Galatians 4:21-31
"Hagar and Sarah"
Paul draws an interesting comparison between Hagar and Sarah and the Christians and Jews/non-Christians. The son by Hagar, the slave woman was born in an ordinary manner, but Sarah's son was born from a promise. Paul then takes these children and compares them to the two covenants God made - the covenant of Moses at mt. Sinai - this being the covenant of the law - and the covenant of the promise of Christ.
Now remember that Hagar was a slave and Sarah free. likewise. the figurative children of Hagar are slaves, but to the law as there is no freedom in the law. therefore, those seeking salvation on the law are not really free, but are bound up on chains they cannot free themselves from. the children of Sarah, however, are not bound by the law as they are the children of the covenant of the promise of God to Abraham. they have been set free by the coming, death and resurrection of Christ
Paul does warn us, though, that like Ishmael persecuted Isaac, the children of the promise will be persecuted by the children of the law. i.e. Christians will not have it easy - we will be persecuted by those who are not yet born of the promise, that is, pretty much everybody else.
we are different, we are set apart as part of a different race/people group. as such people will persecute and challenge those that are different, those they do not understand. we must take heart and joy in our difference, help others to become like us and enjoy the promise and we must persevere through the hardships in the name of Christ.
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