Life in His Story Part 10

Galatians 4:21-5:1 (NIV) 21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 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.

Galatians 4:21-5:1 (NIV) 24 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. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

Galatians 4:21-5:1 (NIV) 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 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."

Galatians 4:21-5:1 (NIV) 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 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. 30 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."

Galatians 4:21-5:1 (NIV) 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. (Galatians 5:1) 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.

John 8:1-12 (NIV) 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group

John 8:1-12 (NIV) 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

John 8:1-12 (NIV) 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

John 8:1-12 (NIV) 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

1. The darkness of legalism.

a. Doesn’t care about people (cares about the rules).

John 8:3 (NIV) 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group

b. Is selective.

John 8:3a (NIV) 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

c. Focuses on the punishment.

John 8:4-5 (NIV) 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"

2. The light of grace.

a. Cares about people first and foremost. (Not about the rules)

John 8:10 (NIV) 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

b. Understands that we are all sinners.

John 8:7 (NIV) 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." None of us is without sin, so none of us should be throwing stones or pointing fingers.

c. Offers hope of a righteous life.

John 8:11 (NIV) 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

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Life in His Story Part 11 Join us next week for