Sunday 22^nd February 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

The perfect remedy
There’s something perfectly fitting about the way God chose to redeem us, as we might expect from the God who does all things well.  Jesus was ‘born of a woman … that we might receive adoption to sonship’ and he was ‘born under the law, to redeem those under the law.’ 

And it happened ‘when the set time had fully come.’  It was just right in every way.

This means we can be sure that our redemption and our adoption have been done properly and perfectly.  So our redemption is secure, and we won’t be returned to slavery – ever.  And our adoption is sure, and we won’t suddenly find ourselves disinherited and thrown out of the family.

Furthermore, being both God and man, Jesus is perfectly suited to redeem men and women and restore us to God.  Again, it’s just right.

Augustine uses the analogy of medicine and healing to describe God becoming man in Christ for our salvation as the perfect remedy:

“As the use of remedies is the way to health, so this remedy took up sinners to heal and restore them.

“… our medicine, Wisdom, was by his assumption of humanity adapted to our wounds …

“… the Wisdom of God in healing man has applied himself to his cure, being himself healer and medicine both in one.”

I especially value his insight that God is both our healer and our medicine, as he not only provides the remedy, or tells us where it may be found, but even applies himself to our wounds in order to heal us.

Prayer
Lord, may I never to cease to marvel at your wisdom in redeeming us in the most perfect way.  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)