An allegory of two covenants

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“For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar — for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children — but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26

The Apostle Paul compares Sarah and Hagar to two covenants: the covenant of promise made with Abraham and the covenant of laws given later on Mt. Sinai. When we seek to be acceptable to God by our own keeping of the laws given to Moses at Mt. Sinai, we are like the children of Hagar, in bondage under the law and condemned by it because of our sins. When we trust in God’s promise of righteousness imputed to us by faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of Abraham, we are like the children of Sarah and are free from the condemnation of the law and inherit the blessings promised to Abraham.

Thank You, dear Lord Jesus, the promised Seed of Abraham, for fulfilling all righteousness for me and then paying the price for my sins by Your death on the cross. Grant that I trust in You alone that I might inherit the blessings promised to Abraham. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

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