Two Better Than One Series

INTRO.- Are two better than one? It depends on what you're talking about.

ILL.- It's been three years ago that my daughter and her family visited us. You may recall an incident that I told you about and maybe not. I offered to wash their car so my son-in-law, Chris, and I went to the car wash behind Wal-mart on Parker St. On the way home we stop at the traffic light on Southwest drive. Directly in front of us were two sport bikes waiting for the light to turn green. One of those guys put his brake on and did a burnout, smoking the air and spraying tire rubber on the windshield of our van.

When he finished smoking his rear tire, I immediately got out of the van and walked up to him, saying, "What in the world do you think you're doing?" (and he was bigger and younger than me!). He said, "Well, cry me a blankety blank river!"

And instantly, an angel appeared. Not exactly an angel but an angelic Jonesboro Police officer. His car was setting to our left and he had witnessed the whole incident. He asked us all to drive into the BP station to the right of us. My son-in-law quizzed me, "What does he want us for?" I said, "I don't know. Let's go." When we pulled into the station I got out and the officer asked, "Did he damage your van?" I said, "No, but he sure used some terrible language." He said, "I know and he's going to get several tickets." GOD STRIKES AGAIN!

On the way back to my house, my son-in-law said, "If he'd hit you I would have got out and helped you." YEAH SURE!

Two people might be better than one person by themselves, especially, if you're talking about a fight but I'm not sure about my son-in-law!

Are two better than one? How about marriage? Is being married better than being single? That may well depend on the marriage or the persons in the marriage.

God made the woman to complete the man. I guess God figured that man wouldn't be good alone or that he would need help in life. And often, the wife does complete the man. She can do things he cannot do and vice versa.

Rare is the person who prefers to be alone and can do everything for himself or herself!

Are two better than one? Normally, you would think so. Are two heads better than one? Could be. Should be. It depends on the heads.

What about two churches? Are two churches better than one? Perhaps, if they both believe the same thing and worked together. Two can accomplish more work than just one.

What about the variety of churches that claim to follow Christ? Is this good? I'm not sure that God is thrilled with all the churches in our world that claim Christ as Savior.

Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

God is pretty hip on this "oneness" business. He is the one, true living God! His son, Jesus, is the one true Savior of the world! His Word is one true, living Word.

What about two covenants with God? Is there such a thing? Can there be? Are not two better than one? Is there more than one approach to God?

Our text speaks of two different covenants or agreements with God. Which is right? Which is better?

PROP.- Consider the two covenants and which is the best of the two. (in reality, we already know)

1- The covenant of law

2- The covenant of faith

I. THE COVENANT OF LAW

24These 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. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For 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."

Genesis 21:1-13

In this text, we see a comparison that Paul is talking about. Hagar is the slave woman. Her son Ishmael was born according to the flesh, the way any normal child would be conceived and born.

But Sarah represents the freewoman whose child was conceived miraculously when she was 90 and Abraham was 100 years old. WHAT A MIRACLE!