"Don't settle for just any insurance when there's State Farm.” Perhaps you’ve seen this series of advertisements on television lately. One begins with QB Patrick Mahomes, sitting on a treatment table, nursing his sore muscles after the game, needing medical attention from an athletic trainer. Instead, in walks a different kind of trainer, the pop singer, Megan Trainor. The commercial uses humor to highlight that when it comes to insurance, you need an expert like State Farm, not just someone who shares a similar name. 

And so it is when it comes to our salvation. Not just any savior will do. 

This Advent season we’re reflecting on the ancient Christmas hymn found in Galatians 4:4-5, which forms the objective basis for the doctrine of justification by faith. These two verses tell us about the person and saving work of God in Christ. 

In the first line of our hymn, we saw that salvation was God’s idea, decided before the creation of the world, which He brought to fulfillment according to His perfect timing. God planned His saving work, and He worked His plan. 

The second line tells us what that plan was. God sent forth His very own Son. When the Bible calls Jesus the “Son of God,” it means that He is the Lord, the eternally existent Son, the second person of the Triune God. Like the angels announced to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day a savior, who is the Christ, the LORD.” Therefore, when God sent forth His Son, He didn’t send a surrogate or a cheap replica. He came Himself.

The doctrine of justification by faith apart from works depends upon the identity of the One sent to save. The Eternal Son was the only one capable of accomplishing what we could not by our own effort. Only someone who is infinite God could bear the full penalty of sin for all humanity. Therefore, trust in Christ and Christ alone, the only one who can save.

During the Christmas season, we sing many traditional songs that tell of Jesus' birth. Perhaps the most well-known is Silent Night. Other popular hymns include: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” 

But in the book of Galatians, we find a short passage of Scripture that is perhaps the oldest of all the Christmas hymns. Many scholars believe Galatians 4:4-5 was a confession of faith included in early church worship, then later incorporated into the traditional liturgy of Christmas.

More than a fun song to sing gathered around a piano with family and friends, these two verses present the objective basis for the doctrine of justification by faith, which Paul defends throughout his letter. 

So this Advent season, we’ll examine the 5 central ideas found in this ancient Christmas hymn, to better understand the person and saving work of God in Christ.  

The hymn begins, “But when the fullness of time had come...”

The coming of Jesus Christ into human history was no accident. It was the culmination of God’s plan to save that he'd devised before the creation of the world. Not only did God have a plan. He sovereignly worked to bring that plan about according to His perfect timing. What’s more, we also see that God’s sovereign work in salvation still continues today, even in our own lives. The implications are immense. Because God has a plan and because He is the one who works His plan, we can patiently persevere.

The ending is important to any good story. It resolves the central conflict. It reveals consequences for the characters, whether good or bad, which provides closure. A good ending ties together themes and motifs, thus clarifying the story’s message. If the book is part of a series, the author will plant a hook to set up the sequel.

And so it is as we conclude our salvation story. In this final episode of Luke’s Gospel, we read about the disciples’ commissioning. Jesus’ last words reinforce the themes of Scriptural fulfillment and ongoing Apostolic witness. 

Luke then uniquely contributes an account of Jesus’ ascension, with which he will also begin his sequel. Jesus’ ascension marks the climactic conclusion of his earthly ministry and the beginning of his heavenly reign. In response to this dramatic spectacle, the disciples worship Jesus. So we see that the salvation story, rooted in the Word and reinforced by our witness, results in worship of the only one who is worthy. 

The ultimate ending to the salvation story is that we, and the many others we invite, experience great joy by participating in the worship of our great God and King. 

“Circle of Life,” composed by Elton John, was the title track to the iconic Disney film, The Lion King. The song describes an interconnected, cyclical nature of existence, where birth, growth, death, and rebirth form a continuous loop. These concepts are common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and nature-based spirituality. It can make for heartwarming fiction. But the Bible contains a different explanation about the nature of existence and the end of life.

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Jesus appeared alive to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, revealing Himself to them in the Scriptures and in the breaking of the bread. He then mysteriously disappeared. Was this just an apparition, a ghostlike appearance? Perhaps Jesus’ resurrection was just spiritual.

As we continue to read, Jesus now appears to the entire group of gathered disciples. He shows them his hands and his feet. Because they are still incredulous, he eats a piece of broiled fish right there in front of them. Jesus proved that he was no ghost. Jesus was raised bodily from the dead. 

Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead is the basis of the Christian hope, shaping our understanding of human existence. We will one day be raised bodily from the dead too. It’s not a mystical or spiritual fantasy. It is real; a material, eternal existence that changes how we embrace our bodies today.

Can anything be certain in life? Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “But, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Yet we go throughout our day with varying degrees of certainty about many things. You’re probably pretty certain that your alarm clock will go off in the morning, so that you can make it to work on time. You’re probably reasonably certain that your car will start and get you safely down the road. On your way to the office, you might stop at Scooters, order a coffee, and pay with your card. You’re fairly certain that the transaction will go through. 

Your level of certainty is based on personal experience or perhaps on the observed experience of others. One can board an airplane with a high degree of certainty because there are over 45,000 flights a day without incident. Certainty is the quality of being reliably true.

