Galatians 4:23
But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh,
Who was the bondwoman? Who was her son?
What does it mean that he was "born according to the flesh"?
To check our definition, let's look at a few other places where Paul uses this same phrase:
Romans 8:1, 4, 5, 13
So, what does it mean that he was "born according to the flesh"?
and the son of the free woman through the promise.
Who was the free woman? Who was her son?
What does it mean that he was born "through the promise"?
Where else does Paul mention a promise in this letter? (Galatians 3:13-14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 29)
So, what does it mean that he was born "through the promise"?
How long has it been since God spoke to Abram in Genesis 3:12:1-4 and the birth of this son "through the promise" that we can read about in Genesis 21:1-5?
Do you think sufficient time had passed for Abraham and Sarah to both realize that they weren't going to have a child "according to the flesh"?
So, when they finally had a child, what did they have to realize?
In the next verses, we'll be thinking about why Paul was making this point for the Galatians.
Read Galatians 3:1-6. Think about your spiritual birth. Was it "according to the flesh" or "through the promise"?
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As I thought about this passage and the questions at the beginning of chapter 3 yesterday, I was reminded of John 3:1-8. I had never connected these passages before. What do you think?
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