“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise…” Galatians 4:21-23
The question Paul raises is whether we are children of promise or children of bondage, for Abraham had two sons, one of the flesh by a slave woman and one of promise to Abraham and Sarah, and free. Those seeking to be counted righteous based on the law are bound to the law and condemned by it. Those trusting in the promise are counted righteous through faith in Jesus Christ and are free from the law’s condemnation.
O God, grant that I not seek to be counted righteous by my own works under the law but trust in the perfect righteousness of Christ and His atoning sacrifice for my sins. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]