Galatians 4:21-31

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Paul Refers to Abraham: Justification is By Faith Alone

True or False: Did the Arabia of Bible days include the Sinai Peninsula?
How did Paul use Mount Sinai as part of his illustration?
Why is it that human nature always wants to add human works to the finished work of Christ on the cross?
When Paul says in Galatians 4:24 that these things are symbolic, does he mean that they are not historical?
What do Hagar and Ishmael represent in Paul’s illustrations?
What do Sarah and Isaac represent?

True
Mount Sinai represented the law. But justification is not by law, but by faith alone.
Because human works appeal to human pride.
No. These events really happened, but the apostle was using them as an illustration.
They represent salvation by works.
They represent salvation by faith.

Discuss the illustration given and the differences between the births of Abraham’s two sons: Ishmael and Isaac.

Refer to Galatians 4:29-31. In these verses, Paul continues his illustration from the Genesis account of Hagar and Sarah. Now, 2000 years after the event, Paul is using this as an illustration of casting out any teaching suggesting that salvation or sanctification comes through works. Law and grace cannot be mixed. Beware the subtle ideas of works-oriented salvation or sanctification. Serve the Lord out of a heart of love and cast out the teaching of Judaism.

“It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.” (Galatians 4:22-24)