Transcript

Who's Your Mother

Galatians 4:21-5:1
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Pastor Randy Smith

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As it is common in the biblical letters from the apostle Paul, doctrine is always presented before practical application. Though we as Christians often simply wish to be told how we need to live, without the correct theological foundation our actions will be conducted with inadequate strength for inaccurate purposes and with improper motives. Doctrine first - application second.

That pattern is followed in Galatians as well. Application will come as we enter chapter 5, but as we conclude chapter 4 we will get one more sermon bringing forth the same theme that has been drilled throughout this letter. Paul wants to make it clear for his readers and us that we understand the truth of the one and only biblical Gospel, cherish it, proclaim it and refuse to compromise it.

What have been some of the highlights?

• 1:6 - Any other Gospel is a "different Gospel."
• 1:6 - Choosing a "different Gospel" is "deserting [God]."
• 1:8-9 - All who teach a contrary gospel are "accursed."
• 1:11-24 - The true Gospel will bring forth radical changes in one's life as it did Paul.
• 2:11-14 - The true Gospel is worth defending at all costs.
• 2:16 - The true Gospel teaches that we are "justified by faith in [Jesus Christ]" and not the "works of the Law."
• 2:20 - We live everyday by the true Gospel, "by faith in the Son of God."
• 2:21 - The true Gospel is based on "grace" through the death of Christ.
• 3:6 - Salvation, even in the beginning with "Abraham," has always been through faith.
• 3:10-14 - Trying to work our way to God brings a curse, but Jesus "redeemed us from the curse, having become a curse for us."
• 3:23-24 - The Law came not to make us righteous, but show us our sin and then "lead us to Christ…[to] be justified by faith."
• 3:26 - "through faith" in the Gospel we are now "sons of God."
• 4:19 - The true Gospel of grace leads us to a life conformed to Jesus Christ.
• 4:8-20 - Deserting the Gospel for a system of works is therefore the epitome of foolishness.

It has been my prayer that by this point in our adventures in Galatians that each of you would understand the true Gospel, embrace the true Gospel by faith, live out the true Gospel in your lives and be able to accurately articulate the true Gospel to others - The holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the Person and work of Jesus Christ and faith and repentance!

So now as we wrap up chapter 4, just when you thought Paul has marshaled up every argument possible to these deceived Galatians, he musters the strength to give one more convincing argument this time using an allegory as to why they should not abandon the true Gospel of free grace (in what many have called the most difficult verses to interpret in Galatians).

Paul starts off in verse 21 saying, "Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?" He is making it clear that the problem is not with the Law (specifically the teachings of Moses found in the first five books of the Old Testament). They drooled over the Law, but they weren't even listening to what the Law said! The Law never came as a means to attain God's favor. The purpose of the Law was to point beyond itself to the God who would justify His people on the basis of faith. The Law showed people their inability. The Law itself expressed that the way to freedom was outside of itself. They loved the Law, says Paul, he only wished they would follow the true teaching of the Law.

In verse 22-31, Paul will now break this down and prove his point with a masterful application from the Law itself, contrasting law and grace and works and faith and slavery and freedom by drawing a clear dividing line in the cement. There are only two sides. One is right and the others are wrong.

1. Historical Information (4:22-23)

To get things started Paul shares some "historical information" (our first point). Beginning in verse 22, "For it is written [in the Law] that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.

Let's refresh our Old Testament knowledge. God made a promise to Abraham (Abram) that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Gen. 15:5), and this initial heir would come forth from his own body (Gen. 15:4). He would have a son. Yet years went by and Sarah (Sarai), Abraham's wife, was not bearing a child (Gen. 16:2). So in desperation Sarah took matters into her own hands. With the cooperation of Abraham, she gave her Egyptian slave to Abraham, Hagar, to raise up the heir (Gen. 16:3). Hagar conceived, and the child's name was Ishmael (Gen. 16:11).

Many years later, God again appeared to Abraham and declared that the son of promise would come through Sarah as He originally promised (Gen. 17:16). Abraham laughed knowing he was a hundred and Sarah was ninety (Gen. 17:17). Abraham pleaded for Ishmael from Hagar, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!" (Gen 17:18), but God demanded it would be a son named Isaac through Sarah (Gen. 17:21). Sarah gave birth to Isaac (Gen. 21:2-3) - and here is the key - in a supernatural way according to His promise (Gen. 21:2, 7).

