We are free because of Grace!!
1. Hagar pictures mankind as slaves to the Law, Sarah pictures Christians free because of grace.
Acts 4:21-26 “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.”
2. Ishmael pictures mankind born after the flesh, Isaac pictures Christians born in fulfillment of God’s promise.
“But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”
3. Hagar represents the hopelessness of those in bondage to the Law, much like Isaac was in bondage before God’s divine substitute upon Mt, Moriah. Jerusalem was freed from the Law through the fulfillment of that substitute offered on Calvary.
“For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
LESSON - We were born into a sinful world, in a sinful body, with sinful desires, and yet given a standard of perfection. Hopeless slavery is the best term to describe our former condition. We were being led through life much like Moses (the Law) was leading Isaac (us) to death (Hell) until God provided a ram (Jesus) to become our substitute allowing God to keep His promise to Abraham and set Isaac (us) free. Now we are free to live above the bondage of sin and free to live for Him. Don’t take the grace of God freely offered to you for granted.
~Mike
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