Answer: The apostle Paul mentions in Galatians chapter 4 that Abraham’s two wives, Hagar and Sarah, pictured two covenants and their children, Ishmael and Isaac, pictured the offspring, seed or children of these covenants.
“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. (23) But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. (24) This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. (25) Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. (26) But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. (27) For it is written, “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” (28) And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. (29) But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. (30) But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” (31) So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.” (Gal. 4:22-31 NASB)
Hagar pictured the Law Covenant, made at Mt. Sinai and Ishmael, her son, pictured the Jewish people who were the offspring of that covenant. Sarah pictured the original Abrahamic covenant and its promise of a miracle child, Isaac. Isaac pictured Jesus as Paul writes in Gal. 3:16 (NASB): “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” Christ is the promised seed that would bless all the families of the earth.
However, Paul adds that the followers of Christ as also considered part of the seed pictured by Isaac. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. …(29) And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Gal 3:26-29 NASB) Paul adds in Gal. 4:28 (NASB): “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” All who are baptized into Christ have become one in Christ Jesus and heirs of the same promise. “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27 NASB) In this way, they are part of the spiritual seed promised by the Abrahamic covenant and oath.
The apostle Paul explains Heb. 6 how this Abrahamic promise leads to the spiritual reward promised to the followers of Jesus. “Among men it is customary to swear by something greater than themselves. And if a statement is confirmed by an oath, that is the end of all quibbling. (17) So in this matter, God, wishing to show beyond doubt that his plan was unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath. (18) So that by two utterly immutable things, the word of God and the oath of God, who cannot lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us. (19) This hope we hold as the utterly reliable anchor for our souls, fixed in the very certainty of God himself in Heaven, (20) where Jesus has already entered on our behalf, having become, as we have seen, ‘High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'” (Heb. 6:16-20 NASB)
The oath was the one God swore in Gen. 22:16-18 that promised Abraham an offspring numerous as the “stars of the heavens” and the “sand which is on the seashore.” This oath is the basis for our hope for a heavenly reward being made like and joining Jesus in heaven. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (3) If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2,3 NASB)
For more information, please see the related booklets and videos listed below:
Booklet God’s Plan | Video The Sarah Feature of the Abrahamic Covenant | Video Bringing Life and Immortality to Light |
Booklet God Has a Plan | Video Doctrine of Character Development | Video The Trial of Your Faith |
Booklet Gods Plan For Man | Video Formula for Consecrated Living | Video Walking in Light |
You must be logged in to post a comment.