Freedom or Slavery?
Galatians 4:21-31
1.Trusting in our effort leads to slavery
The paradigm of the slave woman and her children
The slavery of being self-reliant
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Slavery: Relying on my works |
Freedom: Relying on God’s promise |
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Hagar- slave woman |
Sarah- free woman |
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Ishmael- born by the flesh, slave |
Isaac- born by the promise, free |
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Covenant of works |
Covenant of grace |
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Present Jerusalem – Judaism and its works-based righteousness |
Jerusalem Above- Heavenly Kingdom of God, Church, grace-based righteousness |
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Children of Present Jerusalem: the Judaizers, any who try to live by human effort: Slaves |
Children of the Jerusalem Above- Christians (Jew or Gentile) all who live by faith in the Father’s promise: Free |
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Result- Life relying on your own effort, slavery. |
Result- Life relying on your heavenly Father’s promise: freedom |
2. Trusting in God’s promise leads to freedom
The paradigm of the free woman and her children
The freedom of being God-reliant
