PassageWay Church

PassageWay Church
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The weekly messages from Tim Kroeker, Lead Pastor at PassageWay Church in Blair, NE.  Learn more at www.passageway.church.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Galatians 4:4-5 - In the Fullness of Time: The Progression of God’s Perfect Plan

    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.

    33 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Galatians 4:4-5 - In the Fullness of Time: Trusting in the Only One Who Can Save

    "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.

    37 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Galatians 4:4-5 - In the Fullness of Time: Relying Upon the One Who Can Relate

    Away in a Manger is one of the most beloved Christmas carols for children. Sung softly as a lullaby, the lyrics remind us of Jesus’ humble beginnings. You can imagine Mary rocking the newborn baby Jesus in her arms, then gently laying him in the hay. The second verse continues this peaceful scene of nativity, “The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes…” New parents everywhere freeze in both wonder and disbelief. Baby Jesus didn’t cry? What kind of baby was he? This Advent season, we’re reflecting on an 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. The second line tells us what that plan was. God sent forth His Son. When God sent forth His Son, He didn’t send a surrogate. He came Himself. Jesus, the Eternal Son, was the only one capable of accomplishing what we could not by our own effort. So, how was it that the eternally existent Son entered into history to save humanity? How did that work exactly? The third line of our hymn tells us. He was born of a woman. Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary with a body. He grew. He got tired, thirsty, hungry, and became physically weak. He suffered and died. Not only did Jesus have a human body, he also had a human heart with all the emotions, a human mind, and a human will. Jesus was fully human. Contrary to the beloved children’s carol, baby Jesus indeed cried. Jesus was like us in every way, with only one distinction. He was without sin. Jesus revealed what humanity was truly intended to be. He became fully man so that he might save us in full. Therefore, you can entrust every part of your life to Him: your body, emotions, thoughts, relationships, time, and future. We can rely upon His mercy and grace in all things.

    34 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Galatians 4:4-5 - In the Fullness of Time: Escaping the Constraints of Sin

    Harry Houdini was a world-famous Hungarian-American magician, illusionist, and stunt performer. He specialized in escaping seemingly impossible situations. He was perhaps the most famous illusionist known for escaping straitjackets, even while suspended upside down from a crane. He would use flexibility, a specially designed jacket, and sometimes shoulder dislocation to free his arms and then undo the buckles, making it a signature, breathtaking feat that captivated audiences globally.  The entire human race is in a straitjacket of sorts, trapped and rendered powerless by the restraints of sin. Who is able to wrestle himself free? This Advent season, we’re reflecting on an 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. The second line tells us what that plan was. God sent forth His Son. When God sent forth His Son, He didn’t send a surrogate. He came Himself. Jesus, the Eternal Son, was the only one capable of accomplishing what we could not by our own effort. The third line tells us how it was that the eternally existent Son entered into history to save humanity. He was born of a woman. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, Jesus became fully man so that he might save us in full. But when Jesus took on human flesh, what were the conditions under which he entered? The fourth line of our hymn tells us. He was born under the law. Like a straitjacket, Jesus subjected himself to the constraints of the Mosaic law, which he performed perfectly on our behalf. He broke the bonds. The good news of the gospel is not only that our sins are forgiven but that Christ’s active obedience to the law is ascribed to us as well. Therefore, in Christ, we are declared to be righteous in the sight of God. We are free.

    34 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Galatians 4:4-5 - In the Fullness of Time: Delivered from Slavery to Sonship

    For both the believer and non-believer alike, surely the most powerful part of the Christmas story is Jesus’ humble estate. Hollywood itself couldn’t invent a more mind-boggling script. The king of the universe leaves his heavenly throne room, counting as nothing all of his divine glory, the eternal majesty, and endless adulation to become a helpless little baby. He wasn’t born into royalty, but into a family with no social status or monetary means. What’s more, while they were traveling, the time came for the baby to be born. But there was no room for them in the inn. His mother wrapped him cloths and layed him in a manger, a feeding trough for the animals. On the night of his birth, he was visited by common shepherds who’d been out watching their sheep. Jesus became poor. This Advent season, we’re reflecting on an 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. The second line tells us what that plan was. God sent forth His Son. When God sent forth His Son, He didn’t send a surrogate. He came Himself. Jesus, the Eternal Son, was the only one capable of accomplishing what we could not by our own effort. The third line tells us how it was that the eternally existent Son entered into history to save humanity. He was born of a woman. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, Jesus became fully man so that he might save us in full. When Jesus took on human flesh, the fourth line of our hymn tells us the conditions under which he entered. He was born under the law. Like a straitjacket, Jesus subjected himself to the constraints of the Mosaic law, which he performed perfectly on our behalf. The hymn concludes with a resounding explanation of purpose. Why did God send forth His Son? To deliver us out of slavery and into sonship; a remarkable reversal. He became poor so that we might become rich.

    34 min
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About

The weekly messages from Tim Kroeker, Lead Pastor at PassageWay Church in Blair, NE.  Learn more at www.passageway.church.

Information

  • Creator
    PassageWay Church
  • Episodes
    109
  • Seasons
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 PassageWay Church
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    PassageWay Church