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ELL me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Gal 4:21-31)
This is the lectionary reading for evening prayer, Thursday following Sexagesima Sunday. It is one of the most revealing of all the Epistles, but perhaps the least understood or heeded. It relates to the Church of God and the Church of the world (or Babylon). When the Bible refers to women prophetically in Scripture, it almost always refers to a religious organization – good or bad. Isaiah 4:1 may be a sad example: And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (Isaiah 4:1) I believe that refers to the seven churches of the end times who refuse to eat the Bread of Heaven (God’s Word), or to wear His white Robe of Righteous purchased by His death on the cross, but, yet, desire to be called by His name to give them respectability.
There are two very prominent examples in Revelation of the true vs false Church depicted by women: And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Rev 12:1-3) This is the woman the great Red Dragon wished to destroy – the Church.
Another woman appears representing the church of the anti-Christ: I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Rev 17:3-6) This is the church of ‘name-it-and-claim-it’ heresy. It is rich and puffed up with the leaven of false doctrine. Its worship, music, lifestyles are taken from that of the world instead of reverence and dignity before God.
Today’s text gives us another angle of observation of the false church -that of works of righteousness as means of salvation rather than the grace without works whereby we are saved. The true Christian Church is the only spiritual entity in the world or its history that does not depend upon good works for salvation. The only good works whereby we are saved are those works of redemption done by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The modern church has grown far beyond its natural size (much like the mustard tree of Matthew 13:31-32)Demons came to nest in her branches. The modern church is a card-puncher. They strive for size, money, and prestige. It is in bondage to its sins and failure at righteous living. It boasts of keeping the Laws handed down at Zion (Hagar), but falls so utterly it became a disgrace in ungodliness.
The true Church of New Jerusalem is downtrodden and rejected of men, but destined to become the Bride of Christ at the End Day. Having believed the same faith in Christ as Abraham, the true Church follows the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while the false church follows the illicit son of Hagar and the world.
How would you classify YOUR Church – Smyrna, or Laodicea?
