Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 1:8-17
Sermon Title: Evicting Your Ishmael
Verses 1-2 show the meaning of this passage. In Genesis 21:1-2, we see the significance of Genesis 15:17-18. God is a covenant-making God who brings about what He promises. It is important for us to understand this principle. Beginning here is what makes us end up in 21:7. A covenantal understanding of Scripture gives us the greatest joy because it gives God the glory due to His name.
How did Israel hear this message? If I am born again through promise, how much confidence should that give me in God’s promises to me now?
The Story: Genesis 21:8-21
Looking at Genesis 21:9, we know that Ishmael was persecuting Isaac, not merely “chuckling” at him (Galatians 4:29). Ishmael was under the impression that he was to receive the inheritance.
The Allegory: Galatians 4:21-21
It is important, I think, to know that Ishmael and Isaac were not Abraham’s only two sons. Abraham has six other sons through his wife Keturah whom he married after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-2). That fact makes Paul’s allegory stronger.
I will be very brief in describing the allegory so that we can give attention to the implications flowing from it. The reason I will be brief in explaining Galatians 4:21-31 is because on 8/7/2011 I preached a sermon called “The Allegory of Sarai and Hagar.” Feel free to listen online @ www.opbiblechurch.org under the sermons tab. This sermon was preached on a Sunday night.
HAGAR SARAH
Slave Woman Free
Ishmael: Flesh/self-reliance Isaac: Promise/dependence upon God
Bondage Freedom
Earthly Jerusalem (Mt. Sinai) Jerusalem from Above
Persecutor Persecuted
Cast Out/Eviction Accepted in Christ/Inheritance
Implications
Salvation is by Grace Alone
“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: ‘About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son’” (Romans 9:6-9). There are not good people and bad people. There are bad people that have been given justice and bad people that have been given mercy.
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29).
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Cast Out: THE ISHMAEL WITHIN US
DISCLAIMER: When I refer to the “Law” I am not speaking of only the Ten Commandments, but of ANY imperative (Command) in Scripture.
Driving Out Wrong Thinking: “Ifs Kill”
The law tells us what we ought to do; the Gospel tells us what God has given. When a Christian is afflicted by the flesh, it is “the most difficult thing in the world” to let their conscience listen to the voice of Christ rather than the condemnation of the Law (Luther in Galatians 1535). In other words, making the reality of what we know our experience regarding the difference between the Law and the Gospel is the most difficult thing to do.
“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8). “When the law is being used correctly, it does nothing but reveal sin, work wrath, accuse, terrify, and reduce the minds of men to the point of despair” (Luther in Galatians 1535). Ifs Kill. The only “if” in the Gospel is this: “If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2:1).
Don’t mix up the what and the how. The Law is the what. The Gospel is the how. When you mix up the what and the how, you always get inconsolable despair or self-righteous pride. Only the Gospel gives simultaneous confidence and humility. Faith is the how of the Gospel.
The Law says, “Do this and live.” The Gospel says, “Christ has done it, now live.” “Works” is not a dirty word. Works, spiritual disciplines, radical amputation, wise boundaries and restrictions ARE NOT legalism. However, every action has the potential to be legalism if we strive 1) in the flesh 2) to gain merit with God and others.
“The ears of faith are free to hear a commandment without a condition because the Christian conscience listens not to the condition and curse of the Law, but to the Christ in whom there is no condemnation” (Jono Linebaugh).
“The end of the Law (Romans 10:4), understood by Luther as Christ kicking the Law out of the conscience and rejecting its role as the regulator of the divine-human relationship, is thus the end of the “ifs” that interpose themselves between God and His creatures. In place of the ifs Christ has uttered a final cry: ‘It is finished.’” (Jono Linebaugh).
II Corinthians 5:14 – The love of Christ compels us. Illustrate with a mother/son relationship. A son is loved the same no matter his behavior. The son is not more or less a son because of his behavior. It is the unconditional love and acceptance of a parent that “compels” a child to obey. It is hard to rid our hearts of legalism because we are taught, in almost every other area of life, to “perform for position.” Use illustration of a candy bar in a store. When led by the flesh, all it takes is a greater stimulus to change our behavior from “righteous” to “sinful.”
This is the thought behind Pat Robertson’s comments about leaving a spouse who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Is your attitude towards the sin of others:
- Get it together
- Let’s go get grace
Do you live in the ditch of inconsolable despair (I quit) or pride (look what I did)?
This is easy intellectually, but really hard practically. “As far as the words are concerned…everyone can easily understand the distinction between the Law and grace, but so far as practice, life, and application are concerned, it is the most difficult thing there is” (Luther in Galatians 1535).
- “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). When you sin, the flesh condemns you and wrong thinking places you next to the standard of God’s Law. Therefore, your identity, confidence, worthiness, and position change with your performance.
- “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh” (Romans 8:12). When you strive to obey, it is with a “I owe” mentality. After consistent obedience, you achieve level ground again.
- Here is the rub: If you sin, and despair as condemned under the law, you will then strive to obey as a debtor to the flesh. Your only two options from there are to succeed temporarily (Ishmael lived in the house for a time) and be self-reliant and proud of it or to fail again, falling under condemnation, and beginning the cycle again. Sin = self-focus = self-pity = self-effort = pride or despair
Anyone who sins and has an “I cannot believe I did that” mentality is full of pride. Of course you should believe you were selfish (Stuart Scott). We should have the attitude of Sarah in Genesis 21:7. If you do not live according to the promise, when persecuted by the Law, you will give up. The English translation of Ishmael is “Self-Reliance” (just kidding – kind of). “I can do it” always ends in “I give up.”
Here is how you do it…
Drive Out Ishmael/Legalism with New Life (The Birth of Isaac Drives Out Ishmael)
The birth of Isaac moved Ishmael out. We must have a “start” rather than a “stop it” mentality. Putting an old thought out is not becoming a new man. A chained-up dog is still a dog. Accountability should not revolve around “did you sin” but rather “what new works of righteousness did you do this week.” You put off BY putting on.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled (be being filled – B.S.) with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:15-21)
Think of the flesh as a downward moving escalator:
- Legalism: Imperatives are at the top of the escalator.
- Gospel: Jesus is at the top of the escalator and imperatives are on the rails.
Romans 8 – “by the Spirit”
The Gospel does not do away with the “what” (imperatives). The Gospel gives a new “why” (The Love of Christ compels us – II Corinthians 5:14-15) and “how” (By the Spirit – Romans 8:13).
The Law = Do this and live/performance
The Gospel = Live, now do this/promise (by John Fonville)
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