Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

Verse 4. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, and made under the law. Verse 5. That he might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of the sons.

Verse 4. But when the fulnes of time was come, God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman, and made vnder the law. Verse 5. That he might redeeme them which were vnder the law, that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes.

After Paul hath taught, that righteousness and faith can not ⟨p. 297⟩come to us by the Law, neither that we can deserve it by nature, he showeth him by whom we obtain true righteousness & faith, and which is the author of our justification. Now this could not come unto us without any price, for it cost a very great price, even the son of God: The Apostle therefore saith:¹ When the fullness of time was come, that is, when the time was ended, that time, I say, wherein it behoved us to live children and servants under the discipline of the Law. Wherefore the Master of sentences hath erred here, who interpreted the fullness of time, the time of grace, which began at the birth of Christ, plain contrary to the Apostle, who whereas he hath written, the fullness of time, this man hath interpreted it, the time of fullness. For Paul speaketh of the time, which was appointed of the father to the son, wherein he should live under tutors. Now as this time was full come to the Jews and ended, when Christ came in the flesh, so is it daily fulfilled to others, when they come unto the knowledge of Christ, and do change the servitude of the Law with the faith of the sons. And this in deed is that coming, whereby alone we obtain the liberty of sons, without which that corporal coming would avail nothing. For Christ even for this cause hath come unto us, that believing in him, we may be restored to true liberty, by which faith they of the ancient time also obtained the liberty of the spirit. And so, whereas he should come to the holy men of old time, he came even then, forasmuch as by faith they felt him to be their true Saviour and deliverer, howbeit he is not yet come to our Jews, although he is gone away again in body long since: for they do not believe in him. All from the beginning of the world to the end must trust unto the coming of Christ, whereby alone servitude is changed with liberty, but yet by faith, either in Christ being to come, as it was before he was borne: or in him being come, as it is now. Wherefore as soon as thou beginnest to believe in Christ, he cometh unto thee a deliverer and Saviour, & now the time of bondage is ended, that is, as the Apostle speaketh, the fullness thereof is come.