For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise.
Which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar; for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children; but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.” – Galatians 4:22-27
The legalists who troubled the Galatians protested that they were children of Abraham, and therefore blessed. Paul will admit they are children of Abraham, but they forget that Abraham had two sons. Abraham’s first son was named Ishmael. He was born not from his wife, but from his wife’s servant (named Hagar), from a misguided surrogate mother scheme to “help God” when Abraham’s wife Sarah couldn’t become pregnant.
I have to be honest. This point from Paul this morning cracks me up. The legalist of the time wanted to promote the seed of Abraham, but in doing so they completely neglect an actual son of Abraham. What a double standard? When it fits your needs, great! When it doesn’t? We will just ignore that.
This type of mindset still exists within the church today. We see it most clearly with topics of sin. For example, it is easy to go to church when the pastor gives a message of love, but it is much more difficult to stay committed to God when the preacher talks about hard things like repentance and sin.
The contrast Paul uses to expose this double standard is the contrast between freedom and slavery. One son of Abraham was born by a freewoman, and one was born by a bondwoman. The real Christian life is marked by freedom. It often doesn’t look like it, but legalism is living according to the flesh. It denies God’s promise and tries to make your own way to God through the law. This is living like a descendant of Abraham – but it is living like Ishmael.
It is possible to appear similar to a Christian but actually not living like one. God has called us to embrace our freedom. Today, this means you need not fear the challenges of the world. Don’t just appear to be free. Be free. How you ask? Embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Embrace the eternal impact of a relationship with Jesus. Embrace the victory!
Amen