Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”

³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”  Galatians 4:21-31.

—————————–

Paul continues the hammering.  Do you want to be under the Law or do you want to be under the promise?

The bondwoman Hagar, her son Ishmael, the desert (Mount Sinai), the Ten Commandments, and slavery represent the Law. 

Abraham’s wife Sarah, their son Isaac, the richness of heaven (Jerusalem above), walking by the Spirit, and freedom represent the promise. 

On which side do you want to be?

Moreover, it is very interesting to note that the promise is not just received by those wise enough with enough will to secure it by their alleged “free will” in choosing the side of faith versus the side of the Law.  The promise refers to one of two covenants.  See verse 24.

The promise is an unconditional covenant based on God.  “But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac;  and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”  Genesis 17:19.

“⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed.  For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;  ⁷ nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but:  “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”  ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.  ⁹ For this is the word of promise:  “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.”  ¹⁰ And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;  ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”  ¹³ Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

¹⁴ What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there?  May it never be!  ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  ¹⁶ So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  ¹⁸ So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:6-18. 

Thus, we should not consider the children of promise as those who are wise enough and have enough willpower to exercise their alleged “free-will” to choose faith instead of the Law.  Rather, ultimately, we should consider the children of promise as the elect.  The children of promise do have faith and do not rely on the Law nor seek to be under it, but the children of promise, as being the elect, received their faith along with all the other saving gifts of salvation as part of the promise.