So how does this historical information relate to the point Paul has been making? We get a good glimpse of it in verse 23, "But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise." It is simply this: The first son, Ishmael, was born to Hagar simply through natural means. It was ignoring God's promise, taking matters in one's own hands and accomplishing what one can do based on one's own strength. Do you see a connection with the false Gospel taught by the Judaizers? You will! On the other hand, Isaac was a child of promise, depending entirely on God to do the impossible. Nothing in the birth of Isaac speaks of self-reliance. Everything speaks of God's power and His faithfulness. Do you see a connection with the true Gospel taught by Paul? Again, you will! This is where Paul is going!

2. Allegorical Interpretation (4:24-27)

Let's look at the allegorical interpretation Paul takes us down as we move to our second point. Beginning in verse 24 the apostle says, "This is allegorically speaking."

Allegories are literary devices that commonly use events or characters to represent ideas. This was a common way to interpret the Bible in the medieval times. The interpreters tried to find a deeper meaning behind the written words limited only by their imagination. This flies in the face of a proper literal and historical interpretation of the Bible. Oftentimes when we think of an allegory we envision some type of a fictional or mythical story often with a hidden meaning. None of these are what Paul was doing in his case. He will stay within the context of the Old Testament passages and show how these physical stories point to something greater which is spiritually culminated in Jesus Christ. We call this "typology."

He says in verse 24 that both of "these women" (Hagar and Sarah) "are two covenants," one representing the Old Covenant and the other representing the New Covenant. Specifically, the Old Covenant, verse 24, is the "one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar." Hagar was a slave so will her children be. Likewise, the Old Covenant coming from Moses at Mount Sinai produces slaves. The expectation was to obey all that was written which was impossible. The people reverted to legalism which held them in slavery.

Paul repeats himself, verse 25, "Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children."

"Present Jerusalem" also joins the party with Hagar and Mount Sinai and fits into the slavery mix because present Jerusalem was the home of the Judaizers, represented legalistic Judaism and the city that rejected the Great Emancipator in Jesus Christ. Present Jerusalem was synonymous with Hagar, both representing man's attempt to please God on his own by ignoring grace and relying on self-effort. Everything about Hagar, Mount Sinai and earthly Jerusalem (all lumped together) screams of self-reliance leading to, verse 25, "slavery."

Now by way of contrast, verse 26, "But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother."

While Sarah is not mentioned, she is implied, and she is linked not with earthly Jerusalem, but the Jerusalem above. This is the "new Jerusalem" that we long for, our future home that will come down from heaven. In Revelation 21:2 we read, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." This is, Hebrews 11:10, "the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." This is, Hebrews 11:16, "a better country…a heavenly one…a city [prepared] for them by God]." This is the future home of God's redeemed people who enter a relationship with Him on the basis of grace. Are you seeing the clear comparison that Paul has established? Bearing children of slavery is Hagar, Mount Sinai, and earthly Jerusalem. Bearing children of freedom is Sarah, Mt. Zion and heavenly Jerusalem.

Let's keep adding to the spiritual interpretation. God has always been opposed to man seeking anything apart from Him at the center. First of all any efforts excluding God will result in futility. Second, any efforts excluding God are the epitome of idolatry. Even in pursuing salvation for our souls, most people now, as it was then think they are good enough, strong enough and smart enough to get to heaven on their own. As you know, this is what Paul has opposed throughout this letter. Hagar and earthly Jerusalem represent the self-reliance and self-effort and self-righteousness that offend God and bring His curse. While Sarah and heavenly Jerusalem represent the faith and grace and God-given righteousness that bring God honor and result in blessings.

As we have learned, Abraham's true children are not of physical lineage, but children of faith. In the same way Abraham and Sarah's true children are not those who take matters in their own hands, but those who allow the Lord to do the impossible, like Sarah eventually did (cf. Heb. 11:11) and work salvation on their behalf. There is no work of God in trying to earn His favor. There is a work of God in Him making you born again and trusting, like Sarah and Abraham, in His promises. It is self-dependence verses God-dependence. God demands the latter!

Now Paul turns to a quote from Isaiah 54:1 and says in verse 27, "For it is written, 'Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband.'" What is he getting at here?

Let's just stay within the context. This verse when originally written was addressed to the Jewish people in captivity. Babylon conquered Israel and took the people from the Promised Land. But where this is found in the book of Isaiah, it comes out in a mood of triumph. As God had forewarned, He was chastising His people because of their sin, but God had not given up on His people. In Isaiah 53 He speaks about the coming Messiah and then in Isaiah 54 He speaks about their future deliverance. They will be released and their population will grow (see Isa. 54:2-3). Again what we see here is the same theme, God's faithfulness to work on behalf of His people despite their unfaithfulness. So the prophecy links Israel to a barren woman who one day will be fruitful with many children in the future. No doubt the connection to Sarah and Hagar is still on Paul's mind - childless Sarah and childless Israel, both totally dependent on the Lord to act. Both promised many descendants and future joy through God's, not man's, deliverance.

