Faith and Freedom: Children of the Promise

Paul is addressing people who desire to be under the Law.

This is why it’s not worth your while:

Abraham had 2 boys: Ishmael and Isaac

One was born to a slave woman (Hagar)

Ishmael was born according to the flesh. What does that mean?

Took God’s promises in their own hands??

Born ‘the ordinary way’

One was born to a free woman (Sarah)

Isaac was born as a result of divine promise

Hagar and Sarah are representative of 2 Covenants:

First Covenant represents Hagar

Who was Hagar?

Egyptians servant (16:1)

Sarah gave her servant to Abraham.

Mount Sinai (Mosaic)

Born as Slaves

Hagar= Mount Sinai= Earthly Jerusalem

Second Covenant represents Sarah

Jerusalem ‘that is above’

Is free! She is our Mother

You (even Gentiles) are children of the promise

Sum: 2 sons. 2 identities. 2 Covenants. 2 Jerusalems.

Interaction between Brothers:

The ‘Of the Flesh’ brother persecuted the son born by the ‘power of the Spirit’

Persecution exists to this day!

What does Scripture say?

Get rid of Hagar and Ishmael, for Hagar and Ishmael weren’t part of the promise

Same is true of these Judaizers coming in and persecuting the Galatians. They aren’t children of the promise!

We are not children of slavery but of the free woman!

Notes:

Display differences

Stott: “One of the Jews’ loudest and proudest boasts was that they were descended from Abraham, the father and founder of their race.”

Show Application:

Remarkable that Paul connects people rooted in the Law (Israel) find their spiritual mother as Hagar!

Like this: Your ancestry has issues!

Not everything is what you think it is!

Stott: “One of the Jews’ loudest and proudest boasts was that they were descended from Abraham, the father and founder of their race.”

Stott: “So John the Baptist needed to say to his Jewish contemporaries: ‘do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham’ ().”

Relation to Abraham is not physical (not through ordinary means) but Spiritual (from a City ‘above’)

: God promises to restore Zion.

McKnight: “In fact, by associating their being the true Jerusalem in the sense of fulfilling 54:1, Paul is saying that those who believe in Christ are living in the new era, the era of fulfillment. They are “more” numerous, meaning that God has blessed them more.”

Understanding of Isaiah quote:

Stott: “Paul goes on (in verse 27) to quote . Its reference to two women, one barren and the other with children, is not to Hagar and Sarah, but to the Jews. The prophet is addressing the exiles in Babylonian captivity. He likens their state in exile, under divine judgment, to that of a barren woman finally deserted by her husband, and their future state after the restoration to that of a fruitful mother with more children than ever. In other words, God promises that His people will be more numerous after their return than they were before. This promise received a literal but partial fulfilment in the restoration of the Jews to the promised land. But its true, spiritual fulfilment, Paul says, is in the growth of the Christian church, since Christian people are the seed of Abraham.”

Persecution:

“There is no explicit reference of Ishmael actually persecuting Isaac in the Old Testament. There are two explanations: (1) the statement in that Ishmael was “playing with” Isaac was understood to mean “teasing” and then throughout Jewish history came to mean “persecution,” or (2) the history of conflict between Arabs and Jews was enough to attribute such to the head of the Arabs, Ishmael (e.g., ; ). See R. N. Longenecker, Galatians, 217; F. F. Bruce, Galatians, 223–24.”

Ishmael 17, Isaac 3.

But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.

Stott: “Such, then, is the double lot of ‘Isaacs’—the pain of persecution on the one hand and the privilege of inheritance on the other. We are despised and rejected by men; yet we are the children of God, ‘and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ’ ().”

There is no explicit reference of Ishmael actually persecuting Isaac in the Old Testament. There are two explanations: (1) the statement in that Ishmael was “playing with” Isaac was understood to mean “teasing” and then throughout Jewish history came to mean “persecution,” or (2) the history of conflict between Arabs and Jews was enough to attribute such to the head of the Arabs, Ishmael (e.g., ; ). See R. N. Longenecker, Galatians, 217; F. F. Bruce, Galatians, 223–24.”

Rereading of the narrative. Paul is interpreting this text in a way that we do no have the freedom to do.

Citizens of the New Jerusalem

Who are the chosen people of God?

Sarah tried to take matters into her own hands by giving Abraham Hagar.

Abraham and Sarah host 3 visitors, one of which is the LORD. Sara laughs at the thought of being pregnant at her age.

God’s response: “I’m going to do this my way.” : God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”

Abraham and Sarah host 3 visitors, one of which is the LORD. Sara laughs at the thought of being pregnant at her age.

What does it mean to be like Isaac?

Child of the Promise!

Faith through the Spirit

Theme: Christianity is a religion of grace and not one initiated (Abraham with Hagar) or maintained (Hagar=Mosaic Covenant).

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

Hagar

Egyptian. Sarah’s slave. Offered to Abraham from Sarah herself to have a child in order to carry on the family name.

