The Cost Of Freedom

The Cost of Freedom Galatians 4:17-31

They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

(Two Covenants)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law; do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: “ Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Introduction: The Judaizers goal was to exclude the Galatians from God’s gracious salvation and win recognition for themselves. Remember, Paul wrote Galatians to counter judaizing false teachers who were undermining the central NT doctrine of justification by faith. These judaizers spread dangerous teaching such as; Gentiles must first become Jewish proselytes and submit to all the Mosaic Law before they could become Christians. Therefore, One big reason Paul wrote this letter was to defend the message of faith.

Galatians 4:17NLT Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.

False teachers and their teachings always have a motive outside of scripture. They came to exclude the Galatians from God’s gracious salvation, and win recognition for themselves.

Romans 10:2NLT I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

Galatians 4:18NLT If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.

Paul is saying to these Galatians to have the same zeal for the gospel of grace as they did when he was with them. (Be faithful all the time.)

Galatians 4:19NLT Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

This is the only time Paul uses these words of affection. 19b, I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, Paul hurts for those being mislead.

Verse 19c, the goal of salvation is Christ likeness.

Romans 8:29NLT For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Galatians 4:20NLT I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Of course in the King James Paul uses the word doubt, Paul is actually saying, I’m at wits end with them.

Galatians 4:21NLT Tell me, you who want to live under the law; do you know what the law actually says?

Deuteronomy 27:26NLT ‘Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

Failure to keep the entire law brings divine judgment and condemnation. (One violation brings the curse of God.)

James 2:10NLT For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.

Galatians 4:22NLT The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

The first son, Ishmael- son of Sarah’s Egyptian maid Hagar, and the second, Isaac, Sarah’s promised son.