Paul s Concern for the Galatians. Hagar and Sarah. Galatians 4:1-31

Transcription

1 1 Paul s Concern for the Galatians Hagar and Sarah Galatians 4:1-31

2 2 Paul s Concern for the Galatians Hagar and Sarah Text: Galatians 4:1-31, 1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

3 3 15. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17. They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. 21. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27. 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. 28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30. 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.

4 4 31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Introduction: I. Paul continues to make the point that the Law of Moses has been replaced by the Law of Christ. A. The Law of Moses was not merged with the Law of Christ. B. Paul, verses 1-7, likens those under the Law of Moses to children and those under the Law of Christ to those who have matured and have become heirs. C. Paul, verses 8-11, compares those under the Law of Moses to slaves and those under the Law of Christ to those who have been freed from slavery. D. Paul, verses 12-20, contrsts the love he has for them with the self-aggrandizements of the Judaistic teachers. E. Paul, verses 21-31, made the point that the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ are incompatible just as Hagar and Ishmael and Sarah and Isaac were incompatible. II. Kenneth Le Boles wrote that the analogy changes slightly here; that is, in chapter 4. A. The law of Moses has been depicted as a prison warden and a slave attendant. B. Now the law is depicted in a guardian-trustee format.

5 5 Commentary: Galatians 4:1, 2, Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. I. What I am saying is this: II. So long as the heir is a child, III. he differs nothing from a bondservant, he is no different from a slave, A. An underage child, babe, minor is not entrusted with an inheritance until he reaches the age of responsibility. B. The babe, child has no official say about anything so long as he is a child. IV. though he is Lord of all, although he owns the whole estate. V. He is under guardians and stewards, trustees, A. These guardians cared for the minor until he came of age. B. The law of Moses controlled the Israelites until Christ came. VI. until the day set, appointed by the fathers. A. Roman law stipulated age 14 as the age of maturity. B. Of course, the father could stipulate another age. Galatians 4:3, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: I. We, all men, also when we were children,

6 6 A. Both Jews and Gentiles, before Christ came, were held in bondage under all manner of sins and misconceptions about God. B. This was true of both pagans and Jews. C. Specifically Paul speaks here of the Jewish nation and later in verses 8 and 9 of the pagan world. II. were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. A. Jews were slaves to the Law of Moses, its incredible number of rules and regulations. (Coffman) B. Acts 15:10, Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? C. The world, all mankind, were before held under the rudiments, elementary religious principles, teachings. Galatians 4:4, 5, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. I. When the fullness of time came, when the time had fully come, when the time had fully come, A. At God s appointed time, God sent his Son into the world. B. This was the time when those who had been mere slaves to paganism and/or the Law of Moses were granted adoption into the family of God. C. God in his infinite wisdom determined the time for Christ to enter the world.

7 7 1. We can only surmise what these factors were. II. God sent forth his pre-existant Son, A. John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. B. This speaks to the divine nature of Christ. 1. John 17:5, And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 2. Philippians 2:7, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 3. Hebrews 3:1, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; III. born, becoming made to be, of a woman, A. This speaks to the human nature of Christ. IV. born under the law, A. Jesus was physically a Jew and kept the law perfectly. V. that he might redeem them that were under the law, A. The devil controlled all the people of earth. B. By his blood on the cross Christ redeemed, bought mankind back from the devil. C. It is left to each person to accept this redemption for himself.

8 8 VI. that we might receive the adoption of sons, the full right of sons. A. Adam was the son of God by creation. 1. Luke 3:38, Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. B. Christians are sons of God by adoption. Galatians 4:6, 7, And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. I. Because you, we are sons, as proof that you are sons II. God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, A. Ephesians 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, B. God sent Jesus into the world. C. God sent the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of Christ s disciples. III. the Spirit who call out, we crying, Abba, Father. A. This indicates the closeness that exists between God the Father and his children. B. Abba (Aramaic) is the respectful, affectionate word used by small children to address their fathers.

9 9 C. Mark 14:36, And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. D. Romans 8:15, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. IV. You are no longer a bondservant, a slave, but a son. A. Those who follow Christ have changed their status from slave to son. B. Legalists are slaves to the letter of the law. C. Some have a mature faith that leads them to love the Father and seek to please him. V. Since you are a son, if a son, then God has made you an heir through God. A. Roman 8:15-17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Paul s Concern for the Galatians Galatians 4:8, Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. I. Formerly, at that time, when you did not know God, not knowing God,

10 10 A. This speaks of the Galatians condition before their conversion to Christ. B. Paul now turns his attention to Gentile Christians. 1. Ephesians 2:11, 12, Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: II. you were slaves, in bondage to them A. Galatians were slaves to oppressive religious systems before they came to know Christ. III. that by nature are no, not gods. A. 1 Corinthians 8:4, As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. B. While the Jews had been slaves to the Law of Moses, the Gentile had been slaves to idolatry. 1. Isaiah 44:9-20, They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms:

