When Paul the apostle began
to share with the church members in Galatia, he had difficulty
believing that they would leave the doctrine of the grace of God for
the teaching of the Judaizers who were promoting the keeping of the
law. The people of Galatia could not keep the law in the first place
which showed the necessity of the grace of God through Jesus Christ,
and to now return to the very pattern they could not keep was
bewitching. Paul is using the example of the two sons of Abraham to
demonstrate how the law is binding and grace sets them free. He
continues his thoughts about Hagar in chapter four and verse
twenty-five where he wrote:
For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and
answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children.
Paul begins, “For this
Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now
is...” Paul makes reference to the place where Moses received
the ten commandments from God. On mount Sinai Moses met with God for
forty days. During his visit, God gave Moses the ten commandments.
Paul is saying this is what “Jerusalem” follows to this day.
Those in Jerusalem who had not received Jesus Christ as their Savior,
and those who were promoters of the law such as the Judaizers were
represented by Hagar who was the bond maid. The law was binding and
put people into bondage in the same manner as Hagar.
Paul goes on to say, “and
is in bondage with her children.” Those who are under the law
are not only in bondage themselves, but they also pass their beliefs
on to future generations. Traditions often pass from one generation
to the next, and thus was the case with the attempt to keep the law
of God. Until Jesus came and fulfilled the law, there was no other
way for people to relate to God. However, now that Jesus has come,
fulfilled the law, and set free all who believe in, rely upon, cling
to, and trust in Him, though they once were bound, they are now set
free from the law and live under grace.
In the gospel of John in
chapter eight and verses twenty-one and twenty-two Jesus said:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If you continue in my word, [then] are you my disciples indeed;
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
When we receive the
grace of God, bondage has to flee, and we are set free. The
key is “continue in my word”
which makes us disciples who are free and free indeed. We endure
bondage no more, and we bask in the grace of God through Jesus Christ
our Lord and Savior.
Next time Paul will share how Jerusalem from above is different from
the one on Earth, so read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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