Hagar is sort of a tragic figure who has always had a soft spot for me. Here she is, a slave, away from her homeland, offered to Abraham to conceive a child that won’t belong to her. Gets pregnant, and when she does get pregnant, Sarah resents her and treats her like dirt. Hagar flees Sarah only for an angel of the Lord to command her to return and submit to Sarah. Hagar eventually gives birth to a son: Ishmael.

Sarah

Abraham’s wife. Not a slave or concubine, but free. God will be using Abraham and Sarah to produce another boy who will be the inheritor of God’s Covenant

Sarah is a tougher person to figure out. For example, she laughs when the Lord tells her she’ll be pregnant. The Lord asked Abraham why his wife laughed? Sarah lies- like, to the Lord- and say, “I did not laugh.” But God responds with this mic drop statement, “Yes, you did laugh.” ().

Sarah did not, could not believe she would get pregnant in her 90s, and could you blame her? It would take a miracle.

Ishmael

Son of Hagar, servant girl from Egypt. Considered the Father or the Arabians. Wild man and wild ancestry.

: And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.

Ishmael helped Isaac bury Abraham when he died.

And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.

Ishmael helped Isaac bury Abraham when he died.

12 sons: Became tribal leadesr

Isaac

Son of Sarah herself, in her 90s, miraculously conceives and gives birth.

God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac only to replace the sacrifice at the last moment.

Isaac marries beautiful Rebecca.

: Abraham gave everything he owned when he died to Isaac

Two Identities

Flesh

Born according to the flesh

Sarah took matters in her own hands and sent Hagar to Abraham to continue the family name.

Before Isaac came around, even Abraham, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”):

Abraham fell and laughed at God when he said he’d have a child with Sarah (). Abraham tried to take matters into his own hands by presenting to God Ishmael

God’s response: “I’m going to do this my way.” : God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

Promise

Isaac: Born through Promise

Born through Promise

God miraculously opened Sarah’s barren womb and give her the gift of life

Isaac was the inheritor of the estate

God’s Promises of Land, a Nation, Prosperity, “I will be your God, you shall be my people”

After Abraham suggested Ishmael as the sole inheritor, God responds:

God’s response: “I’m going to do this my way.”

: God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

History turned into Allegory

Covenant #1: Hagar:

Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she co

One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

You’ll notice, up to this point, I’ve never mentioned anything about Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai had to do with Moses. With the Nation of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai Centuries after Hagar lived. Mount Sinai has to do with Israel receiving the Stone Tablets with the Law inscribed on them.

What does Hagar have to do with Sinai?

Well, what Paul is doing here is something remarkable- remarkably controversial, actually. What Paul is doing is he’s using the person of Hagar to help the Galatians understand 1st Century Judaism.

Paul’s taking the concepts of Hagar: Slavery, a weaker covenant, no inheritance, fleshy existence, and compares that to the Covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai.

Total Flip in understanding:

Knetsch: Discovered that there’s a history of witchcraft in our family

Witch Doctor? No way… That’s doesn’t fit...

This is way worse! This is saying being bound to the Law after Christ means you are connecting yourself to a family tree totally disconnected from the Promise.

Covenant #2: Sarah!

Sarah is the free woman! She’s the one who had the miraculous conception. She’s the one who gave birth to Isaac!

She’s the one who gave birth to the child who will receive the Promise!

Earthly Jerusalem

Israel: Stuck with the brick and mortal of Jerusalem, who have the steps and stones of the Temple and the exchange of earthly goods each day in the Temple court, these Nation stuck in Nationalism and religious slavery- That’s Hagar!

Desire to live under the Law is to disassociate yourself from Abraham!

Paul is essentially saying: 1st Century Judaism is no longer related to Abraham because that would be thinking about salvation history in terms of bloodline and not faith!

Jerusalem Above is Free!

Sarah is the free woman! She’s the one who had the miraculous conception. She’s the one who gave birth to Isaac!

“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.”

break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!

: God promises to restore Zion.

She’s the one who gave birth to the child who will receive the Promise!

For the children of the desolate one will be more

: God promises to restore Zion.

McKnight: “In fact, by associating their being the true Jerusalem in the sense of fulfilling 54:1, Paul is saying that those who believe in Christ are living in the new era, the era of fulfillment. They are “more” numerous, meaning that God has blessed them more.”

than those of the one who has a husband.”

Stott: “Paul goes on (in verse 27) to quote . Its reference to two women, one barren and the other with children, is not to Hagar and Sarah, but to the Jews. The prophet is addressing the exiles in Babylonian captivity. He likens their state in exile, under divine judgment, to that of a barren woman finally deserted by her husband, and their future state after the restoration to that of a fruitful mother with more children than ever. In other words, God promises that His people will be more numerous after their return than they were before. This promise received a literal but partial fulfilment in the restoration of the Jews to the promised land. But its true, spiritual fulfilment, Paul says, is in the growth of the Christian church, since Christian people are the seed of Abraham.”

Understanding of Isaiah quote:

New Jerusalem, Jerusalem from Above is the City of God waiting for those who have faith like Abraham!

