The Promise

Galatians 4:21–31 NIV84

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

1. There is the law and faith in Christ

Reliance on the law is a sign of immaturity

Faith in Christ produces children who become heirs of God’s promises

An heir receives the inheritance when he or she becomes of age—matures

The law holds you by the hand to tell you what is right and wrong

Faith in Christ takes you to maturity, not needing the law to determine what is right and wrong

The Tree in the Garden made Adam and Eve aware of right and wrong—maybe before they were mature

2. Abraham had two women

Two women — Hagar and Sarah

Two covenants

One under the law — ordinary way

Covenant of works

One under the promise — supernatural way

Covenant of Grace — Jesus took the sin of the world

No conditions need to be met by us because Jesus met them all

Grace gives, faith, repentance, good works, salvation, and much more

Sarah was the original wife—before Hagar was born

Grace before works

Hagar had the first son—Adam (Ishmael)

Sarah the older, the original, had the second son—Jesus (Isaac)

Hagar was never a wife but a servant

The law was never the end just a servant

Hagar was never free

Sarah was never a slave

3. Abraham had two sons

They are types of those who live under each covenant

Isaac is a type of those who walk and live by faith and not by sight

Isaac is a type of those who hope to be saved by grace

Ishmael is a type of those who live by works

Ishmael is a type of those who hope to be saved by good deeds

The legalist is the older

The older will bully the younger

Today’s Ishmaelites boast about their power of reasoning

Isaac is an heir according to the Promise not logic

Logic or reason would give Ishmael the inheritance

Both were circumcised but they were different—legalist and Christian—they appear the same

4. The natural and the supernatural

Hagar was young and of childbearing age

Sarah was beyond childbearing age

Abraham was younger when he went with Hagar and produced a child because it was easy

Abraham was older and Sarah was older and barren—the Promise trumps human limits

We are born in the natural way—a slave to sin

We must be born again, in the supernatural way—free from the wages of sin

Natural gives birth to natural

Supernatural gives birth to supernatural

Slaves give birth to slaves

Free people give birth to free children

5. You, like Isaac, are children of Promise

Stop being judgemental

Stop persecuting those who don’t know Jesus

Get rid of the slave mentality

Slave mentality will never get you the inheritance

Freely you receive, freely give

You have been set free

Do not go back into bondage

You are a child of Promise