We see Jesus,

who was made a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honour.

Hebrews 2:9

We have been enjoying a time, on Tuesday and Friday evenings, looking into the word together via ZOOM. It has given an opportunity that some isolated ones would not have had otherwise.

On both Tuesday and Friday evening the time is 6PM Pacific time. For those joining in on their phones, call 877-853-5247, when you are asked for a meeting ID enter 960 5944 1385. For those joining in via ZOOM, all you need is the meeting ID. The session will be open about 5:30 PM Pacific time for those who might want to chat before the meeting.

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From meditations on Galatians

By

G.C. Willis

Missionary to China

“The Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother: for it is written, Rejoice, barren (woman), the one not bearing. Break forth and cry, the one not travailing; because more numerous (are) the children of the desolate than of the one having a husband.”

These words are quoted from Isa 54:1. In a most remarkable way the Spirit of God uses these words of the prophet to claim as the children of Abraham, belonging to the true house of Israel, all the Christians from the day of Pentecost until the Lord comes again to take us home to Himself. During this time Israel has been set aside. About seventy years after the birth of Christ the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, and from that day until recently the Jews have been scattered to the ends of the earth. Their house has indeed been left unto them desolate (see Matt. 23:38), but, amazing as it will seem in that day, they will find far more children begotten from the gospel, in the time of their desolation, than they ever had in the days of their greatest prosperity. The children brought in by grace are “more numerous” than those ever were under law. But these children are not children of the earthly Jerusalem, but of the Jerusalem above, the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free. For the heavenly Jerusalem “is our mother.” But God reckons them as Sarah’s children, “children of promise,” (vs. 28) “children of Abraham” (ch. 3:7).

The Christians of Galatia wished to leave their blessed place of freedom, to go under law. The Apostle clearly presents to them in this allegory the great difference between those under law, who were born to be slaves, and those under grace who are free. He might have closed this subject by asking the Galatians to examine themselves, and see whether they were children of Hagar or children of Sarah: but he does not. On the contrary he exclaims: “But you, brothers, after the manner of Isaac are children of the promise.” Oh the grace that throws his doubts of them to the winds and says to them, as it were, I know that in your hearts you do really only trust the Lord Jesus for your salvation. I know that it is only your heads, not your hearts, that have been led astray. I know you are really and truly Christians. I know that you are children of the freewoman, children of Sarah, children of promise like Isaac. Do you think that, after such an exclamation as that, they could turn to Paul and say, “No, Paul, you are mistaken. We are children of Hagar; and we want to be slaves”? No, I think the grace of God in that sentence must have melted their hearts; and one and all they must have cried out, “Yes, Paul, you are right. We are children of the promise, like Isaac; though we forgot for a while, and acted like children of Hagar.”

Dear reader, may I ask, Who is your mother? Are you a child of Hagar, or are you a child of Sarah? Are you a slave, or a freeborn son? It may be that in heart you are a child of the freewoman, but like the Galatians you have been acting as if you were a child of Hagar, under the rules and bondage of men, instead of walking in the liberty of the Spirit. If this is so, will you not even now turn away from slavery and all its miseries, and openly take your place with the children of promise?

Paul then reminds them that the one born after the flesh persecuted the one born after the Spirit. Nearly all Paul’s persecutions came from the Jews, those under law, children born after the flesh, children of the slave woman. They never wearied of persecuting Paul and all those who were the children of promise. Could it be possible that the Galatian Christians, Paul’s own children in the faith, would take part with these persecutors? Yet that is what they were doing.

Then comes the great climax, and Paul exclaims, “But what saith the Scripture?” And the answer is clear: “Cast out the handmaid and her son; for the son of the handmaid shall certainly not inherit with the son of the freewoman.” That is the end of those under law. “Cast them out.” There is no inheritance for them. The inheritance is all of grace, none whatever can be had by law. What a grand end! All could plainly see that they must take their stand on one side or the other, and who would be willing to take part with the one who was to be cast out?

This closes ch. 4, the end of the second division of our epistle. But the first verse of ch. 5 really belongs with it; and we can almost hear the Apostle’s voice as it rings out in a challenge that reaches to every one of us: “With this freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not be entangled [or, held in] again by a yoke of slavery.” May God grant that in our day there may be many of His saints who will hear this cry, and will give ear to it and obey. For, sad to say, there are few Christians today who are not entangled in the systems of men, who are not entangled with the rules and regulations made by men. Like the Galatians of old, they “wish to be under law.” The Lord may say today, as He did of old, “My people love to have it so” (Jer. 5:31).

Let us then, dear brothers and sisters, hear and obey this cry of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle: “With this freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not be entangled again by a yoke of slavery!”

Free from the law, O, happy condition!

Jesus hath bled, and there is remission!

Cursed by the law, and bruised by the fall,

Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

Now we are free there’s no condemnation;

Jesus provides a perfect salvation:

“Come unto Me!”—O, hear His sweet call!

Come!— and He saves us once for all.

“Children of God!” O, glorious calling!

Surely His grace will keep us from falling;

Passing from death to life at His call,

Blessed salvation, once for all.

Once for all, O sinner, receive it;

Once for all, O brother, believe it;

There at the cross, the burden will fall;

Christ hath redeemed us, once for all.

P.F.B.

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May the Lord bless and encourage you to go on in the pathway of faith for His glory.

Yours in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Don Lewis