WEDNESDAY March 10, 2021

Two Covenants

For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Galatians 4:24-26

Again, the two Covenants were fully explained to the Galatians by the Apostle Paul. He expounded on the history of Hagar, the Egyptian maid who was given to Abraham as a concubine by Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Hagar had a son Ishmael. Remember this represents the Law, the flesh and death. Ishmael was not the son of promise. Sarah, in her old age, would have a child Isaac––the child promised to her by God.

The Jerusalem above depicts the coming of Jesus Christ, His birth, His death, His Resurrection, Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Christians have come to Christ. They have repented of sin, have believed in Christ by faith, have been set free, and have the promise of eternal life. Notice the marked difference between the two Covenants: one is in bondage––which is Hagar, and the other is free––Jerusalem above.

Paul said in Galatians 4:27: For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.” Paul was referring to a Scripture written in Isaiah 54:1. The barren woman is Christianity, the husband is Judaism.

If you observe the orthodox Jews in Jerusalem, they are still like the Judaizers. They are still in bondage to the Law, even today. They do not enjoy the grace of God. They do not believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

What about yourself? Are you in need of the wonderful grace of God?

When Christ died on the cross, our hopes began. When He arose, they were confirmed. When He ascended on high, they began to be fulfilled. When He comes a second time, they will be realized.
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!