Covenant of Faith

Galatians 4:21-27   
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

The Law points back to the promise to Abraham through his son Isaac by faith and the slavery of the bondwoman, Hagar.  There was a symbolic parallel to these in the covenant promise of faith for a new Jerusalem in heaven, along with that covenant of the Law’s bondage given on Mount Sinai.  The covenant Law of commandments leads to enslavement of never ending works to try to obtain perfect obedience, which is impossible for we sinners.  The covenant of faith given before to Abraham and his descendant brings true freedom by faith and grace found in Christ alone.  Paul here asks why anyone would go back from grace to such works.