Grace and Law Do Not Mix Galatians 4:21-5:1

Review For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free I. Freedom Through Revelation (Chps 1-2) II. Freedom Through Justification (Chps 3-4) III. Freedom Through Sanctification (Chps 5-6)

Justification happens the moment we believe and we are declared “not guilty,” and freed from the penalty of sin and given eternal life. Sanctification is a life-long process where we are freed from the power of sin in our daily lives through the supervision and power of the Holy Spirit living in each believer.

Legalism is not a question of what you do, it's a question of why you do it. You are a legalist if you do something to earn favor with God. You are a legalist if you do something to earn favor with God. You are not a legalist if you do something motivated by your love for God. You are not a legalist if you do something motivated by your love for God.

Grace and Law Do Not Mix I. The End of Slavery to the Law (4:21-31) A. The Historical Event (vv 21-23) “Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.”

Grace and Law Do Not Mix I. The End of Slavery to the Law (4:21-31) A. The Historical Event (vv 21-23) B. The Figurative Interpretation (vv 24-27) “These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.””

Augustine’s Allegorical Interpretation of the Good Samaritan. The Alleged Symbols Augustine’s Interpretation The victim……………………………..Adam The attackers…………………………The devil and his angels The priest & the Levite…………..The Law & the prophets The Samaritan………………………..Christ The oil & the wine…………………..Comfort & exhortation The donkey…………………………….The sufferings of Christ The inn & the innkeeper…………The church & Apostle Paul The two coins…………………………Baptism & the Lord's Supper

Pope Gregory the Great’s Interpretation of Job Job's three friends are the heretics, Job's three friends are the heretics, his seven sons are the twelve apostles, his seven sons are the twelve apostles, his seven thousand sheep are God's faithful people. his seven thousand sheep are God's faithful people. His three thousand camels are the depraved Gentiles. His three thousand camels are the depraved Gentiles.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #1: The Literal Interpretation Principle The Literal Interpretation Principle Take the Bible at face value, in the way the author intended; taking every word at its normal, literal meaning, unless the immediate context clearly indicates otherwise. Be aware of literary devices used by the author such as: similes, metaphors, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, irony, personification, symbolism, parable, etc.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #2: The Genre Principle Principle #2: The Genre Principle Consider the genre or category of the writing: it may be history, prophecy, poetry or doctrine. Understanding the genre will help you understand the author’s intent.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #3: The Grammatical / Contextual Principle The Grammatical / Contextual Principle Study word meanings, grammar, and syntax of each sentence. Study word meanings, grammar, and syntax of each sentence. Also consider the verses immediately around the passage and the context of the book as a whole. Also consider the verses immediately around the passage and the context of the book as a whole.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #4: The Historical / Cultural Background Principle Principle #4: The Historical / Cultural Background Principle While the truths of the Bible are universal in application, the better we understand the cultural and historical context of the author and original readers, the better we can interpret the original intended meaning.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #5: The Harmony of Scripture Principle No part of the Bible may be interpreted so as to contradict another part of the Bible. God does not contradict himself. The clear passages of Scripture help us interpret the hard passages.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #6: The One Interpretation Principle Every verse in the Bible has only one correct interpretation, although that verse may have many applications. The one correct interpretation is that which mirrors the intent of the original inspired author.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #7: The Accommodation Principle The Bible is to be interpreted in view of the fact that it is an accommodation of Divine truths to human minds: God the infinite communicating with man the finite. We must be careful, then, not to push accommodating language about God and His nature to literal extremes.

Basic Principles of Biblical Interpretation Principle #8: The Progressive Revelation Principle The Progressive Revelation Principle God did not reveal His truths all at one time. God began to reveal certain truths in the Old Testament which He reveals more fully and clearly in the New Testament.

Paul’s Comparison Old Covenant New Covenant Hagar, the slave woman……..Sarah, the free woman Ishmael, by human decision…..Isaac, by promise Ishmael, physical birth…………Isaac, spiritual birth Children are slaves………….Children are free and heirs Earthly Jerusalem………………….Heavenly Jerusalem Judaism……………………………………..Christianity

Grace and Law Do Not Mix I. The End of Slavery to the Law (4:21-31) A. The Historical Event (vv 21-23) B. The Figurative Interpretation (vv 24-27) C. The Application (vv 28-31) “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? ‘Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.’ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.”

Martin Luther A quote by Martin Luther over 500 years ago: “Those who try to achieve their own righteousness are slaves, who will never receive the inheritance even though they work themselves to death with their great effort; for they are trying, contrary to the will of God, to achieve by their own works what God wants to grant to believers by sheer grace for Christ’s sake.”

Grace and Law Do Not Mix I. The End of Slavery to the Law (4:21-31) A. The Historical Event (vv 21-23) B. The Figurative Interpretation (vv 24-27) C. The Application (vv 28-31) II. The Beginning of Freedom In Christ (5:1) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Choose Your Yoke The yoke of Sin The yoke of Sin The yoke of the Law The yoke of the Law The yoke of Jesus The yoke of Jesus Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)