May 17

He was made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:5.

Jesus was not under the Law. He is Lord of all. And yet He placed Himself under the Law and was obedient to the Law for our sakes. He made the beginning to atone for us by shedding His precious blood on the day of His circumcision. A few weeks later He was presented to the Lord in the Temple, and the sacrifice of purification was brought for Him. He put Himself under the Law, as though He were a sinner like all the rest of the children of men. And this He did for us, that He might redeem us.

Jesus is the Substitute of the sinful human race, who "was made" under the Law for our sakes, fulfilling for us the Law's demands, that we might not be eternally condemned by the Law, which we have not fulfilled, but live before God forever. It is clear, to obtain salvation, we must be freed from the bondage and

curse of the Law and from the punishment which we deserve on account of our sins. Now, if you receive Jesus as your Savior and believe that He has kept the Law for you, fulfilled all the divine commandments in your place, and has perfectly atoned for all your sins by His painful suffering and bitter death, you will be free from the curse and bondage of the Law. The Law will no longer condemn you because you trust in Him who has fulfilled it for you.

"That we might receive the adoption of sons." The blessedness of this sonship manifests itself daily in the life of a Christian. If Satan would terrify the Christian on account of his sins, the child of God answers: As long as I was without Christ, you could thus accuse me, but since, through Christ, God is my reconciled and loving Father, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God and also makes intercession for us. In Christ we have a city of refuge, fleeing to which we are safe from the condemnation of the Law.

Prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we pray Thee so to enlighten our hearts that in the mirror of Thy Law we may duly perceive our many and great sins. But grant also that we may ever in true faith lay hold of the all-sufficient merit and obedience of Thy dear Son and thus learn to trust in Thy grace and obtain that peace which the world cannot give. We beseech Thee, create in us a broken and contrite heart that we may sincerely lament our sins and obtain from Thee full remission for them, for the sake of Jesus, our Ransom. Amen.

From heaven descending to fulfil The mandates of His Father's will, For captives He the ransom pays, For lawless man the Law obeys.