11 11 yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? 2. Jeremiah 10:5, They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

12 12 Galatians 4:9, But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? I. Now that you have come to know God A. It is important that we know God. B. Now that they had become, their circumstances had drastically changed for the better. II. or rather, are, to be known by God A. It is more important that God knows us! B. Salvation is a two way street with God making it all possible and man s responding to divine grace by faith. III. how is it that you are turning back, to those, the weak and miserable, beggarly rudiments, principles. A. The Galatian Christians were in danger of becoming enslaved with the regulations of the Jewish Law through the influence of the Judaizers. B. Paul was greatly concerned about this situation. C. Judaism and all other religions are seen to weak, miserable and beggarly when they are compared with Christianity. IV. whereunto you desire to be in bondage over again? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? A. Boles wrotes, How can you return again to the puny, poor principles, to which again and again you want to be enslaved?

13 13 B. Instead of progressing upward by observing circumcision and the other teachings of the Judaizers, they were actually sliding backward into spiritual slavery. Galatians 4:10, 11, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. I. You observe; are observing special: A. days, B. months, 1. Sabbaths 1. Numbers 28:11-15, And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. C. seasons, 1. Tabernacles, 2. Passover,

14 14 D. years, 3. Pentecost, 4. et al. 1. Jubilee. E. Colossians 2:16, 17, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. II. I (Paul) am afraid of you, I fear for you, A. Coffman correctly asserted, Judaism and Christianity do not mix. III. last by any means, that somehow IV. I have bestowed labor upon you in vain, I have wasted my efforts on you. A. If the Galatians forsook Christianity, Paul s work among them would have been vain and would have accomplished nothing. B. Isaiah 49:4, Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. Galatians 4:12, 13, Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. I. I beseech you, brethren, plead with you, II. become as I am, become like me,

15 15 A. Paul only observed certain cultural Jewish customs in order to avoid unnecessary persecution or to prevent disunity in the church. B. As Boles pointed out, Paul demonstrated the example they should follow by his crossing cultural and religious barriers by leaving Judaism and embracing Christianity. III. for I also am become as you are, I became like you. IV. You did, have done me no wrong. A. Phillips translated this sentence as, I have nothing against you personally. B. 2 Corinthians 7:2, Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. C. Neither side should feel isolated from the other. V. You know that because of an infirmity of the flesh, it was because of an illness A. The exact nature of this illness is not known, but it led to Paul s visit to the Galatians and his preaching the gospel to them. B. Opinions of commentators regarding the nature of this illness range from malaria to epilepsy, and eye disease with blindness as a result of persecutions. C. 2 Corinthians 12:7, And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. D. Paul s unfortunate illness led to the Galatians hearing the gospel. VI. I preached the gospel to you the first time.

16 16 A. The first time may indicate that by the time this epistle was written Paul had made at least two visits to Galatia. B. The phrase could simply refer to a former visit, formerly, when I was in Galatia. C. Paul may have made two visits to Galatia on his missionary journeys. 1. Acts 14:23, And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Galatians 4:14, And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. I. Even though my illness, that which was a temptation, trial for, to you A. A sick man trying to preach the gospel could have caused the Galatians to be offended, to ridicule Paul and his gospels, to despise and scorn him. II. in my flesh III. you did not treat me with contempt or scorn, despised not, nor rejected; A. Paul s illness did not cause the Galatians to disrespect him in the least. IV. but you welcomed me as an angel of God, A. Some, in fact, sought to worship Paul. B. Acts 14:8-20, And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there

17 17 came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. V. as it were, even as Christ Jesus himself. Galatians 4:15, Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. I. Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? What has happened to all you joy? your blessings? A. You were blessed, joyful, now you are not. B. What has changed? What happened? II. I can testify, bear your witness, that if possible, if you could have done so, A. Boles wrote, Paul was willing to take the witness stand and testify to their former state of mind, how much they had loved him. III. you would have torn out, plucked out your eyes and given them to me. A. If possible the Galatians would have volunteered to be organ donors for Paul. B. This is the prime basis for the speculation that Paul s thorn in the flesh and perhaps the illness just mentioned had to do with a visual impairment.

