Tuesday, July 13
Read Galatians 4
Think About It:
One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when, in reality, it leads the believer back into a “second childhood” of Christian experience. The Galatian Christians, like most believers, wanted to grow, and go for it for Christ; but they were going about it in the wrong way. A truth Paul was trying to get across to his beloved converts in Galatia. The Judaizers had bewitched them into thinking that the law would make them better Christians. Their old nature felt an attraction for the law because the law enables them to do things and measure external results. Paul sought to convince the Galatians that they did not need legalism in order to live the Christian life. They had all they needed in Jesus Christ.
Paul was a wonderful spiritual father; he knew just how to balance rebuke with love. Now he turns from “spanking” to “embracing” and reminds the believers of their love for him and his love for them. Once they were willing to sacrifice anything for Paul, so great was their love; but now he had become the enemy. The Judaizers had come and stolen their affection.
The New Testament word for adoption means “to place it as an adult son.” It has to do with our standing in the family of God: we are not little children, but adult sons with all the privileges of sonship. No more are we children in bondage, Jesus redeemed us. We are sons and heirs. Like the prodigal son, the Galatians wanted their Father to accept them as servants, when they really were sons.
Paul further explains being under the law and being free of the law using the story of Abraham and his two sons. Ishmael and Isaac illustrate our two births: the physical birth that makes us sinners and the spiritual birth that makes us children of God through Christ.
Abraham’s marriage to Hagar was outside of the will of God; it was the result of Sarah’s and Abraham’s unbelief and impatience. Hagar was trying to do what only Sarah could do, and it failed. The law cannot give life or righteousness or the gift of the spirit or spiritual inheritance. Isaac was born Abrahams heir, but Ishmael could not share in this inheritance. Paul was in spiritual travail for his converts that they might become more like Christ. He longed for them to see that no amount of religion or legislation can give the dead sinner life, only Christ can.
It was Sarah who gave the order: “Cast out this bond woman and her son” (Genesis 21:9-10), and God subsequently approved it. Ishmael had been in the home for at least 17 years, but his stay would not be permanent; eventually he had to be cast out. There was not room in the household for Hagar and Ishmael, and Sarah and Isaac; one pair had to go.
Paul teaches that Hagar is the law, and Sarah is grace. From the human point of view, it might seem cruel that God should command Abraham to send away his own son Ishmael, whom he loved very much. But it was the only solution to the problem, for the “wild man” could never live with a child of promise. In a deeper sense, however, think of what it cost God the Father when He gave His Son to bear the curse of the law to set us free. Abraham’s broken heart meant Isaac’s liberty; God giving up His Son means our liberty in Christ.
Family Time:
- Are you living by faith in Christ or by trying to live up to the demands and expectations of others? (verse 15)
- What were the names of Abraham’s two sons?
- It is hard waiting for God’s perfect timing. Just as God knew the perfect timing for His Son to be born, God knows the perfect timing for all our prayers.
