Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

fullness of the time (v.4) — end of an appointed period. God had promised to send a Redeemer and knew, but had not announced, when that Redeemer would come (Acts 1:7).

sent forth (v.4) = with a commission and credentials — the same Greek word from which we get “apostles.”

sent forth His Son (v.4) — Shows the preexistence of the eternal Son

born (v.4) — became

of a woman (v.4) 1 fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. Also, that woman is mentioned and not man points to the virgin birth and sinlessness of Christ.

under the law (v.4) — born a Jew and during the time when the Jews were under the law

redeem (v.5) = buy out of slavery

those who were under the law (v.5) — the Jews, and the Gentiles who had to become Jews to be saved

we (v.5) — believers

adoption (v.5) — not by birth but as a result of God’s grace. Lit. = the place and condition of a son to one to whom it does not belong by natural descent

The Lord Jesus was born  under the law, lived under the law, and died under the penalty of the law which we broke, and in paying our penalty, He delivered us from any claims which the law had against us. He died under law, and in His resurrection, was raised into a realm where law as a legalistic system does not exist. This He did, in order that He might not only deliver us from the law but also raise believers with Himself into a realm where law does not operate. Instead therefore of being children (immature ones, nepios) under law, we became adult sons (huios) under grace. We received the adoption of sons. This expression in the Greek is literally, “in order that we might receive the adult son-placing.”  We could paraphrase it “in order that we might be placed as adult sons.” Thus, we have presented to us the status of a person under grace as compared to that of a person under law. The latter is in his minority, the former in his majority, the latter treated like a minor, the former like an adult. — Wuest, page 116.