Literal fulfillment was seen when Israel did indeed return to the Promised Land. But this fulfillment was only partial. The final spiritual fulfillment that Paul is after is the ultimate deliverance of God's spiritual children. Those of blood were only a picture of God's ultimate children. The Jewish nation which saw the fulfillment of God's promises physically and temporarily would give way to the New Covenant where God's promises would be filled spiritually and eternally. Deliverance from sin is the ultimate salvation God accomplishes and it goes out to all, regardless of their nationality (Gal. 3:28) who put their faith in the promised Messiah. These are God's many descendents of every tribe, tongue and nation. This is how God takes a hopeless situation of people dead in sin and gives them life. And this is how God takes people from the ultimate slavery to the ultimate freedom.

3. Personal Application (4:28-5:1)

So what is the application? Moving to our third point we begin in verse 28, "And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise."

This verse shows that Paul has not given up, despite the road they are going down, on the Galatian church. He still refers to them as "brothers" and still believes they are "children of promise." That they like Isaac are supernaturally conceived children of God. After this deep and lengthy argument presenting two sides, Paul put the Galatians on the winning side and encourages them to stay there, trusting in God's promises and not falling back to their own legalistic effort to achieve God's favor.

Now in verse 29 Paul explains how the Galatians present situation with the Judaizers is no different than the original situation that occurred between Ishmael and Isaac. "But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit." Hager persecuted Sarah (Gen. 16:4-5) and Ishmael persecuted Isaac (Gen. 21:9). Paul affirms that this animosity between the Arabs (Ishmael's descendents) and the Jews (Isaac's descendents), verse 29, still continues to this day.

But here is where he makes the shift spiritually. As he has done throughout this allegory, Paul again takes the physical reality to a spiritual level. Hagar and Ishmael have been shown to represent legalism, those who by their own efforts seek to find God's favor. Sarah and Isaac have been shown to represent grace, those who see their unworthiness and trust God to fulfill His promises and work on their behalf. Now just as Hagar and Ishmael persecuted Sarah and Isaac so do the legalists persecute those who pursue grace.

It has been a mark ever since the church was conceived 2,000 years ago that her greatest opposition did not come from without, but from those who professed to be people of God - from Paul's treatment in the books of Acts by the Jewish people to the ways religious people treated the Reformers to Jesus' rejection by His own to the way the legalistic Judaizers were treating Paul and the people of faith alone. The "children of flesh" who insist on salvation by works then and now persecute the "children of promise" who insist on salvation by grace. Our fiercest opponents will always be "religious" people, people who oppose God's grace and trust in themselves. So what Paul is saying to us and the Galatians is that if we are like Isaac we should expect to be treated like Isaac.

Do you see what Paul is doing? First he is placing the Judaizers in the camp of unbelievers. Second he is using the Judaizers' argument that they are Sarah's offspring against them and showing that in reality they are children of Hagar. And third he is telling the Galatians that the persecution of them by the Judaizers should not surprise them and is consistent with the way it has always been. Masterful!

Verse 30, "But what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.'" This is a direct quote in the literal setting from Genesis 21:10. Just as Sarah insisted because of Hagar and Ishmael's persecution that they be cast out of Abraham's household, Paul tells the true church that they too must reject any teaching that does not conform to the one and only true Gospel. These people are not part of God's household because they accept and teach principles contrary to God's promises.

And then the logical summary in verse 31, "So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman." And since we are of the free woman, 5:1, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

Remember last week's sermon? It was titled, "Are you kidding me?" You can see why Paul has repeatedly said he was "amazed" (1:6) and "perplexed" (4:20) and in "fear" for them (4:11) as if someone "bewitched" them (3:1). He called them "foolish" (3:1) and "deceived" (5:7). How they could hear and accept the beauty of free grace and then turn their back on it and adopt a false Gospel of works that brought a curse and led to bondage was beyond him.

But as I also said last week, this is where we need to be careful as well. This is why we, even as professing Christians need to hear the Gospel over and over. If the Galatians could fall after being instructed by the apostle Paul, none of us are beyond being deceived as well. We need regular reminders to keep our eyes on the beauty of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of His work on the cross. We need to die to self and crucify our pride that wants to do what God has promised to do. And we need to fight for our freedom in Christ, rejecting all man-centered false teaching that caters to our flesh, but brings guilt, confusion, despair and hell.

If you are in Christ, let no one or nothing pull you back into the bondage from which God has miraculously delivered you. Stand firm in your freedom. Live according to God's promises that He accomplished for you in Christ.