1. MEET YOUR MOTHER
Galatians 4:19-31

2. Paul longed to see Christ formed in Galatians believers
“Travail”
Paul longed to see Christ formed in Galatians believers
Paul used the law appealed by Judaizers to prove that Christian are not under the law.
Ishmael & Isaac (Gen 16-21)
Allegory: narrative that has a deeper meaning behind the story
Example: John Bunyan’s Pilgrim Progress
Hidden meanings

3. 75-Abraham was called by God to go to Canaan
Historical Facts (4:19-23)
Gen
75-Abraham was called by God to go to Canaan
85-Sarah was impatient & allowed Hagar to be pregnant through Abraham
86-Ishamael was born, Abraham’s son (Gen. 16:4- 16)
99-God spoke to Abraham & promised again that he will have a son through Sarah. God appeared again & reaffirmed the promise to Sarah (Gen )
100-Isaac (laughter) was born (Gen. 21:1-7)
103-Jews wean their children at age of 3 years
Ishmael started to mock (Gen 21:8ff)
Hagar and Ishmael had to go

4. Abraham, two wives & two sons represent spiritual realities.
The Old Covenant
Law
Hagar the slave
Ishmael, conceived after the flesh
Earthly Jerusalem in bondage
The New Covenant
Grace
Sarah the free woman
Isaac, miraculously conceived
Heavenly Jerusalem which is free

5. The Spiritual Truth (4:24-29)
Two sons, Ishmael & Isaac
The physical birth that makes us sinners & the spiritual birth that makes us the children of God
Isaac – He was born by God’s power. 25 years waitng
Abraham: faith & Sarah: grace
Eph. 2:8-9
He brought joy
Isaac means laughter
Salvation: an experience of joy

6. He grew and was weaned (Gen. 2:18)
Salvation is the beginning
We must grow (I Peter 2:2, II Peter 3:18)
We must lay aside “childish things” (I Cor. 13:11)
A child doesn’t enjoy being weaned
He was persecuted (Gen. 21:9)
Ishmael caused problems for Isaac; likewise, our old nature causes problem for us
Ishmael caused no problem at home until Isaac’ birth; likewise our old nature causes

7. problem when we trust Christ & receive the new nature
Hagar vs. Sarah; law vs. grace
Ishmael vs. Isaac-flesh vs. Spirit
Judaizers taught that law made the believer more spiritual while Paul explained clearly that the law only releases the opposition of the flesh (Romans 7:19)
Hagar was Abraham’s second wife
God begins with Sarah, not Hagar
God began with grace in Eden by providing

8. Adam & Eve with coats of skin for coverings
With Israel, God worked on the basis of grace
Covenant with Abraham was with grace
Deliverance from Egypt was a basis of grace
Law was added like Hagar, Abraham’s second wife
Hagar performed temporarily like a law (4:24-25)
Hagar was a slave
5 times: bondmaid or bondwoman (4:22-23, )

9. Hagar though married was still a servant
Law was given as a servant (3:19)
Law was given as a mirror to reveal man’s sins (Rom. 3:20)
Law was given as a monitor to control men and lead them to Christ (Gal. 3:23-23)
Law was never a mother
Hagar was not meant to bear a child
Out of will of God due to Abraham’s and Sarah’s unbelief and impatience
Law couldn’t give life, gift of the Spirit, or spiritual inheritance

10. No religion, or law could give dead sinner life unlike Christ
Hagar gave birth to a slave
Ishmael was a wild man and nobody can control him
Old nature at law with God and law can’t control or change it
Hagar was cast out
God approved this.
Impossible for law & grace, flesh & Spirit, to compromise and stay together
Hagar was not married again

11. Judaizers wants to wed Mt. Sinai & heavenly Mt. Sinai (Heb
Judaizers wants to wed Mt. Sinai & heavenly Mt. Sinai (Heb. 12:22), but this would deny what Jesus did at Calvary
Practical Blessing (4:30-31)
Christians like Isaac are the children of promise by grace
The covenant of grace is our spiritual mother
The law and old nature want to persecute us & bring us into bondage
We can try to change them
This will fail for we can’t change neither law nor old nature (John 3:36)

12. We can compromise
This doesn’t work in Abraham’s home
“How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements?” (4:9)
We can cast them out
That’s what we supposed to do.
Legalism is barren for it can’t give life or fruitfulness
Holding on to grace church spread across the world in fruitfulness
Legalism is one of the major problem among Christians today

13. Legalism means worshipping spiritual standards
Pharisees held high standards yet they crucified Jesus
Old nature loves legalism
Legalistic religious people often fight & have division
“Ye bite and devour one another” (5:15)

14. “Cast out the bondwoman & her son”
You can’t mix law & grace for it will lead to frustrated, barren Christian life
What’s the secret to fruitful life?
Holy Sprirt