1. Welcome to our service Teaching the “whole council of God” (Acts 20:27) Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk

2. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 Commentary on Genesis 16 Aimed at countering the teaching of the Judaisers Judaisers argued that the Galatian Christians should return to The Law Paul encourages them to read and understand The Law The issues are: ‘Slavery versus Freedom’ ‘Law versus Promise’ An allegory is used, though not denying the historical events that took place

3. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 Full freedom – in a sense to become enslaved to whatever one devotes one’s self to Ability to do something Opportunity to do it Desire to do it This could lead to life or destruction Depending on what we exercise our freedom upon Full and eternal freedom cannot be gained from destruction So full freedom has to lead to eternal life

4. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 Galatians speaks of the son of the slave and the son of the free The son of the slave is said to be like Mount Sinai The son of the slave is just another slave and is not free This son was born of the flesh – an act of human endeavour Mount Sinai is where the law was given Their response – “all that The Lord has spoken, we will do” This too was to be an act of human endeavour – they did not have the heart desire or the ability to be righteous (Galatians 3 verse 24) Both bear children for slavery The son of a slave is himself destined for slavery Those who try to keep the law are enslaved because they have no freedom to do the law from the heart

5. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 This passage teaches us, using the example of Hagar and Ishmael, as against Sarah and Isaac, that freedom can only come from that which is promised to the enslaved Miraculously provided Isaac was a miraculous birth – born of God Jesus was a miraculous birth – born of God We have been born miraculously – born (again) of God The lesson – don’t return to slavery as a child after the model of the son of Hagar Live as a child of promise after the model of Isaac

6. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 Jesus taught this John 3 Paul taught the same to the Romans Romans 4 And to the Corinthians 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6 And to the Ephesians Ephesians 2 verses 5 to 10 And to others

7. Galatians 4 verses 21 - 31 Jerusalem above is our mother The one who brings us to birth The one from whom we receive the promise The one for whom we wait with faith and patience Isaiah 54 verse 1 is quoted This follows the famous messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53 It speaks of great increase in the progeny of Israel It speaks of what will happen after Messiah has done his great work And after His promise is bestowed

8. Welcome to our service Teaching the “whole council of God” (Acts 20:27) Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk