Gal 4:21-27

Galatians 4:21-27
King James Version (KJV)
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.


Galatians 4:21-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants
21 Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things are illustrations for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and 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, childless woman,
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

These are my thoughts please share yours.

21 To live under the law is an impossible task. Even those that of old that follow God fell short of the law. Moses was a murder. Abraham and Issac both were liars. David commited adultry and murder. Aaron the first high priest mad an idol. Though all these men were able to serve God after this things they did. There are many instances that show God's grace in the Old testament.

22 This refers to Hagar's son Ishmael and Sarah's Isaac. Hagar was the servant of Sarah who was given to Abraham so he would have a child even though Sarah was unable to give him one. Sarah did have a child of her own by the Lord's power at a very old age.

23 It was not God's plan for Abraham to lay with Hagar. God's plan was to show his power by giving them a child thru Sarah at her age being near 100. The easy plan was to take things in his own hands to make God's promise happen and this was done with Hagar. God showed His power by giving Sarah a child.

24-25 The law was given by God thru Moses on Mt. Sinai. To be under the law is to be slaves to the law.

26 We are free like Sarah was free and chose to serve Abraham while Hagar had to serve Abraham. We are not bound to follow the law but, can and if we fall we have the Lord's blessing for our efforts and have grace.

27 It is better to have no children then to have a child who does not follow the Lord. This may seem hard but, to is better for everyone to avoid hell. Being childless gives no judgment on the child but, without Christ a born child will be judged.
 
Hi Clark,

I agree that Gal 4 is speaking on how believers are not under the law.

There are many scriptures like Gal 4 which speak out against turning back to the law for righteousness.

The Corinthians had some amongst them who also desired to be under the law for righteousness.

1Cor 5 describes those who desire to be under the law as fornicating with their father's wife.
The father spoken of here is the devil (as Jesus described of the Pharisees who were under the law, John 8:44).
The wife refers to Hagar (who is symbolic of the OT righteousness by works of the law, Gal 4:24).

1Cor 5:7 also confirms this, by saying "purge out the old leaven"
Leaven refers to the doctrine of righteousness by works of the law, as Jesus described in Matt 16:11,12.
So we need to avoid anyone preaching works of the law for righteousness, as such doctrines can lead us astray.
"A little leaven (doctrine of works of the law) leavens the whole lump", Gal 5:9.

We are not to associate with anyone professing to be a Christian, but then preaches works of the law to prove righteousness (1Cor 5:11-13). These spiritual fornicators and drunkards (Rev 17:1,2) only seek to lead others into joining with them in following the lusts of the flesh (self-righteousness/rebellion against God).
 
There are some out there today that teach we are saved by grace but we got to..... this is what was going on in this church.

True. This has been happening even since Paul gave warnings about it.

Those who mix grace with works of the law are the lukewarm, Rev 3:15,16 speaks about.
Grace and works cannot be mixed.

Rom 11:6
if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
 
The Law of Moses contained 613 commandments. There were different facets to the Law of Moses and we should note that the Law was righteous and good, and that the problem was not with the law but with man's inability to produce personal holiness and righteousness thru keeping the law because of the sin nature. The law was implemented to bring that realization to the saved Israelite. Note David's attitude towards this self realization -

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no guile.
Psalm 32

Here David understands salvation is by grace alone thru faith alone in God alone.

2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah;
And on his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1

And in spite of that knowledge of God's grace, he views the Law as his rule of life after having obtained eternal life.

Paul uses the tutor motif to show that when the child reached maturity the father signifies that adulthood by dismissing the tutor (Mosaic Law) and placing upon the son an adult toga (Christ) to show adulthood. The Law because of its inability to work with the sin nature kept those OT saints from reaching spiritual maturity, spiritual adulthood. Paul teaches that we put on Christ and because of the permanent in dwelling of the Holy Spirit we can reach spiritual adulthood and live sanctified lives walking by faith. Falling from grace means to stop living by faith and reverting back under the commandments of Moses, or some other religious sets of rules. Finally we have a rule of life today. As David had the Mosaic Law that he was to keep after salvation, we have the commands revealed by the New Testament that we are to follow, not for salvation but after salvation. Under the Law the MO was do and be blessed, under Christ the MO is you're already blessed therefore do.
 
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