NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

 SUBVERSION (GALATIANS 4:21-5:1)

Paul teaches that the law subverted the existing promise of God, however through Christ, God’s promise of freedom is restored therefore we ought not to submit to the law again for it puts us under bondage. 

REFLECTION 

Subversion is the theme for our reflection today. Subversion literally means “the turning over of something.” In political terms, it means undermining the power and authority of an established system or institution. Paul uses the example of Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the subversion of the promise of God by law given to Moses. Isaac represents the promise of God through Sarah however Ishmael who was not part of the original promise made to Abraham came through Haggar the slave. The slave son Ishmael was known to be the enemy of Isaac who was a son of the free woman. It is for this reason Paul reminded the Galatian Christians in Galatians 4:28-31 that “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.  But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.  But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”  So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Galatians 4:28-31. In other words, the law is like Hagar the slave woman and her son Ishmael who came into the picture to subvert the existing promise of God made to Sarah and her son Isaac. 

Similarly, the law being taught by the fake teachers came to subvert the promised salvation and freedom in Christ given to the Galatians. Christians must be discerning and be watchful so that we are not lured into a faith centred on legalism which totally makes nonsense of our salvation through faith in Christ. We are not saved by the law but through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who has set our conscience free from the shackles of the law. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that the ‘blood of Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God’ (Hebrews 9:14) It is, for this reason, Paul admonishes us that “For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (the law).” (Galatians 5:1). In other words, we allow the law to subvert the promise of freedom, grace and justification through faith in Christ when we still believe that our righteousness and salvation is based on how meticulous we have followed the law to the letter, the law will always find us guilty and hold our conscience captive because of our sins. My dear friend, we are justified because of our repentance and faith in Jesus, who has done and completed all the requirements of the law on our behalf so that in Him we shall experience true freedom and purification of our consciences. The law came to subvert the promise of God through Christ but if we have faith in Christ we shall be free from the subversion and enslavement of the law. Shalom. 

PRAYER 

HOLY SPIRIT, ENABLE US TO VALUE THE FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST. STRENGTHEN US TO SHARE OUR TESTIMONY  OF JESUS’ FREEDOM AND GRACE TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL IN SLAVERY. AMEN 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)