Hagar And Sarah Illustrate The Law And Grace

Galatians 4:22-26, “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

The Apostle Paul in his letter of correction to the Galatians, who were led astray from grace into keeping the Law, said the following in Galatians 1:15-16, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”

Paul said that God separated him from “my mother's womb,” and that God called Paul by His grace for a specific duty. That duty was to “to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;” The “heathen” are the Gentiles (i.e., anyone not Jewish).

To fully understand what “womb” Paul was separated from, you need to read couple of Chapters and verses ahead where he spoke in allegory using two women (Sarah and Hagar) as illustration to illustrate between the LAW (NOT OF FAITH) and PROMISE (FAITH). An Allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a HIDDEN MEANING, TYPICALLY a moral or political one. In the following intriguing passage of Scripture we see Hagar and Sarah used to illustrate the comparison between God's LAW versus God's GRACE:

Galatians 4:22-26, “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Hagar in this context represents the LAW received by Moses at Mount Sinai, who is “in bondage with her children.” Her “children” include John MacArthur, Bob Jones University, Calvinists, the Pharisees in the Bible and all those who add WORKS to God's saving GRACE. Remember dear reader—grace is not earned, it is offered.

There are some Bible teachers who falsely claim that “the womb” from which Paul was separated was the LAW, and not literally his mother's womb. But I humbly disagree with that theory. It disturbs me when deeper-life theologians and wannabe Bible teachers read into the Scriptures what God did not say. Kindly said, some people think too much! So beware my friend of trying to spiritualize the Word of God. When Paul said he came from his mother's “womb,” that is literally what he meant.

A perfect example of what not to do, of which I am warning you not to do, is concerning the Seven Churches of Asia Minor in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. I have heard some preachers claim that the Seven Churches are actually dispensational time periods. Their presentation usually ends with the church of Laodicea, alleging that we are now living in the dispensation Laodicean period. One of my former Bible professors at Hyles-Anderson College (HAC), Dr. William P. Grady, was teaching this heresy in the classrooms at HAC. Dr. Jack Hyles ripped against this heresy in his preaching one Sunday evening, saying that a certain teacher at HAC was about to be fired if he didn't stopped teaching that the Seven Churches in Revelation chapter 2 and 3 are dispensational time periods.

Dr. Hyles graciously didn't mention Brother Grady's name, but we all knew exactly who Dr. Hyles was talking about, because we students had sat in Dr. Grady's classes. Dr. Hyles told us in his sermon why he disliked the Seven Churches dispensational teaching.

First, there is no biblical support for such a false teaching.

Second, by teaching students that we are now living in the Laodicean age of apostasy, it discourages students from going soulwinning. I mean, what's the use of trying to get people saved if we are living in a dispensation of apostasy when today's lukewarm churches don't care.

Humbly said, I agree with Dr. Hyles. I love Brother Grady and he is a friend of mine on Facebook. Dr. Grady is an amazing historian whom I admire and respect greatly. I cannot name even one preacher, including Jack Hyles, that I agree with doctrinally on everything. But having said that, I humbly disagree with Dr. Grady concerning the Seven Church of Asia Minor, just as I disagree with him and Dr. Peter S. Ruckman (1921-2016) that Old Testament saints were saved by faith plus works. Acts 10:42 and Romans 4:4 teach us that God's gift of salvation has always been by faith alone in Christ.

He that was born after the Flesh (Ishmael) persecuted he that was born after the Spirit (Isaac). So it is now (The Pharisees and the Law keepers persecuted them that were of FAITH in Christ the children of Promise). We read in the book of Genesis 21:9-10 how Ishmael MOCKED (persecuted) Sarah's son Isaac, that led Sarah to say: "CAST OUT THIS BONDWOMAN AND HER SON," FOR HE SHALL NOT BE HEIR. Likewise it is today. Those that are of the works of the Law cannot be Heir with the children of Promise (Faith in Christ), because the Law is not of FAITH. ...

Galatians 3:11-12, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” 

Every believer in the body of Christ are Children of the Free, and children of Promise. Do not let anyone use soothing words to deceive you into going back to the Law, which allegorically is BONDAGE. Let the Grace of God teach you how to Walk in Faith and Love.

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”