Lesson 516

(Lesson 516)(01-14-13) Galatians 4:20-31, "I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 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. 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. 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. 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."

In today's lesson, Paul compares the Law of Moses to Ishmael, the illegitimate son of Abraham and Hagar and explains why that law is ineffective as a portal to God's kingdom. Just as Ishmael was denied his birthright, because God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son that would be Abraham's heir and the father of the Jews, the Law of Moses was never given the power to insure eternal life. God had, from the beginning, promised a Messiah (Jesus) to save us from the bondage of the law.
Ishmael was born of the needs of the flesh, Isaac was born out of a promise from God. The Law of Moses was born out of the requirements of the flesh, it was NEVER a redeemer. Jesus was born of God's promise, and is the ONLY redeemer. "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."

Even today we the saved, the children of the promise, are denied and scorned by the children of the flesh.

It behooves us all read and learn the Old Testament. It is, just as Paul said, a "schoolmaster" and will enlighten those who read it, as to the whys and hows of the blessed and divine gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul warned the Galatians, and thereby us, not to throw away their spiritual freedoms by reverting to the useless restrictions of the law.~