21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (ESV)
I have another tale to tell you. You there was a messenger sent to the people of God to share with them his instruction and promise. He came to the people of God and told them how God expected them to live, because God had created them and redeemed them. But there was another man. This man was not sent by God, but he likewise told the people how to live. He gave them many rules that seemed very simple to follow, not unlike the instruction of the first. But this second man said once you have followed all these rules and fulfilled them yourself, then God will create and redeem you.
One is born of the Law and the other born of the promise. The one born of promise does not leave us to go off and do whatever we feel like because we are free. No, he expects us to live a life as people set free and appreciate the one who has given us this gift. This instruction may not be unlike the rules of the one born under the Law. But do not trust the one born under the law when he tells you that you can accomplish them or that they will save you.
There is only one way to get to heaven or the promised land. There is only one way of salvation. Jesus Christ is the one who has given us life and allowed for us to be born children of the promise. But these two sons of Abraham still war with each other today. Not in the fight between Jew and Muslim, but between the fight of Legalism and Gospel reductionism. There is a balance. The son of the promise stuck with his Father and obeyed him. So even as free, created, and redeemed people of God we still submit ourselves to God not for salvation, but out of appreciation and love.
One is born of the Law and the other born of the promise. The one born of promise does not leave us to go off and do whatever we feel like because we are free. No, he expects us to live a life as people set free and appreciate the one who has given us this gift. This instruction may not be unlike the rules of the one born under the Law. But do not trust the one born under the law when he tells you that you can accomplish them or that they will save you.
There is only one way to get to heaven or the promised land. There is only one way of salvation. Jesus Christ is the one who has given us life and allowed for us to be born children of the promise. But these two sons of Abraham still war with each other today. Not in the fight between Jew and Muslim, but between the fight of Legalism and Gospel reductionism. There is a balance. The son of the promise stuck with his Father and obeyed him. So even as free, created, and redeemed people of God we still submit ourselves to God not for salvation, but out of appreciation and love.
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