18 18 C. This expression could be simply proverbial; that is, that the Galatians would have done anything to help Paul. Galatians 4:16, Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? I. Have I now, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? A. Coffman commented, Surely one whom you have loved so much cannot become your enemy merely by telling you the truth about people who are now trying to exploit you. Galatians 4:17, They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. I. Those people, they zealously seek you in no good way, to win over you, but for no good. A. Paul was here speaking of the Judaizers who wanted to misuse the Galatians for their own advantage. B. Clearly the Judaizers were hypocrites. II. Nay, they seek to shut you out, what they want is to alienate you from us, III. that you may seek them, that you may be zealous for them. Galatians 4:18, But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. I. It is fine, good to be zealously sought, to be zealous, to be stirred with enthusiasm, II. in a good manner at all times, provided the purpose is good, A. It is good to be solicited, have inherently expressed in you if it is for wholesome purposes, goals.

19 19 B. 2 Corinthians 11:2, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. C. John 2:17, And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. D. 2 Corinthians 9:2, For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. E. 1 Peter 3:13, And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? F. Titus 2:14, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. III. and not only when I am present with you, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. A. Paul was always interested in the Galatians whether he was present with them or absent. B. The Galatians zeal turned away from Paul when he was not with them. 1. When the cat s away the mice will play. 2. When Paul was away the Galatians become unstable and went after the Judaizing teachers. Galatians 4:19, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I. My little, dear children,

20 20 A. This indicates Paul, by the preaching of the gospel, had led these Galatians to Christ. II. of whom I am again in travail, in the pains of childbirth A. Acts 13 and 14 relate some of the things Paul experienced when the Galatian churches were established. B. Because of the dangers from the Judaizers, Paul was again suffering pain, emotional pain and anxieties. III. until Christ be formed in you A. until your continuing faithfulness in Christ has been firmly established. B. Ephesians 4:24, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. C. Ephesians 3:17, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, D. Romans 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. E. Boles wrote quoting William Temple, If the Spirit of Jesus could come and live in me, I could live a life like that. Galatians 4:20, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. I. I could wish to be present with you now, how I wish I could be with you now A. Perhaps, Paul, if he could meet person to person with the Galatians and speak heart to heart, perhaps matters could be resolved, Boles pointed out.

21 21 II. and to change my tone A. Paul here expressed regret for having to reprimand the Galatians, especially when he was not present with them Corinthians 10:10, For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. B. If he were present with them he could better interact with them and bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion more amicably. III. for I am perplexed about you. A. Phillips translated this phrase, I honestly don t know how to deal with you. B. Moffatt translated the phrase, I am about at my wits end about you. Hagar and Sarah Galatians 4:21, Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? I. Tell me, you who want, desire to be under the law, A. Don t be impressed by the outward forms and ceremonies of the law. II. do you not hear the law? Are you not aware of what the law says? A. Listen to what the law really teaches. Galatians 4:22, For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. I. It is written that

22 22 II. Abraham had two sons A. The Judaizers were children of which of these sons? B. Actually Abraham had a number children by various concubines. C. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born and 100 when Isaac was born. 1. Genesis 16:16, And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. 2. Genesis 21:5, And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. III. one by the handmaid, slave woman; viz. Ishmael by Hagar A. Hagar was Sarah s slave and she hoped to devise a surrogate, devious way to get a child for her own which she had not yet been able to bear herself. 1. Genesis 16:2, And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 2. Genesis 16:4, And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 3. Genesis 21:8-10, And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son:

23 23 for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. B. Ishmael represented Judaism. IV. and the other, one by the freewoman; viz., Isaac by Sarah. A. Isaac represented Christianity. Galatians 4:23, But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. I. Howbeit his, the son by the slave woman, was born after the flesh; in the ordinary way; A. Ishamael was born without the involvement of anything supernatural. II. but his, the son by, of the freewomen is born through promise, as the result of a promise. A. Isaac was born in answer to God s promise to Abraham and Sarah. 1. Genesis 21:1, 2, And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. B. When Isaac was born Abraham was 100 years of age and Sarah was 90, far above childbearing age. Galatians 4:24, 25, 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.

24 24 I. Which things contain an allegory, these things may be taken figuratively, A. Illustrations don t prove anything, but they do make plainer what is being taught. III. for these women represent, are two covenants: A. Ishmael represents Judaism. B. Isaac represents Christianity. C. John 8:23, 24, And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. III. one covenant is from Mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, slavery which is Hagar. IV. This Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia V. and corresponds, answers to the present city of Jerusalem that now is. VI. She is in slavery, bondage with her children. A. Don t please the Judaizers! Galatians 4:26, But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. I. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, A. Hebrew 12:22, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

25 25 B. Hebrews 11:10, For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. C. Revelation 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. D. Revelation 21:2, And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. E. Psalm 87:5, And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. II. she, which is our mother. A. Follow Christianity! Galatians 4:27, 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. I. It is written, A. Isaiah 54:1, Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. II. Be glad, rejoice thou barren, O barren woman that bearest not; who bears no children; III. Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; you who have no labor pain;

26 26 IV. For more are the children of the desolate woman than of her that hath the husband. A. Isaiah 54:1-8, Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. B. Christians will out number the adherent of Judaism. V. These apply to Sarah and Isaac, types of Christ and the church. Galatians 4:28, 29, 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. I. Now you, we, brethren, like, as Isaac was are children of promise. A. Christians are sons of promise.

