Galatians 4:31
31 So then [ara], brethren [adelphos], we are [esmen] not [ou] children [teknon] of the
bondwoman [paidiske], but [alla] of the free [eleutheros]. KJV-Interlinear
31 So then, brethren, we are not
children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
NASB
And so Paul summarizes his whole argument and instruction
using freedom vs. slavery as his parable for his explanation of this spiritual
principle.
The world produces slaves, children who are under the
rules and laws that govern this world, acting as their guardian until such a
time as the world deems it appropriate for them to be released from their
bonds.
However, slaves, though promised release, are never
released. They fail time and again,
because they cannot meet the stringent requirements of the world, and are thus
condemned to eternal slavery.
The promises of the world are deceptions and
enticements. The promises looked to by
the slaves of the world (you), are lusts in arrogance that if they somehow meet
all of the requirements of the world by means of their own efforts, then they
have earned their freedom.
But those promises and efforts are never achieved,
because they cannot be achieved.
As a slave, you are bound to be and do, what
someone else tells you to be or do. You have no freedom, no choice, no
self-determination, no future of anything other than being a slave.
The Law of Moses describes this slavery environment,
wherein God lists many rituals and requirements for attaining a perfect life,
and yet no one can live by the requirements, which means that no one can
accomplish the prefect life.
Works, or mans efforts, are false counsel with
regard to attaining ones freedom.
However, as a free person, you are not bound to be or
do as others dictate. You are not bound
to the rituals and norms of the world.
You are free to proceed in life as you see fit, as you desire, as you
determine for yourself.
Faith in Christ is that freedom. You do not have to work for or earn your
freedom, because Jesus Chirst has already done that work and paid that
price. Freedom is given to you at no
cost to you, at no effort on your part.
Merely faith expressed in believing in Christ is all that is required in
recognition of His role in history, in your behalf.
To reject Christ means that you believe that you can
do better. And that is a fools belief.
Sarah had a son based on Gods promise. She believed and God delivered the promise.
Hagar had a son based on the efforts and plans of
Abraham. She did not believe and was banished
to the life of a slave, having nothing and looking forward to nothing.
We, who have believed in Christ, are children of the
free woman, Sarah, by means of her example.
We are the children of promise, the children of Christ’s work, and
adopted first-born sons with all the inheritance rights and privileges attached
thereto. We are not bound by ritual, not
bound by culture, not bound by traditions that are of this world.
Those who reject Christ, have only the world to
turn to for the fruits of their human efforts.
And by the same token, those who turn to the world as their guide to spiritual
fortune, by default, reject Christ even though they may profess Christ in some
fashion. You cannot have it both ways.
There is only one text book for life, by which we
may discover God as He reveals Himself and His plan, and His procedures that
enable us to pursue the completion of ourselves, the work of which He too,
accomplishes for us.
Our only role in life is to obey Gods mandates to
listen and read and hear and learn bible doctrine, so that we can advance in
His plan for us, as well as function within this world with integrity and
responsibility, until the day that He calls us home.
To do anything less, would be a phenomenal waste of
ones life.
