In Galatians 4:21 Paul asks us to
look at the picture provided by Abraham’s two sons. If you know your Bible you
will recognize these references as to Ishmael and Isaac. One was of the
freewoman (Isaac) and one was of the bondwoman (Ishmael). The one born to the
bond woman was of the flesh. He came into existence because of the Abraham's
scheming, not according to the working of God. Isaac, the child of the free
woman, was a child of promise. He came into existence because of the promise of
a miracle, which promise Abraham believed.
Romans 4:19-22 And not being weak in faith,
he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred
years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise
of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to
perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
These are symbolic of
two covenants (Galatians 4:24) – one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to
bondage and the other corresponds to Jerusalem. Sinai of course was the place
where the law was given.
Paul concludes by saying this in
verse 28, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise….
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.’
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand
fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
This is the warning and admonition with which we
conclude this study. The seed of bondwoman, representing life under the law,
and the seed of the free woman, representing the life of faith based on the
indwelling Holy Spirit according to the promise of God, are mutually exclusive.
The warning is not to be entangled again in the bondage that comes from trying
to perform in order to reach an acceptable standard with God. So we are to live
by faith, trusting God's promises and living accordingly. We are to accept the
forgiveness freely given by God and not beat ourselves up for our lack of
perfection. God is working on us and molding us more and more into the likeness
of his Son. That's his promise. We need to accept that and trust him with the
outcome.
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