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We must keep this faith pure; "For it is written that Abraham had two sons." This fact of history, the Holy Ghost shows us, is an allegory, exposing the fatal bondage into which the Galatians were gliding. In the two sons of Abraham we see —

I. THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW.

1. Hagar's son was born after the flesh, in the common course of nature. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6).. We inherit an evil nature, inclined to sin, yet miserable in it. No natural man is really happy (Isaiah 57:21, 22); he is always sinful (Jeremiah 17:9).

2. Hagar's son was born in bondage. She a bondwoman; her child, though Abraham's son, a bondslave, under the law of the house. Here is the old covenant: "For this Agar denotes Mount Sinai." There Israel consented to a covenant of works (Exodus 24.; Deuteronomy 5:2, 3), which results in failure and bondage. Hagar brings forth only bondmen: this is all the law can do. "The strength of sin is the law" (1 Corinthians 15:5, 6).

3. Hagar's son was a persecutor. He derides, mocks, persecutes the promised seed. The world, Israel, hated Christ. The law cannot endure grace (Luke 15:2). The natural cannot tolerate the spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 3:1). Here is the mind of Cain. Hagar's son was Abraham's son. This increased the hostility. Religion is often religion's greatest enemy. Our claim to be perfectly justified by faith, without the law, arouses animosity (John 8:33).

4. Hagar's son was cast out: he had no title; he could inherit nothing. His continuance in the house depended on his obedience. Obedience to law avails not for justification (Psalm 143:2); it only brings curse (Galatians 3:10), and wrath (Romans 4:15), rejection (Galatians 5:2; John 8:35); it confers no claim to inheritance. Christ the only way to God, to heaven (John 14:6). If not "in Christ," "of the faith of Abraham" (Romans 4:16), we are yet "in our sins" (John 8:24). But think of Christ's — "by no means" cast out (John 6:37).

II. THE LIBERTY OF THE GOSPEL.

1. The freewoman's son was the child of promise. Abraham and Sarah being as good as dead (Hebrews 11:12), their child was born, not in the course of nature, but by God's gracious power (Romans 4:17-21). "We, brethren, as Isaac was, i.e., after the manner of Isaac, are the children of promise" (Romans 9:8; 2 Timothy 1:1). Our sonship is not the result of legal obedience, or "culture," or of man in any way (John 1:12). We are counted dead, and have been quickened by the Holy Ghost, by the grace of God (Romans 9:11).

2. The freewoman's son was born free, free from the conditions of the bondslave's law. For us, who by faith are justified, the law is, in that respect, dead (Romans 7:4; Galatians 2:19). Its condemning hold is broken. In Christ its claims are satisfied. It is no longer an outer law, restraining, convicting; but an inner law, in which we delight (Romans 7:22: Psalm 1:2), and which, by love, we fulfil (Romans 8:4), through the Spirit. This is real liberty. "Whose service is perfect freedom."

3. The freewoman's son was persecuted. This we must expect if we are faithful, to be "mocked" (John 15:20), especially in "the last days" (2 Timothy 3:12). The offence of the cross has not ceased. "Blessed are the meek," etc.

4. The freewoman's son was the heir. The children of promise are counted for the seed, and are heirs according to the promise. Jerusalem above is a city of freemen (Galatians 3:19; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:3, 4).Conclusion.

1. Let us hold fast (Galatians 5:1) our liberty in Christ, and beware of legal bondage.

2. Let us use our liberty in active, loving service (Galatians 5:13).

3. Let us meekly suffer, in patient hope, for His sake.

(J. E. Sampson, M. A.)

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KJV: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

WEB: So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.