27 27 II. At that time, but as then he that was born in the ordinary way, after the flesh persecuted him, the son that was born after the Spirit, by the power of the Spirit. A. Boles explained, the ordinary son persecutes the Spirit-born son. B. Genesis 21:8-10, And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. C. The devil and his followers have always persecuted Christ and his saints. III. so also it is now, it is the same now. A. These Judaizers are seeking your destruction, Galatians! B. Don t let these Judaizers, your enemies, cause you to lose your souls. C. They are up to no good! Galatians 4:30, 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. I. What does the Scripture say? II. Get rid of, cast out the handmaid, slave woman, and her son A. Don t have anything to do with the Judaizers! B. John Wesley via Coffman wrote, It is the law which must go, and the gospel which must enjoy an unshared supremacy.

28 28 C. The old Jewish system would (and did) end! III. for the son of the handmaid, slave women shall not, will never inherit, share the inheritance with the son of the freewoman. A. Christ overcame, is victorious. B. Genesis 21:11, And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. C. Bruce via Boles wrote, Legal bondage and spiritual freedom cannot coexist. Galatians 4:31, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. I. Wherefore, brethren; therefore, brothers, II. we are not children of a handmaid, the slave woman, A. Judaism. III. but of the freewomen. A. Christianity. IV. This is the conclusion of the Hagar Sarah allegory. A. Galatians 3:26-29, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. B. Romans 9:7-9, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children

29 29 of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. Conclusion: I. The Galatians were to be faithful to Christ. II. They were to reject all religious error, especially Judaism. III. Disciples today are to reject all religious error and be faithful to Christ unto death!

30 30 Questions Galatians 4: In Galatians 4 continues to make the point that the of has been by the of. The of was not with the of. 2. Into what four sections can Galatians 4 be divided? What are the main points Paul is making in the various sections? 3. Kenneth Boles observed that in Galatians, Paul had depicted the of as a and a. In Galatians 4 the of is depicted in a - foremat. 4. What is the application Paul is making by the statement, So long as there is a child, he differs nothing from a bondservant?

31 31 5. What is meant by the rudiments, basic principles of the world? List some of these basic principles. 6. In your opinion why did God send his Son into the world at the time he did? Why was this the fullness of time? 7. Christ Jesus had both a and a. Show by the Scriptures that Christ lived before the world was created. 8. Why was Jesus born under the law?

32 32 9. What proof do Christians have that we are sons of God? See verses 6, What are similarities and differences between Abba and Father? 11. are to the of the ; have a that leads them to the and seek to him. 12. The Gentile Christians, before their to, were, in to them that by are no. While the Jews had been slaves to the of, the Gentiles had been slaves to. 13. It is important that we. It is more important that. is a. 14. Why were some of the Galatian Christians turning back from the gospel Paul had preached to them?

33 What were the weak, beggarly and miserable rudiments to which they were returning? 16. Is it sinful to observe any and all days, months, seasons and years or just certain days, months, seasons, and years? Is it sinful to observe the first day of the week? If not all, which ones are sinful to observe? 17. Why did the Galatians beliefs and behaviors so concern and distress Paul? 18. What example did Paul set which he urged the Galatians to follow?

34 Paul had an infirmity of the flesh when he first arrived in Galatia. What was this infirmity? Was Paul s infirmity of the flesh and his thorn in the flesh one and the same thing? Give reasons for your answer. 20. How did the Galatians feel about Paul when he first preached the gospel to them? How did they feel toward Paul when Galatians was written? What accounted for the change? 21. Paul asked, Have I become your by telling you the? Paul, according to Coffman, meant, Surely one whom you have so much cannot become your merely by telling you the about who are now trying to you. 22. Do people become angry more from what is said or how it is said? Give examples. 23. What motivated the Judaizers? What motivates today s preachers? Include good and bad, positive and negative motivators.

35 How could it be said that the Galatians were Paul s children? Why did Paul suffer the pains of childbirth twice? 25. Why did Paul really wish he could be present with the Galatians? 26. Why were the Galatians enticed by the law of Moses? Were they more impressed by the pomp and ceremony of the Law or what it really said? 27. What do Hagar and Ishmael represent? Be specific. Give details.

36 What do Sarah and Isaac represent? Be specific. Give details. 29. How did Hagar Ishmael and Sarah Isaac relate to each other? How do Judaism and Christianity relate to each other? 30. What is the conclusion, main point, of the Hagar-Ishmael/Sarah- Isaac allegory?