There is a story about two women that you need to hear. It's not so much about who they were, but what they stand for. They were literal women and mothers, but they represent something of great importance for us.
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 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. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother." (Galatians 4:22-25)
Bondage to legalism, or freedom through grace. One woman represents religion; the other, the invigorating life of the Spirit through Christ. When the choice is this evident, it's an easy choice to make. Why submit to a restrictive system of do's and don'ts, when real life and freedom is within reach?
Sometimes grace and law are misunderstood. Many have tried and failed to keep the meticulous system of Law delivered by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai many years ago. In so doing, they miss the point: "through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20). The Law is about DEFINING sin; not DELIVERING from it.
Grace, on the other hand, is easily viewed as freedom from Law. Do whatever you want; the sacrifice of Christ and the grace of God covers it all. But, that's a gross misunderstanding as well. That which we freely indulge in quickly enslaves us; we submit to the chains of freedom.
The key is to live a disciplined life of grace; freely practicing habits that cultivate the life of the Spirit within. Grace doesn't free us from discipline, but rather draws us to grateful practice of it. We live life in love and gratitude, rather than under oppressive obligation.
Grace is a breath of fresh air in a stale, musty room. It's the scent of springtime in the dead of a cold winter. It's life amidst death.
Live a life of grace gratefully, and freely submit to the liberation of godly discipline. These place us on the road to the kingdom, and make the trip both bearable and joyful.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 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. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother." (Galatians 4:22-25)
Bondage to legalism, or freedom through grace. One woman represents religion; the other, the invigorating life of the Spirit through Christ. When the choice is this evident, it's an easy choice to make. Why submit to a restrictive system of do's and don'ts, when real life and freedom is within reach?
Sometimes grace and law are misunderstood. Many have tried and failed to keep the meticulous system of Law delivered by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai many years ago. In so doing, they miss the point: "through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20). The Law is about DEFINING sin; not DELIVERING from it.
Grace, on the other hand, is easily viewed as freedom from Law. Do whatever you want; the sacrifice of Christ and the grace of God covers it all. But, that's a gross misunderstanding as well. That which we freely indulge in quickly enslaves us; we submit to the chains of freedom.
The key is to live a disciplined life of grace; freely practicing habits that cultivate the life of the Spirit within. Grace doesn't free us from discipline, but rather draws us to grateful practice of it. We live life in love and gratitude, rather than under oppressive obligation.
Grace is a breath of fresh air in a stale, musty room. It's the scent of springtime in the dead of a cold winter. It's life amidst death.
Live a life of grace gratefully, and freely submit to the liberation of godly discipline. These place us on the road to the kingdom, and make the trip both bearable and joyful.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:13 AM
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