Oct. 7
Galatians 4
Gal 4:1 But I say that
so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a
bondservant, though he is lord of all;
Gal 4:2 but is under
guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
Gal 4:3 So we also,
when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental
principles of the world.
Gal 4:4 But when the
fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman,
born under the law,
Gal 4:5 that he might
redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of children.
Gal 4:6 And because you
are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, "Abba, Father!"
Gal 4:7 So you are no
longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ.
Gal 4:8 However at that
time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are
not gods.
Gal 4:9 But now that
you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you
turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to
which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
Gal 4:10 You observe
days, months, seasons, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid
for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
Gal 4:12 I beg you,
brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did
me no wrong,
Gal 4:13 but you know
that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you
the first time.
Gal 4:14 That which was
a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but
you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:15 What was the
blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you
would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
Gal 4:16 So then, have
I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Gal 4:17 They zealously
seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you
may seek them.
Gal 4:18 But it is
always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am
present with you.
Gal 4:19 My little
children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in
you--
Gal 4:20 but I could
wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am
perplexed about you.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, you
that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is
written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by
the free woman.
Gal 4:23 However, the
son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by
the free woman was born through promise.
Gal 4:24 These things
contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount
Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
Gal 4:25 For this Hagar
is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists
now, for she is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But the
Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is
written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and
shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the
desolate than of her who has a husband."
Gal 4:28 Now we,
brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then,
he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born
according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
Gal 4:30 However what
does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for
the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free
woman."
Gal 4:31 So then,
brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.