YOU ARE FREE; WHAT WILL YOU DO?

In a message titled, YOU ARE FREE; WHAT WILL YOU DO? (Gal. 4:24-31), Paul completed his sixth and final doctrinal argument defending the gospel.  

The Holy Spirit uses symbolism here from a literal historical account (see Genesis 12-21) to prove that Christians are not under the Mosaic Law (i.e. Gal. 4:24a).  Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was not born in faith, is symbolic of the flesh while his son Isaac, who was born miraculously by faith, symbolizes being born of the Spirit (Gal. 4:22-23, 29; John 3:1-7).  Likewise, Hagar, Abraham’s second wife taken sinfully, symbolizes the Law and Jerusalem that existed then while Sarah, Abraham’s freeborn wife, symbolizes grace and “Jerusalem [that is from] above… the city of the living God” where all the dead in Christ are today until Jesus’ return (Gal. 4:24a-27; Heb. 12:22; Isa 54:1; Rev. 19:7-8, 14, etc.).    

The Holy Spirit then reminds us as Christians of our position in Christ: YOU ARE FREE!  That is, we “are children of the promise,” sons and daughters of grace, born miraculously from above (Gal. 4:28), and just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac in the past, so unbelievers persecute people of faith today (Gal. 4:29; Gen. 21:9).    

We are then called to action: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, [because he will] not be heir with the son of the freewoman” (Gal. 4:30; Gen. 21:10, 1 Cor. 10:14, etc.).  What will the Galatians do?  WHAT WILL YOU DO?    

Only what is done by Christ through us will last (Eph. 2:10; Heb. 12:25-29; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.).    

God then reminds us again of our certain identity in Christ proving this is not a salvation issue but one of growth and maturity.  Indeed, the Scripture steadfastly declares, “[Christians] are not children of the bondwoman but of the free” (Gal. 4:31; Rom. 6:11; Gal. 2:20, etc.).