Galatians 4:21-31: 2 Ways to live
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Review from last week:
Update on the Deacon’s Summit: Yesterday we met from 9am-3:30pm and we prayed together, studied and discussed Scripture together, learned about what it means to become more like Jesus, ate together, and laughed together, and discussed serving you, our church family together. It was a really sweet day! Not to mention Eric Comer’s Smoked Brisket on a bun with shotgun shells for lunch and Rachel Balzereits muffins and cookies for dessert. Thank you
It is one thing to know the promise of God, it is another to live by faith in that promise.
Up until this point Paul has been arguing about what is required to belong to the family of God. In the last section of Chapter 4 he is now turning to what it looks like to live as an adopted member of God’s family. Which Pastor Lars pointed out so clearly ast week that “a graceless unloving Christian is an obsurdity”.
Last week “When we don’t enjoy God’s grace, we stop showing His love”. After knowing and being known by God, experiencing His grace, why would you ever want to go looking for someone different as if we are looking for a Spiritual step-father.
CHART: As we come to our passage today, we are wrapping up the Theological section where Paul focuses on Abraham to define faith.
PASSAGE SLIDES
Outline:
2 Sons: “Flesh and Promise” (vs. 21-23)
2 Covenants: “Sinai and Jerusalem” (vs. 24-27)
2 Women: “Slave and Free” (vs. 28-31)
Summary of the Chapter: As God’s adopted children, we are no longer laves under the law
Memory verse of the Chapter: Galatians 4:7 “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Illustration:
Prayer:
2 Sons: “Flesh and Promise” (vs. 21-23)
2 Sons: “Flesh and Promise” (vs. 21-23)
A question (v. 21)
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law- “thelentes” pres, act, part, nom, mas, pl to desire, presently desiring to return to the law as validation before God
do you not listen to the law? “akouete” pres, act ind, 2nd, pl to listen, to hear with intention. This is a very stiking question! Okay, if after all of this you want to return to being under the law, working your way into the family, having divisions among yourselves, working for your righteousness through the expectations of the law and not the promise, etc. The law is added because of transgression, it proves that you are not the solution to the problem! You need the promised offspring-Jesus!
Flesh vs. promise (vs. 22-23)
for it is written (perf, pass) that Abraham has 2 sons- Gen. 16, 21
One by a slave woman (Ishmael)- “paidisk-ehs” female slave (13x)
and one by a free woman (Isaac)- “eleutheras” free woman
But (“alla” big contrast)
the son of the slave was born
according to the flesh- What does this mean? To summarize what happened, God promised Abraham a child but his wife sarah was barren, unable to have children. So, they came up with a way that Abraham could have a child, through his own effort with another woman, Hagar. God, you promised this, but it has not happened, so I have to help you fulfill your promise.
while the son of the free woman
was born through promise- Abraham and Sarah were old, Sarah was not able to have children, there was no hope that they would have children, yet God promised that they would have a child. God fulfilled His promise, His way, in His timing (14 years later).
Application/Implications:
Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):
What caught your attention in this section?
Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?
Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):
What desires are driving you this morning? What are you wanting, what motivates you to do what you? Who are you listening to in order to satisfy those desires?
Relationships/marriage: we take the promises of God and try to enact them through a different way, one that often does not involve God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.
Finances
Parenting
Eating
Holiness
The law, like the flesh, gives you instant gratification in your abilities. Promise on the other hand has to do with trusting in the word and work of someone else and there is not always a time stamp on when.
There is something to be said about the timing of God in Abraham and Sarah’s life. it was past the point of hope, expectation, and even reality. He waited until then to make the promise, he waited until then for Sarah to conceive.
Enlist the Body (faith steps):
What circumstances in your life leave you feeling “I am beyond hope, expectation, and even reality that God cares for me let alone will fulfill his promises”? And what will you do about it?
Transitional phrase:
2 Covenants: “Sinai and Jerusalem” (vs. 24-27)
2 Covenants: “Sinai and Jerusalem” (vs. 24-27)
Covenant #1: slave woman (Hagar) (vs.24-25)
Now this may be interpreted allegorically- “all-eh-goroumena” pres, pass, part, nom, neut, pl to be allegorized, as an extended metaphor. Paul is not questioning the Historical nature of Sarah and Hagar, rather he is saying that the historical narrative has more meaning than just who gave birth to who.
these women are 2 covenants- this is the extended metaphor
one is from Mount Sinai
bearing children of slavery- “gennwsa” pres, act, part, nom, fem, sg to mother
she is Hagar (“to flee”)- Egyptian maidservant
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia (outside the pomised land)
she corresponds to the present Jerusalem (MAP)
for she is in slavery with her children- under Roman rule and under the law- wait a minute Paul, where are you going with this.
