Hello
Friends!
During
this week’s gathering, we’ll continue to work our way through the book written
to the Galatians as we consider
the ONE and ONLY saving “salvation” message of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “Only ONE Gospel!”
Galatians: Only ONE Gospel! (Chapter 4:21-31)
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the
law? 22 For it
is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a
freewoman. 23 But he who was of the
bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are
the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage,
which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is
mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in
bondage with her children. 26 But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that
bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate
hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children
of promise. 29 But as then he that was
born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it
is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the
scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman
shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So
then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free – Galatians 4:21-31
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: There are NO actual
“allegories“ found ANYWHERE
in the Bible. That is to say, there are no certain stories either fictional
nor literal that
on their surface are meaningless in order to conceal
a hidden
midden of that which is the REAL meaning. Incidentally, this is the only
place in the Bible where the verb “allgore” is used and was
transliterated into “allegory”
from the Greek word “Agoreu” giving it an English sound.
Actually, its meaning renders: “to speak in public”
and “Allos” means
“another.” Thus, together it translates
into: “to speak of one thing by referring to another.” Therefore,
this poignant passage of “scripture”
succinctly serves as an illustrious LITERAL
Biblical – Illustration!
TWO Covenants!
QUIZZING QUESTION: To begin this next section of “scripture” Paul inquires of these “foolish” folks by addressing them with a
very IMPORTANT question: “Tell
me…”
Tell me,
ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? – Galatians 4:21
At
this point in his “epistle” to the grandiose “Galatian” saints, the “Apostle Paul” is very perplexed with
these “brethren” of whom had gotten
sucked up “under” the external
luminous “law” that once identified “Israel” as the unique people of “God” but had become TWISTED over time into a jaundice “Jewish”
fractured “form” of LEGALISM that was completely CONTRARY to His original intent.
Thus, Paul asks them again if they indeed “desire” this damning DOOM and
thus “hear the law”
with a right UNDERSTANDING of exactly WHAT
it all actually means in its – PROPER Context?
POIGNANT POINT: The ONLY Bible “Paul”
ever “preached” from was the Old Testament itself. WHY?
Because the New Testament was in the process
of being “written” down! Therefore,
Paul would “preach the gospel” as drawn directly
from the Old Testament text. Thus back
in chapter 3
of this excellent exposition, Paul addressed “justification”
by “faith” absolutely ALONE as he drew out the PROOF from
the ONLY Bible
available
at that time. Therefore, these “Gentiles”
have been made literate of the Old Testament by rightly “hearing”
this familiar HISTORY once again as another BIBLICALLY based illustrious – Illustration, Interpretation & Implication!
Biblical Illustration
With
exegetical
eloquence, Paul continues his line of “reasoning”
with another reference to “it is
written” in formulating his argument once again
concerning the LITERAL life of “Abraham” mined directly
from God’s wonderful Word:
For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a
freewoman. But he who was of the
bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the
mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem
which now is, and is in bondage with her children – Galatians 4:22-25
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Here again Paul
Biblically ILLUSTRATES the HISORICAL and LITERAL
accounts of the “two covenants” in which SEPARATE the waning “works
of the flesh” from true “faith”
completely ALONE. And indeed “Abraham” had “two
sons” of whom were “born”
unto him: “Ishmael” was first
and “Isaac” was second. The
first “one” was “born” unto him “by”
the unmarried
brandish “bondwoman” named “Agar” and the “other”
was “born” unto him years later “by” the “freewoman”
named “Sarai” his wife.
Thus, the “son” of the “bondwoman” was “born
after the flesh” but conversely the “son” of the “free
woman” was “born by promise”
and BOTH births were according to “God’s” perfect PROVIDENTIAL plan…
Now Sarai
Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose
name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto
my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to
the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian,
after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her
husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and
when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy
bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes:
the Lord judge between me and thee… And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's
name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael – Genesis 16:1-5 & 15
And God said, Sarah thy wife
shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will
establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed
after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him,
and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes
shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant
will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set
time in the next year – Genesis
17:19-21
Therefore,
“Ishmael” also refers to a LITERAL historical ILLUSTRATION of “those”
who attempt
to piously “please God” by their weak “works” of the “flesh”
focus. CONVERSELY, “Isaac” is also a LITERAL
historical ILLUSTRATION of “them”
who “do” the “will
of God” by “faith”
found according to His “promise”
of “salvation” through His “Son” our “Lord
Jesus Christ” alone. It is HE Whom does the “work” and it is HE Whom brings it to “pass” and it is HE Whom rightly “receives”
absolutely ALL the great – Gracious Glory!
