Galatians 4:21-31

                                                                 Galatians 4:21-31

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.  But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.  Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.  Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.  For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.  But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.  But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

There is a means of salvation that was planned and promised by God.  We cannot work for this gift or earn it in any way.  Paul demonstrates this truth by going back to Abraham who was given the promise long before there was a Law.  This is a strong argument to show how man is constantly striving to be saved by his own merit as opposed to trusting the Lord and His promises.  It is vital that we understand the way of salvation God has determined.

 

SALVATION IS NOT BY THE FLESH: Abraham was given the promise of a son through his wife Sarah. However, since she was beyond the age of childbearing, they attempted to “help” God by having a child through Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar.  This child was born according to the flesh and was not considered the rightful heir of Abraham.  God miraculously opened Sarah’s womb and the child of promise was born.  This is an illustration of how any attempt to be saved according to the works of the flesh is futile.  God has promised salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus, and any attempt to add to that salvation by our own works is not only unnecessary but is detrimental.  

 

SALVATION IS NOT BY THE LAW: The two sons that were fathered by Abraham are compared to the covenants of God given to His people.  The first son generated by the works of the flesh is compared to the Law given on Mt. Sinai and the current Jerusalem as a symbol of the center for the Jewish keeping of the Law.  The second son, Isaac, was born by the miraculous work of God corresponds to the covenant of grace that is represented by the promised Jerusalem that comes down from above.  The only means of access to this glorious promise is through faith in Christ.  There is no way in which salvation can be attained by the works of the Law.

 

SALVATION IS BY GOD’S PROMISE: From the time sin came into the world, God promised to save mankind from sin by His gracious provision through the promised Seed of the woman.  This promise was repeated to and revealed to be from the offspring of Abraham.  Jesus in the fulfillment of that gracious and glorious promise.  Any attempt to be saved apart from faith in Christ is a rejection of God’s promise and an exercise in futility.  Salvation is only through faith in Christ.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t attempt to add to salvation through the works of the flesh.  Don’t attempt to be saved by adherence to the Law or religious rituals.  Trust Christ alone as our only hope of being saved.  He is God’s promised provision for us.