It’s Free! Christianity is about Grace

Stott: “Paul goes on (in verse 27) to quote . Its reference to two women, one barren and the other with children, is not to Hagar and Sarah, but to the Jews. The prophet is addressing the exiles in Babylonian captivity. He likens their state in exile, under divine judgment, to that of a barren woman finally deserted by her husband, and their future state after the restoration to that of a fruitful mother with more children than ever. In other words, God promises that His people will be more numerous after their return than they were before. This promise received a literal but partial fulfilment in the restoration of the Jews to the promised land. But its true, spiritual fulfilment, Paul says, is in the growth of the Christian church, since Christian people are the seed of Abraham.”

Two moms

Two Sons

Two Identities

Two Covenants

Two Jerusalems

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 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. 30 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.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Identity: Something a Christian “IS”

Child of Promise: Belonging to the Right Family Tree

Galatians: Your family tree goes to Abraham because you’re related Spiritually in faith!

Don’t forget who you are and what family tree you’re a part of.

Pride in the Name Knetsch:

“Knight” “Short Stocky farmer”

My mom did research on the name Knetsch:

Don’t take on the wrong identity or family name! Don’t get that confused!

Knetsch Research: 1534: First time Knetsch name is used

19 Generations back, but the name became Knetsch in the 15th Generation

Knetsch Research: 1534: First time Knetsch name is used

12 Generation: Theis Knetsch: Accused of Witchcraft

Can’t find my identity in my last name.

What defines me more than my earthy name is my Spiritual identity!

12 Generation: Theis Knetsch: Accused of Witchcraft

Paul is telling them: Don’t find your identity is the wrong family tree!

Don’t find your identity in a people, place and covenant that doesn’t fall in line with being a Child of God!

Child of Promise is about what Family tree you’re a part of.

Your Spiritual Family Tree is what matters, and trying to tie into an earthly family tree is going backwards in history!

Don’t find pride in being tied to Old Jersualem!

What did Isaac do to become a Child of Promise?

Be born!

Christians just need to be reborn! Reborn in the Spirit, in faith, and just like, that you receive all the benefits of receiving Christ, and all his benefits!

You are like Isaac: Born into Promise, by grace, through faith, into Christ’s Family.

This passage is a reminder to us that Christianity is a religion of grace.

v. 26: Jersualem from Above, our future inheritance, IS FREE!

Performance can’t change Identity

YOU ARE A CHILD, so STOP PERFORMING SO MUCH!

Don’t be like Ishmael: Born outside the Promise, in slavery, in the wrong side of salvation history.

Practice: Something a Christian “DOES”

Rabbi Bruce Kadden: rabbi at Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington

1. Faithful to his place: Never leaves Israel

2. Faithful to his Wife: One wife and doesn’t sleep with concubines when Rebecca was barren

: And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren.

3. Identity from God himself: Name isn’t changed

What did Isaac do

Child of Promise: Faithfulness

As a Child of Promise, Isaac had a faithfulness to him, a character trait that was unusal!

Paul labels the Galatians and to us as Children of Promise:

Like Isaac in that we are called to experience the IDENTITY OF BEING A CHILD OF PROMISE

Inheritance! Faith, Christ, Holy Spirit, Eternal Life, New Jerusalem!

Children of Promise gives us hope and purpose! Gives us a sense of family as a church! Gives us a sense of purpose for our programming.

Faith ties them into the Family Tree!

Faithfulness:

Faith makes the Children of the Promise, connected directly to Abraham!

How do we exercise faithfulness?

Newsboys: “He doesn’t love us because of who we are. He only loves us because of who He is.”

Christianity is based on Grace!

No spiritual

Rabbi Bruce Kadden is the rabbi at Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington

Jerusalem Above is Free

Newsboys: “He doesn’t love us because of who we are. He only loves us because of who He is.”

Rabbi Bruce Kadden is the rabbi at Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington

Faithful to his place: Never leaves Israel

Faithful to his Wife: One wife and doesn’t sleep with concubines when Rebecca was barren : And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren.

Identity from God himself: Name isn’t changed

Analogy, Illustration:

Get rid of these misplaced, displaced, disconnected, cut off people who are trying to rope you into slavery. Be free, so act as if you’re free.

Do you have people in your life who distract you from faith?

Children of the Promise cut off those who pull them back

Get rid of these misplaced, displaced, disconnected, cut off people who are trying to rope you into slavery. Be free, so act as if you’re free.

Identity: We are children of the slave, but of the free woman!

Be like Isaac! Children of Promise:

Isaac:

One wife and doesn’t sleep with concubines when Rebecca was barren : And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren.

21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And

Name isn’t changed

1.

Analogy, Illustration:

Get rid of these misplaced, displaced, disconnected, cut off people who are trying to rope you into slavery. Be free, so act as if you’re free.

Identity: We are children of the slave, but of the free woman!

Jerusale

Faith and Freedom: Children of the Promise

Faith and Freedom: Children of the Promise

A Bunch of Two

A Bunch of Two

Two Moms:

Two Sons:

Two Identities

Two Covenants

Two Jerusalems

Application:

Like Isaac, you are Children of the Promise

Negative Application

SO: Cast out the slave woman and her son, because Ishmael (1st Century Jews) will not receive the inheritance.

Analogy, Illustration: