baal, Molech, or any other pagan god

From the outside, from what the angels could observe, the people appeared to be keeping all the rules that God gave them. But notice what happened when Jesus came and lived among them—they hated and killed Him.

But why did they hate and kill Him? Jesus didn’t teach a different day of worship, or undermine the authority of Scripture, or teach an evolutionary model of creation, or suggest other than male/female marriage, or promote alternate feasts days, or different methods to sacrifice. Jesus taught the exact same list of doctrines that those who killed Him taught. So why did they kill Him?

Because Jesus rejected the imposed-law understanding of God’s kingdom. He rejected the power-over-others law, the authoritarian enforcement of law that sinful beings utilize; instead, He taught that God’s kingdom is the kingdom of truth, love, and freedom and that imposed laws with external enforcement does not result in salvation. Jesus taught that what God wants is our love, trust, loyalty, devotion, and understanding friendship (John 15:15). And this cannot be achieved through law or enforcement.

Angels cannot read hearts and minds, and they needed to understand the real nature of the war and God’s solution for it. They needed to realize that it is possible for the righteous and wicked to appear similar behaviorally. The righteous person who loves others will not cheat or murder, but the wicked person who is interested only in self may also not cheat or murder—but only because they are afraid of getting caught and punished, of burning in hell. But the righteous person is restored to loyalty to God; they wouldn’t harm another even if there was no “punishment” for sin. They do what is right because it is right, and they are safe to have as a neighbor in heaven; but the selfish rule-keeper is disloyal to God and, despite keeping the rules, will end up murdering the Son of God. This reality had to be exposed.

When Jesus came, we finally had a group of people who were following the script God gave through Moses. But rule-keeping of the right rules for the wrong reasons turned them into rebels against God who killed Jesus to protect their own power (John 11:50). In other words, the timing of Jesus’ appearance, to a group of law-keeping followers of Yahweh, revealed that God’s kingdom and government is not legal, is not based upon imposed law, is not rule-keeping, but is spiritual, is design law, is based upon truth, love, and freedom that operates in the deepest recesses of the intelligent being. That is why in the new covenant, the law is written upon the heart and mind (Hebrews 8:10); that is why every person must be fully persuaded in their own mind (Romans 14:5); that is why salvation is “‘not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV84). It is only by the Spirit of truth and love that lies are purged and loyalty is established.

God cannot achieve what He wants through imposed rules and inflicted punishments. And the angels finally saw not just Satan exposed as a liar and fraud, not just God revealed in Jesus to be completely trustworthy to have all power, but also that God’s laws are not imposed rules like sinful humans make and that rule-keeping of a legal religion—even if the rules are the very rules given by God—still turns people into rebels against God.

We need this lesson today as we approach the second coming of Christ. We need to return to the worship of the Creator who made the heavens, earth, sea, and fountains of water and whose laws are design laws that life is built to operate upon. We must reject the imposed-law dictator view of a legal god in which salvation is a legal process to protect us from the inflicted punishment of that god. Those who worship the legal imposed-law god will become like him and, just like the Jews two thousand years ago, will be among God’s worst enemies.

 

 

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Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

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I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

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My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, USA

 

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I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

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Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA

 

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY