This term in the morning we're looking at Paul's letter to the Galatians. A good thing to do would be work your way through the book yourself. It's not too long and readin through the book will help you get an idea of the full sweep of what the book's
The passage below is from Chapter 4. As usual have a read and then think. What strikes you? What do you not understand? Do you have any issues with the passage, things you don't get etc? What challenges do you see? Does this speak into your life situation, work. home, family, friends etc.
Let me know, it really does help. Really does help. Either leave a message here, or send me an email.
THE PASSAGE
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
"Be glad, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband."[a]
28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[b] 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
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3 comments:
The thing I have never really grasped is this thing about Hagar. God blessed her and Ismael and promised he would lead a great people. That was a covenant promise. As i understand it Islam derives from Ismael. How come we as Christians don't see God's covenant with them as valid?
Hey Wayne!
The verse that has really stuck with me recently (and seems relevant in a slightly round-a-bout sort of way) is Philippians 3:16 "Only let us live up to what we have already attained."
I see the whole Galatians passage as Paul saying, "Why will you not accept that you are free? Why will you not accept that you have been changed? What Jesus did makes you a new person." All that stuff about Hager and Sarah is about the difference between being born into the bondage of slavery and being born free. If we are in Christ then we are re-born, born free, the shackles are off.
That's not to say we just stop thinking about it though. We must "press on towards the goal..." Too often the stuff we do is the old stuff, it's a back-slide, falling into the old holes even though someone has put a bridge across them.
Why do we do that? The price is paid, we ARE free! Why do we doubt that? "There's no such thing as a free lunch" we think... yes there is. He has done it. So, as Paul says, let us live up to what we have already attained. Or here's The Message version: "Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it."
Bit of a rant, sorry! Preach a blinder buddy.
The bit that confused me was the backsliding - this week we talked about salt loosing its saltiness - apparently in the old days salt was not pure and the more impurities then it lost its affect. What does this mean that we can be tempted back in to the ways of the world and more impurity so that we loose our faith and salvation? This does not make sense to me.
As for Hagar the children she had were the result of human intervention and impatience from Sarah to have the promise of children fulfilled - the outcome was of her efforts and thereforee imperfect. Surely the child born through the power of God and not deserved received the real promise of an inheritance bigger than our worldly concept and limits? Interesting how many barren women bear children through God's intervention who are key in the bible.
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