"The Jerusalem Above is Free”
Galatians 4:21-31
Purpose: True believers are free in Christ, not enslaved to the Law
Paul uses the analogy of Hagar and Sarah to describe the difference between slave and free, Old Covenant and New Covenant, the law and faith in Jesus.
- The Issue: Do you really want to be under the Law? (Gal 4:21)
- Old Covenant and New Covenant (Gal 4:22-24a)
Abraham had two sons
Ishmael v. Isaac
The Bondwoman v. The Free Woman
Hagar v. Sarah
Mt. Sinai/Present Jerusalem v. Jerusalem from above
Slave v. Free
Law v. Promise
- The Old Covenant Produces Slaves (Gal 4:24-25)
- The New Covenant Produces Free Children of the Promise (Gal 4:26-28, 31)
The Jerusalem from above
John 8:42-45; 15:19
Hebrews 12:22-24
Gal 3:26; 6:16
Children of promise, born according to the Spirit (Gal 4:28-29)
Warring Over the Inheritance (Gal 4:29-30; Gen 21:10, 12)
Only the son is the heir, not the slave (John 8:35)