The Promise

"For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which give 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. 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.' Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.' So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Galatians 4:22-5:1

I realize that is a chunk of Scripture to read for a devotional, but to take out a verse or to just jump in there in the middle would not do for this passage. Paul is explaining here, that we believers are children of the promise; children of the inheritance that God has set up for us, through Christ Jesus. We are free in Christ Jesus. The two systems of the law, which we have spoken of here previously, and grace, cannot exist at the same time.

You and I, as believers in Christ Jesus, are now children of freedom that is found in Jesus Christ. To begin to allow our lives, our daily walk, to be governed by the law, is to put ourselves back under the "yoke of bondage." To allow rules and regulations, and the traditions of man, to be the dominant guide by which we order our lives, is bondage. And Paul so dearly here instructs us to not allow ourselves to fall into that trap.

When someone comes along, and says, "Yes your salvation is through Jesus Christ. But you need to be walking the line, following all these rules as well," then you know that is the voice of legalism and the law, and we should get as far away from that as we can. Christianity, being a true Christ follower, is about just that, following Christ, and not following the religious rules that are set before us. Nowhere in the Scripture does it say, in answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" that you need to start wearing a shirt and tie, for the men, and a dress and hat, for the women. Jesus never said that you needed to go to this fellowship, read this version of the Bible, believe this certain way. Jesus never said anything like that. Jesus spoke about the religious rulers of His day, and said, "...They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." Matthew 23:4. In other words, they had taken rules, regulations, and religion, and had put it on people so that it had become a burden to people. And that is what religion is, trying to keep rules and regulations. Jesus had no use for religion, and neither should we.

True Christianity is found in Jesus Christ, and an intimate relationship with Him. We are born of the new covenant, the new testament, that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And there is freedom from religion found in that relationship with Him. That is THE Promise. Beloved, don't let anyone tell you any different. It's all about Jesus. Period. Amen.