Stand Firm in Your Christian Freedom – Galatians 4:21-5:12
4 (21) Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not understand the law? (22) It is written that Abraham had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. (23) However, the son by the slave woman was born by means of natural procreation; but the son by the free woman was born as a result of the promise of God.
(24) These things contain a spiritual meaning: these women represent two covenants—one represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, she bears children for bondage, that one is Hagar. (25) Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and stands for the present earthly Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children. (26) But the Jerusalem that is above is free, she is our mother; (27) for it is written, “Rejoice, O barren woman who has borne no children; burst with joy and shout aloud, you who have never experienced labor pains; for more numerous are the children of the single woman than of the woman who has a husband!”
(28) Now we, brothers, just like Isaac, are children of promise. (29) But just as it was then—namely, the one who was born by natural procreation persecuted the one who was born by the Spirit—so is it the same now. (30) But what does the Scripture say? It says, “Expel the slave woman and her son; for by no means shall the son of the slave woman share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” (31) In conclusion, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
5 It is for freedom that Christ made us free; therefore, stand firm and do not again subject yourselves to a yoke of bondage. (2) Listen. I, Paul, am telling you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. (3) I testify again to every man who receives circumcision: you are under obligation to keep the whole law. (4) You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the law—you have lost the connection with grace.
(5) But we, by the Spirit and by means of faith, are eagerly awaiting the righteousness for which we hope; (6) for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any significance, but faith expressing itself through love.
(7) You were running the race well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? (8) This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. (9) “A little yeast causes the whole batch of dough to rise.” (10) I am confident in the Lord that you will not adopt any other view; but the one who is troubling you will be judged, whoever he may be. (11) But I, brothers, if I am still preaching the doctrine of circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?—for then the offense of the cross has been removed. (12) I wish that those who are unsettling you would even go so far as to castrate themselves.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
