The Difference between Law and Grace

Sermon Text: Galatians 4:21-31

In defending the gospel of justification by faith in Christ,  Paul makes five arguments...

   a. Personal argument - the Galatians' own experience - Ga 3:1-5

   b. Scriptural argument - the testimony of the Old Testament - Ga 3:

      6-25

   c. Practical argument - how one becomes a son and heir of God - Ga 3:

      26-4:7

   d. Sentimental argument - appealing to their relationship with Paul

      - Ga 4:8-20

   e. Allegorical argument - using Hagar and Sarah as an illustration

      - Ga 4:21-31

   A. SARAH AND HAGAR...

      1. Sarah, who is barren, has a handmaiden named Hagar - Gen 16:1

      2. Sarah gives Hagar to Abraham to bear a child in her place - Gen

         16:2-3

      3. Hagar conceives and despises her mistress Sarah - Gen 16:4

      4. Sarah deals harshly with Hagar - Gen 16:5-6

      5. Hagar returns to Sarah, and bears Ishmael - Gen 16:7-16

   B. ISHMAEL AND ISAAC...

      1. God promises that Sarah will have a son - Gen 17:15-17

      2. God confirms the covenant will be through Isaac, not Ishmael

         - Gen 17:18-21

      3. Sarah bears Isaac as God promised - Gen 21:1-8

      4. Sarah has Abraham send Hagar away - Gen 21:9-14

         I.  CHOOSE SPIRITUAL BIRTH OVER NATURAL BIRTH v 21-23

Salvation is a supernatural work of God by which God transforms a person's heart, soul and mind. 

         II.  CHOOSE FREEDOM OVER BONDAGE v 24

A.    The Religion of bondage v 24-25

In a constant state of trying to live good enough to gain God's favor.  

B.     The Religion of freedom v 26-31

Full freedom is what you have when no lack of opportunity, no lack of ability, and

no lack of desire prevents you from doing what will make you happiest in a

thousand years. In order to be free in the fullest sense you have to have opportunity,

ability, and desire to do what will make you happy in a

thousand years. Another way to say it would be that there are four kinds of

freedom, or better, four stages of freedom on the way to the full freedom all

of us long for: the freedom of opportunity to do what we can, the freedom

of ability to do what we desire, and the freedom of desire to do

what will bring us unending joy.

         III.  ACCEPT SUFFERING WITH GOD’S PEOPLE OVER ACCEPTANCE BY THE WORLD verse 29

   IV.  TRUST IN GOD’S PROMISED INHERITANCE OVER WORLDLY VALUES v 30-31