4:25,26
Paul states clearly that Hagar stands for the current Jerusalem. This would be quite shocking for some, as Jerusalem was God’s city, how could Paul say that she is in slavery? Then Paul says that those who believe are part of the Jerusalem that is above, and that this Jerusalem is free. There are similarities in the thought here with that found in Hebrews. Notice also that Paul refers to both the earthly and heavenly Jerusalem. This does raise questions about the place of the current earthly Jerusalem in God’s plans. So what are we to make of it? There are some who have an unhealthy fixation on the earthly Jerusalem. However, in a sort of inverted way those who say that Jerusalem and Israel no longer have any special part in God’s plans also have an unhealthy fixation on the earthly Jerusalem. if we look elsewhere, especially in Romans 9-11, we see that Paul was absolutely convinced that Israel would be saved, while being fully aware of the current rejection of the gospel. We need to be aware of the key point of Paul’s teaching here, and that is that it is faith in Christ that is crucial. Gentiles need to believe in Christ, Jews need to believe in Christ.
4:27
Paul then, as he often likes to do, quotes from Scripture. Sometimes he does this to prove the point, at other times it is more to illustrate the point, or to encapsulate it. Here he quotes from Isaiah 54:1. The Jews were shocked that Gentiles could come into the kingdom, but Paul is saying that this was God’s plan all along. Up until this time it seemed very much as if the Gentiles had no part in God’s plan, they were the barren woman, it was Jerusalem that had children. But now many children of God will come from the Gentile nations.
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