Divine
Interpretation
Next,
the divine INTERPRETATION is found
in stark CONTRAST to the “bondage”
of “Jerusalem”
and her “children”
of “disobedience” in the “flesh”
realm itself. Thus, Paul now describes the “Jerusalem” from “above” of whom are “free” in “Jesus Christ” our Lord. And once again,
Paul quotes directly from the Old Testament text:
But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth
and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children
than she which hath an husband – Galatians
4:26-27
Sing, O barren,
thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that
didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate
than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord – Isaiah 54:1
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The man-centered jaded “Judaism” taken out of CONTEXT
from the Old Covenant is spiritual “bondage”
unto the “law” and “sin” and “judgment”
and “death” and “hell”
itself. Thus, the “barren”
broken “children of the desolate”
here are akin to “Hagar,” “Ishmael,” “Sinai,”
“Egypt,” “Alexandria,” “Canaan,” “flesh,” “works,”
“slavery,” “fear,”
“fire,” “blackness,”
“darkness” and eternal “death” alike:
For ye are not come unto the
mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and
darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words;
which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to
them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so
much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with
a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and
quake – Hebrews 12:18-21
Then
CONTRAST that
to the “Jerusalem which is above”
representing the “children of the married
wife” found in the New Covenant and “our”
spiritual “mother” so to speak:
But ye are come unto mount Sion,
and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an
innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that
of Abel – Hebrews 12:22-24
Therefore,
“we” are ETERNALLY connected to a spiritual “city
of the living God” and “heavenly”
home encompassed
by a “company of angels” in the “New Jerusalem”
afresh. And just as the “birth”
of “Isaac” was miraculous in
nature, so is “ours” as regenerated
anew “just men made perfect” and “children of promise”
by the “Spirit”
of the “living God” through “Jesus the mediator” for the “new covenant” eternal…
Now we,
brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was
born after the Spirit, even so it is now – Galatians 4:28-29
This
is the divine INTERPRETATION in that “Abraham”
had TWO sons:
“Ishmael” and “Isaac”
born of TWO mothers: “Hagar”
and “Sarah” representing TWO covenants:
“old” and “new.”
In TWO Jerusalems:
The “Jerusalem” of which is now
on “earth” and the “Jerusalem”
that will one day be an abode “above”
found in great glory. Therefore, this “Hagar”
represents looming “law,” brandishing “bondage” and a dooming “death” eternal. CONVERSELY,
this “Sarah” represents great “grace,” fabulous “faith”
and loving “life” eternal – Spiritually & Literally!
Personal
Implication
The
greatest persecutor of the true “church”
of our “Lord Jesus Christ” is the “fallen” and “foolish”
fickle “false religion” found throughout
the evil myriad of subversive systems proclaiming a “works righteousness”
engineered by “Satan” himself. Therefore, “we” must diligently “Cast out” this belligerent “bondwoman and her son”
with deep DISCERNMENT as firmly commanded
by “God” Himself. WHY?
Because according to the “scripture”
the sound “son of the
freewoman” is NOT at
all an “heir”
with the salacious “son of the
bondwoman” as they are spiritually – INCOMPATIBLE!
Nevertheless
what saith the scripture? 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 – Galatians 4:30-31
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Paul again here quotes
the Old Testament book
of beginnings Genesis in where “Sarah”
approaches “Abraham” and then “God” approaches “Abraham”
with this message: We MUST rightly rid ourselves of this “Hagar” and her “religious”
legalistic “lad” looming in “grievous” error. WHY?
Because it is NOT possible for the true “seed” to coexist with brazen “bondage” within our spiritual family…
Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her
son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son,
even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight
because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy
sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all
that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall
thy seed be called – Genesis 21:10-12
And
the personal IMPLICATION found here “saith”
the “scripture”
is this: “We” absolutely WILL experience
maniacal “mocking” from the “son of Hagar the Egyptian” and should thus
– EXPECT persecution!
And the child grew, and was
weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And
Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto
Abraham, mocking… – Genesis
21:8-9
Beloved,
“Ishmael” can NOT rightly “inherit”
along with “Isaac” and thus “religious” people under the blinding “bondage” will NOT eternally “inherit”
with those of whom are FREE in “Jesus Christ”
our Lord. Therefore, the personal IMPLICATION of the “foolish”
folks who are trying to “please God”
by the “flesh” through their own
waning “works” will NOT at
all “inherit” with those of whom have “come” completely by “grace”
through “faith” alone – They CANNOT!
In closing:
Our
great “God” uses His “law” to evaluate EVERY human “soul”
who has EVER lived and each VIOLATION of “God’s law”
constitutes a TERMINAL final “judgment”
that finally
ends in “hell” fire. There is NO spiritual
FREEDOM to
the “lost” and UNREPENTANT person habitually living in a “sinful’ way. Thus, they are NOT FREE from the demands of the “law” nor the record of the “Law Maker” nor the penalty of which
the “Righteous Judge” will impose upon them.
Therefore, every UNFORGIVEN person is DOOMED under His – Divine Curse!
However… Once “we”
boldly “believed” on “Jesus Christ” our Lord, we are FREE from
the “law” itself and the PENALTIES from the moral “law of God”
Himself. And as a “Christian” we are also FREE from
the ceremonial
and ritual
rote “religion” that was a part of
“Judaism” when “God”
eternally identified His “people”
within the “nation” of “Israel” through “Abraham”
to be His “witnesses” in the world. And
now, EVERY true “believer”
in our Lord “Jesus Christ” is set FREE from
these “religious” restrictions. WHY? Because ALL of
that perfect “law” was the symbolic
standard of His PERFECT eternal “Son”
through obedience in His “incarnate”
first coming. And when the REALITY of our great “God”
through His sweet “Son” had arrived, these
Biblical SYMBOLS had been finally
– FULFILLED in Jesus
Christ!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
these thoughts in consideration towards your own personal studies, please read
through verses 21-31 in the fourth chapter of
the excellent book to the Galatians.
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – Come quickly Lord Jesus!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