In the previous episode of our salvation story, a group of women reported that they had gone to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid, but it was empty. What’s more, they claimed to have seen angelic messengers who told them that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Peter didn’t believe their story, so he went to see for himself. He verified that the tomb was indeed empty, and he left pondering if it really could be that Jesus was alive. How could he and all the other disciples be certain?

To answer this question, Luke tells one of the longest and most detailed post-resurrection accounts. Jesus appears to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles north of Jerusalem. Initially, we read that the disciples are kept from recognizing Jesus. But he then reveals himself to them, first explaining to them the Scriptures, and then through the breaking of bread together. 

Luke uses this episode to demonstrate how we all may have certainty about the things that we’ve been taught concerning Jesus. We increase our own certainty by immersing ourselves in the Bible and through the fellowship of the local church.

Though quickly becoming a thing of the past, supermarket tabloids used to entertain shoppers with sensational headlines like, “Woman Gives Birth to Lizard Baby After Mystery Encounter,” or “Scientists Find Evidence of Atlantis… At the Bottom of Lake Superior,” or “Man Claims His Toaster Can Predict Lottery Numbers.” Today, you no longer have to buy a copy of the National Enquirer to read such headlines. Just scroll your Facebook feed for news that requires the suspension of disbelief. 

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus’ body down from the cross and laid it in a tomb. A group of women prepared some spices and ointments for his burial. But as we continue to read, when they arrived at the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week, they were surprised to find the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body no longer there. 

While they were theorizing about what could have possibly happened, two angels appeared and delivered a mind-blowing message. “He is not here, but has risen.” A dead man rising from the dead is completely contrary to any rational thought. Yet the bodily resurrection of Jesus is foundational to the entire Christian religion. Is this just some fictitious tale?

Our author, Luke, demonstrates that the disciples were not gullible, wide-eyed fanatics looking to invent a story. In fact, they were hesitant to believe, which reinforces the credibility of their report. Pausing, investigating, and verifying the claims of such a dramatic, history-altering event gives insight into the nature of Biblical faith. We should all look and see for ourselves that these things are true.

Family friends recently buried a loved one at Arlington National Cemetery. Such a ceremony follows a respectful and solemn protocol. Mourners participate in a formal procession, seated in designated areas according to relation and then rank. Next, a military honor guard will carefully and ceremoniously fold the flag, which is then presented to the next of kin. Finally, a gun detail fires off three volleys in rapid, synchronized succession. With the heaviness of the shots still hanging in the air, taps is played by a bugler. The ceremony is marked by dignity and respect, honoring the service and sacrifice of the individual.

Continuing in our salvation story, we read about the burial of Jesus. Luke gives an in-depth description of the character of those who attended to Jesus’ body. They were devout, morally upright people who treated him with care and respect. Though Jesus died like a criminal, he would be buried like a king.  

Luke presents Joseph of Arimathea and the women who followed Jesus from Galilee as model disciples. We are all called to honor Jesus’ sacrifice by being pious people. 

What are some symbols of strength? There is the iconic Atlas from Greek mythology holding up the earth. There is the bull on Wall Street that symbolizes financial optimism, prosperity, and a strong economy. The eagle has symbolized strength, courage, freedom, and authority across various cultures, including here in America, as well as ancient Rome. 

The cross is the most precious symbol in the Christian religion. However, it is no symbol of strength. Rather, it was an instrument of suffering and shame. 

As we continue reading in our salvation story, we see Jesus in his weakest, most vulnerable moment. Yet, paradoxically, in the midst of his humiliation are unexpected feats of divine strength.

Luke records four unique statements not included in the other crucifixion accounts that reveal Jesus was no helpless victim of unjust suffering. He was more than a martyr. He was who he claimed to be. Jesus was King, with the power to save.

As disciples, we are called to take up our own cross and follow Jesus. It is in our weakness that we display true Christ-crucified strength.

Humans are often terrible judges of what we truly want, frequently prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term well-being. Our choices are often guided by intuition and external influences rather than rational thought. In contrast, Jesus has a fundamentally different approach to power, which isn't about control or self-promotion, but about the ability to transform people through self-emptying love. This is exemplified by his rejection by the people, who chose an insurrectionist over him, preferring a path of fighting back rather than loving enemies. Ultimately, Jesus creates a new way to be human: because Jesus took our place, we are free to live a Spirit-filled life—a life characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness, rather than being driven by selfish desires or political power.

This week, the Major League Baseball playoffs began with a series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. These teams have a long shared history, passionate fans, and geographic proximity that fuel an us vs them mentality.

Rivalries don’t just exist in sports. There are sibling rivalries that sometimes produce feelings of jealousy and charges of favoritism. There are religious rivalries, Catholic versus Protestant. Of course, there are political rivalries, back and forth between the R’s and the D’s. Some are even passionate about their brand of truck, Ford versus Chevy.

In the previous episode of our salvation story, Jesus was subjected to a sham trial at the hands of the religious leaders who convicted him of blasphemy. We now read that they brought Jesus before the civil authorities, who had the power to put him to death. But the charges changed. The trial hinged on Jesus’ controversial claim to be king. Though historic rivals, both the religious and civil authorities came together against the Lord and His Anointed. Those alliances forged against Jesus’ kingship would continue on into the early church and still persist today. It’s not us vs. them. It’s about siding with Jesus, the coming king.