gal 05v30 Cast Out The Bondwoman and Her Son

"CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON."

Galatians 5:30

There is need at the present time for plain speech in this matter of the believer's relation to the law, or the relation between law and grace - NO RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO! We are ever being compelled by 20th century Judaizers to go back to "Mt. Sinai which gendereth to bondage", but we refuse. Let those who have never tasted freedom have their bondage. We will have none of it. Proud, self-righteous men will quickly charge us with antinomianism. What does that matter? We are not the servants of men, but the servants of God. He commands that the bondwoman must be cast out, so out she must go!

"We know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully." But to place the believer under the law in any way or for any purpose is not to use it lawfully. "The law was not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient." The plain language of the New Testament makes it clear that the believer in Christ is not under the Law - "We are not under the law, but under grace" "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." In the face of such plain statements, if any man asserts that the believer must live under the bondage of the law, either he does not understand the nature of the law, or he does not understand the beauty and glory of the gospel, or he is a proud rebel who refuses to bow to the Word of God and "desires to make a fair show in the flesh"

Not so much as one time in the New Testament do any of the Apostles of our Lord admonish or attempt to motivate believers by the law. In the strongest language possible Paul warns us to avoid all who would bring us under the yoke of the law (Gal. 3:1-3; 5:1-2). He admonishes us to "Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain". As in Paul's day, today many have turned aside to the vain jangling of legalism, "Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm". There is good reason for our vehement opposition to this spirit of legalism. It promotes pride and self-righteousness. It causes strife and division among God's people. It destroys every foundation for true peace and assurance before God. And this spirit of legalism would turn our eyes away from Christ to ourselves. Mark those who are most insistent about the law and see if these things are not so.

Let none mistake my meaning - WE AS BELIEVERS ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW!

Free from the law, O happy condition,

Jesus hath bled and there is remission;

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Christ hath redeemed us once for all!

If ever a man experiences the beauty, glory, and happiness of Calvary, he will have no desire to return to the dreadful bondage and darkness of Sinai. IN CHRIST WE HAVE NO CURSE FROM THE LAW. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." IN CHRIST WE CANNOT BE CONDEMNED BY THE LAW. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." IN CHRIST WE HAVE NO COVENANT WITH THE LAW. We have left the old covenant of bondage and come to "Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant". IN CHRIST WE HAVE NO CONSTRAINT BY THE LAW. Slaves, bondmen, and rebels may be forced into service by the dread of the law. But the children of God are motivated by and governed by a much higher and more blessed force - "The love of Christ constraineth us". It is nowhere written, "Faith worketh by law". It is written "Faith worketh by love". IN CHRIST HAVE NO COMMITMENT TO THE LAW. The righteousness required in the law has been fully satisfied by our Representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting him as our only Righteousness before God. "CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW."

Paul's language was not at all severe when he said, concerning the Judaizers of his day, "I would they were cut off which trouble you". There is no place for the law among God's people. You peddlers of the law will have to pawn your self-righteous principles off on someone else. The bondwoman and her sons are not welcome in this house!