Galatians 4:31 Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.
Paul explained the hidden meaning of the story of Abraham and his two sons, and how it related to the covenants God had made. Abraham had two sons, one from Hagar the slave, and the other from Sarah, the free woman. Ishmael was born from the flesh, in that he was born because of the lack of faith in God. Sarah didn't believe she would be able to conceive a son for Abraham, and instead of having faith in God's promises, she convinced Abraham to have a son with her servant, Hagar. The people living by the old law were living in the flesh, because they didn't have faith in God's gift of Jesus for our sins. They still believed they had to acquire forgivness and grace by trying to live by standards God had given hundreds of years before. They believed they were spiritual because they obeyed them, and judged others on the basis of these standards.
Issac, son of Sarah and Abraham, was born of the spirit, because it was through God's promise that he was born. Through a miracle of God, one that he had promised, Sarah conceived in her old age and had Issac. When we live according to faith, God's promise of forgivness and salvation awaits us. Because Jesus's death and resurrection, we are children of the free woman. We are no longer held by slavery of the old law.
It is truly wonderful to not be held by shackles, to know that through our faith we are free. We aren't being held accountable by a strict black and white rule book that is impossible to live up to. Our faith is what we are accountable for. Jesus saved us. He broke the chains of our sins. We are free.
Lord, thank you for loving me so much to send your only son to break my chains. Thank you for your grace and mercy, even though I make mistakes. Thank you for setting me free.
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