This is the first part of a two-part column.
An old hymn asks the question, “Why did my savior come to earth?” This answer to this question is one of the most important answers men will ever hear. The answer is the love God has for mankind. John wrote, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
Later Paul wrote, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). Here in is the reason for Jesus coming to earth.
This love was manifested in Christ leaving heaven and becoming both God and Man. John explained this in John chapter one. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Jn.1:1,2,14). This love is overwhelming as one realizes that the second person of the God Head was willing to come to earth knowing the terrible death that awaited Him.
A sacrifice had to be made for man to have justification.
God had a plan, and His plan was explained to man down through the ages. In the beginning God spoke directly to man. This time in history is called the Patriarchal age.
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Job, were all part of this time. Noah was told by God to build an ark, so that the righteous and all the animals could escape the flood.
This account shows how God is specific in what he wants man to do. Noah followed God’s instructions and was saved from the flood.
God also spoke to Abraham, promising him that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed. This was the promise of Christ coming into the world. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:1-3). His descendants would prosper but would end up as slaves in Egypt.
Following the time that the Israelites spent in Egypt God sent Moses to bring them to the promise land. Moses at first was hesitant about being the leader of the people but God was with him in his efforts. The people had gotten away from being faithful to God, so God gave them a written law on Mt. Sinai. The Law of Moses was designed to help direct the people until the time when Christ came Gal. 3: 16 – 29). The Law was given because of the sins of the people (Gal.
3:19) but it did not do away with the promise given to Abraham. Paul referred to it as a school master to bring them to Christ.
Many mistake the reason for the Law. It was not to take the place of Christ for if it could have done that there would have been no reason for Christ to come and be crucified (Gal. 3:21). It was not designed to take the place of the Messiah. It was a part of God’s plan because the people needed instruction to help them grow closer to God. Paul called it the “schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24). That word in the Greek would be what the language used today would be as a “school bus”. In God’s plan that law would end and then the law of Christ would take effect. Space in this article would not permit looking at all involve in the changing from the Law of Moses to the Law of Christ, but the book of Hebrew goes to great lengths to explain why the Law of Christ is “better”.
All of this has to do with “Why my savior came to earth”. To be continued next week.