Freedom Is Found In Christ

Read

Galatians 4:21–31 (ESV)

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. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 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.”

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.

Opening Prayer

Recap

Don’t turn to the Law for freedom...

It cannot deliver freedom because of the weakness of the flesh to keep it.

The Law imprisons under sin.

Don’t fall for flattery...

Flattery is never intended for the good of the one receiving it.

But, rather for the one giving it.

Remember the gospel...

And, the freedom in Christ.

Pursue Christ and being conformed to His image.

We continue this morning...

Perplexed By Choosing the Yoke of the Law

In v.20 Paul stated that he is perplexed.

He is perplexed at this very thing...

That the Galatians would want to put themselves under the Mosaic covenant.

And so, he’s been driving home his point to the Galatians with many examples...

He’s having them look in every window of the house...

He’s showing them, from different viewpoints and angles...

That what they are pursuing is absurd and nonsensical.

They’re running off a cliff.

Paddling a canoe into a hurricane.

And, so he states here...

And, I believe we see a little of Paul’s perplexity in this statement...

Galatians 4:21 (ESV)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

Paul is saying what Peter stated at the Jerusalem Council in...

Acts 15:10–11 (ESV)

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

The Mosaic Covenant was never intended to drive Israel to self-righteousness...

And, self-reliance before God.

It was intended to be an ever-present reminder of their sinfulness...

And, the death sentence that sin brought.

Every sacrifice was a reminder that I’m a sinner...

And, I need my sin removed...

And, I need God to remove it...

And, since the blood of bulls and goats cannot forgive sin...

Nor clear the conscience...

I desperately need the Promised Seed of God...

Genesis 3:15...

And, THE Promised Offspring of Abraham and David...

Who will bring with Him a new covenant with eternal blessings.

And, so Paul moves on in this passage to show what relying on the Law...

Leaning on self-reliance regarding your standing with God...is really like.

Galatians 4:22–23 (ESV)

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.

Paul is speaking of Hagar and Sarah...

And, Ishmael and Isaac.

Ishmael was born by the works of the flesh...

Through the ability of Abraham and Hagar.

Not trusting God...

Seeking to make the promises of God come true through carnal means...

And carnal ability...

Ishmael was conceived and born.

16 years later, Abraham now being 100

And Sarah being 90-91...

Both incapable of producing offspring...

Isaac, was born by the power and blessing of God.

Not through carnal ability...

But, through God giving ability where there is none.

God doing for man what man cannot do.

God promised Abraham and Sarah an offspring...

And through that offspring would come THE Offspring.

The promises and the inheritance would come through the power of God...

Not the power of the flesh.

The promises and inheritance come from believing God...

Not by self-reliance...

And self-accomplishment.

Which is exactly what the False Teachers were tempting the Galatians to depend upon.

Their own works. Their own keeping of the Ceremonial Laws.

Now, Paul, under the inspiration of the HS, makes this brilliant comparison.

Since the False Teachers are all about lineage...

Paul says, let me tell you which lineage they fall under.

Oh, yes they have Abraham as their Father...

But, not in the way that they like to think and proclaim.

Let’s read.

Galatians 4:24–26 (ESV)

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. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

Reliance on Works Is Of Ishmael

Paul has already shown that the Mosaic covenant is done away with.

It has fulfilled its purpose.

It served as a schoolmaster, a guardian to produce the Christ...

And drive those under it to Christ.

If you still desire to be under it proves...

You didn’t understand it.

You think it gives you righteousness...

And makes you an inheritor of the promises.

But, the ultimate and eternal promise of the Old Covenants was:

the Christ

the Messiah

the Seed

the Promised Offspring

Who would bless the nations with the blessings of His new covenant.

And, if you think, Paul states, along with the gospels...

And all of the New Testament...

If you think that your carnal connection with the Christ is how you gain the promises...

You prove to be of Ishmael.

Proper connection to Christ is by faith.

Faith in His person and His work.

It is not physical birth that gets you into the Kingdom of Christ...

It is being born again, born from above.

Spiritual birth is what gets you into this infinitely more glorious covenant...

And, this infinitely more glorious Kingdom.

So, if you think that being a Jew...

And observing the Mosaic covenant obligates God to give you the promises...

You prove to not understand the Law.

And, if you truly understand the Law...

You will admit your inability to keep it...

And confess that you need to be saved...

And put your faith in the Promised Offspring...

Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:26–27 (ESV)

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

27 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.”

And, if you do that, then you are of Sarah...

Who represents the heavenly Jerusalem...

Where Christ has already ascended...

And prepares a place for all those who look upon Him in faith.

Those of faith are the true spiritual children of Abraham.

Which is exactly what Paul states...

Galatians 4:28 (ESV)

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Gentiles, by faith in Christ, are of Isaac!

And Jews, by the flesh, who lack faith, are of Ishmael!

Imagine how the False Teachers will respond to such a doctrine.

Most likely the same way the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did...

With hatred and murderous scheming.

So, Paul understands this and makes them aware of what may come if they reject the False Teachers.

Galatians 4:29 (ESV)

29 But just as at that time he [Ishmael] who was born according to the flesh persecuted him [Isaac] who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

Paul is saying...

The Persecution of God’s Chosen Ones Is Nothing New

Let’s take a look at...

Genesis 21:8–9 (ESV)

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.

laughing in the sense of mocking, making jokes at the expense of the one being laughed at.

So, Ishmael mocked Isaac, made fun of him, derided him, was mean to him.

Genesis 21:10 (ESV)

10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.”

It seems from Sarah’s response to this mocking...

That there was some persecution going on from Ishmael to Isaac...

And, it had to do with who would inherit.

And, this was no uncommon thing between brothers in this time.

Jesus was mocked & crucified.

The Apostles were mocked, stoned, & killed.

The Church and Christianity have always been mocked.

Christians have always been persecuted.

And, persecution comes in many forms.

And, Paul is making the Galatians aware that the false teachers are persecuting the church in their time, as well.

In a real way, they are persecuting the Christian church by trying to do away with it through false teaching.

Teaching that leads one away from salvation...

Rather than towards it.

False doctrine that rejects Christ...

Rather than true doctrine that points the hearers to receive Christ.

Paul says this type of persecution is led by those who are of Ishmael.

Those who trust in the flesh.

Trust in their keeping of the Law.

Trust in their physical lineage.

Why would you want to join a group that will not inherit the promises?

Why would you want to put a yoke on yourself that you cannot keep?

A yoke that does not give the inheritance of the promises?

Why would you take the yoke of the Law, when you can receive the yoke of Christ?

A yoke that has been kept and fulfilled.

Paul says...

Reject Such a Yoke

Galatians 4:30 ESV

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.”

Reject such a yoke.

Remember the gospel.

Remember what we inherit in Christ.

In Christ...

Galatians 4:31 (ESV)

31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

What a beautiful inheritance we have in Jesus!

What a beautiful redemption we have in Jesus!

What a beautiful reconciliation we have in Jesus!

What beautiful forgiveness we have in Jesus!

What worth and righteousness we have in Jesus!

Closing

Let us remember these truths throughout our week.

As, the world and its system seek to tempt us to:

Rely on self.

Depend on self.

Take pride in self.

Boost the ego of self.

Cast those temptations upon Jesus.

Look to Him.

Rely on Him.

Abide in Him.

Find your worth in Him.

Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Closing Prayer