GALATIANS

Sunday December 1, 2013

 

Free Children of the Heavenly Jerusalem

Galatians 4:21 – 5:1 

 

 

 II. Paul’s Gospel Defended from Experience and Scripture (3:1 – 4:11)

                  4. The Folly of Reverting to the Law (4:8 – 11)

III. A Call to Freedom from the Law and Freedom in the Spirit (4:12 – 6:10)

                  A. Live in Freedom from the Law: Argument from Friendship (4:12 – 20)

                  B. Stand in Freedom: Argument from Allegory (4:21 – 5:1)

                  C. Resist the Dangerous Message of Bondage (5:2 – 12)

Thomas Schreiner, Exegetical Commentary On The New Testament: Galatians; Zondervan Publishers, 2010.

 

 

Review 4:12 – 4:20 – Paul is a true shepherd of God’s Sheep.

 

Read 4:21 – 5:1

 

Main Idea

 

   “Paul drives to the conclusion of the argument in 4:31 and 5:1.  Believers are children of the free woman, not the slave woman.  And since they are now free in Christ, they must not return again in the slavery of living under the law (5:1).”

 

1. The Historical Situation (4:21 – 23)

 

– Genesis 16:1 – 16; Genesis 21:1 – 21.

 

 

2. Allegorical Interpretation: Hagar & Sarah (4:24 – 27)

 

– Though Paul uses a common device (Allegory), he no doubt shocks the Galatian believers to some point.  This may have been a reinterpretation of an argument used by the Judaizers. 

 

– Paul hopes the illustration will leave a lasting impression.

 

– The use of Isaiah 54:1 in 4:27 compares the Gentiles in Galatia with a promise of restoration to captive Israel.  It is totally miraculous – God’s power alone saves and multiplies!  God builds His church by the Spirit, not human strength.

 

 

3. Practical Application (4:28 – 5:1)

 

– Believers trusting in the gospel of God’s grace alone are children of promise and heirs of God’s kingdom.