Mount Sinai—bearing children to slavery— Hagar— present Jerusalem
The first covenant is broken! It could never be kept! Just like it was by the Children of Israel at the point Moses brought it off the mountain. There is a need for a New Covenant! The old covenant should cause us to flee!
Coventant #2: free woman (Sarah) (vs. 26-27)
But the Jerusalem above is free- notice this is not the Jerusalem that was spoken of before, not the physical location in Israel. So what is “Above” who or where is he talking about?…
and she is our mother- wait a minute, Hagar is clearly mentioned, who is this other mother? Why does Paul not mention Sarah by name? I think it is because some in the congregation might try to make this a rank of spirituality, “I come from the line of Isaac”
For it is written (perf, pass)- similar as to before, priorly written in the Scriptures (Isa. 54:1): these are words of hope to a people that were in exile thinking they would never return to Israel again, back to God’s promised land.
rejoice (command, imperative)
O barren one (sg) who does not bear- not referring to everyone who does not bear but one in particular.
break forth and cry aloud
you who are not in labor!- seems to be a couplet from the prior sentence
For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband
Isaiah 54:1 ““Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.”
Application/Implications:
Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):
What caught your attention in this section?
Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?
Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):
Remember, this can be understood allegorically
How would you explain these two covenants in your own words? Who do you think in Galatia is following the first covenant? This is where things start take a different shape! Those that are enslaved under the law is the present Jerusalem, who came from Jerusalem? The JUDAIZERS!! The ones that prided themsleves on being from the line of Isaac actually have more in common with Ishmael!
There is a clash between these two women and their children for millenia
Ishmael—Ishmaelites (Arabs)—Muslims
Isaac—Israel— Jews
God gave words of hope to an unlikely, women that was past the years of childbearing, who was barren. He then gives words of hope to an unlikely nation that was passing their time in exile because of their sin. God will yet again give words of hope to an unlikely women, that has not lived many years and promise her that she will have a child without the human effort of a husband. If you think the likelyhood of the promise to Sarah was difficult, what do you make of the impossibility of the promise to Mary?
Enlist the Body (faith steps):
Transitional phrase:
2 Women: “Slave and Free” (vs. 28-31)
2 Women: “Slave and Free” (vs. 28-31)
Children of promise (v. 28)
Now you, brothers- addressing the present reciptients, first the Galatians, all the way to us presently
like Isaac
are children of promise- God promised that He would give Abram and Sarai a child in their old age, when they were beyond the childbearing years.
Persecuted (v. 29)
But (“alla” big contrast)
just as at that time-
he who was born according to the flesh- Ishmael, those under the law
persecuted- “ediwke” imperfect, act, ind, 3rd, sg to cause to suffer, whether phyiscally or emotionally. Not just a one time thing.
him who was born according to the Spirit- Isaac, those under grace,
so also it is now- only it has flipped! Those of the circumcision party, the judaizers, the keepers of days, months, and years, those under the law are now persecuting those that are under grace
Cast out (vs. 30-31)
But
What does the Scriptures say?
cast out the the slave woman
and her son
for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the sone of the free woman
Casting out the slave woman- casting out the Judaizers.
so brothers-
we are not children of the slave but of the free woman
Jerusalem above—children of promise—free woman (according to the Spirit)—Scriptures: this is not the same formula as the one before because the mother is not mentioned (Sarah), nor the current correspondent (Jerusalem).
Application/Implications:
Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):
What caught your attention in this section?
Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?
Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):
Paul ends this sections with a declaration that “we are not children of the slave but of the free woman”. Is that true of you? I hope it is!! Yet, do you ever feel the pull to perform, to earn your part in God’s family, to comfort yourself because of what you have attained to in following the law? That part of our lives needs to be cast out!
Do you ever look at people that grew up different than you as not being as good as you? Do you ever have a hard time at church thinking someone belongs because of what they did before they came to Jesus? Whose child are you?
Enlist the Body (faith steps):
Transitional phrase:
Summary of the Chapter: As God’s adopted children, we are no longer slaves under the law
Memory verse of the Chapter
Discussion Starters:
Does my life resemble being under the law (flesh) or grace (promise)? What evidence would I give?
How would I describe the 2 Covenants in my own words?
What might it look/sound like to cast out the way of the flesh?
Song: wonderful grace of Jesus
Next Week’s Sermon: Gal 5:1-15.
Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE
