Living by Faith or by Law?

Liberating Gospels Freedom in Christ Jesus Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)  Galatians 4:21-31 The Voice 21 Now it's your turn to instruct me. All of you who want to live by the rules of the law, are you really listening to and heeding what the law teaches? Listen to this: 22 it's recorded in the Scripture that Abraham was the father of two sons. One son was born to a slave woman, Hagar, and the other son was born to a free woman, Abraham's wife, Sarah. 23 The slave woman's son was born through only natural means, but the free woman's son was born through a promise from God. 24 I'm using an allegory. Here's the picture: these two women stand for two covenants. The first represents the covenant God made on Mount Sinai—this is Hagar, who gives birth to children of slavery. 25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she stands for the Jerusalem we know now. She has lived in slavery along with her children. 26 But there is a Jerusalem we know above. She is free, and she is our mother. 27 Isaiah wrote, Be glad, you who feel sterile and never gave birth!     Raise a joyful shout, childless woman, who never went into labor! For the barren woman produces many children,     more than the one who has a husband.[a] 28 So you see now, brothers and sisters, you are children of the promise like Isaac. 29 The slave's son, born through only what flesh could conceive, resented and persecuted the one born into the freedom of the Spirit. The slave's son picked at Isaac, just as you are being picked at now. 30 So what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the slave and her son, for the slave's son will never have a share of the inheritance coming to the son of the freewoman." [b] 31 So, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but sons and daughters of the free. For Reflection We all learn the ABCs of our culture. Our human desire for order creates these conventions which govern our behavior. Sometimes these social contracts are conflated with spiritual covenants. Not everyone is a child of God. God is good, and I am not, or sin separates us from God are three examples I can think of. Culturally, God can become the Holy Gotcha instead of a loving savior. What is more important, Paul asks, to follow the law or live in God's grace; Law or Faith (i.e. trust)? The conventional wisdom in Roman culture was that the adopted son was an equal heir to the father's estate. Two women, two covenants, one civil, the promise of men, and one spiritual, the promise of God. We are asked to choose the divine covenant and reject the civil covenant when confronted by choice. It is difficult for law and grace to live together as Christian principles Pray Pray, and let the Holy Spirit guide your life. Pray, and be prepared to make hard choices between your Cultural ABCs and trust in the promise of God. Forward to a friend     Sign up for our mailing list!