Two Kinds of People
T h e S e rm o n s o f D a n D u n c a n G a la tia n s 4 :2 1 -3 1
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T R A N S C R IP T
[M e s s a g e ] T h is m o rn in g w e ’re in G a la tia n s C h a p te r 4 a n d w e ’re g o in g to lo o k a t v e rs u s 2 1 th ro u g h 3 1 , P a u l’s e x p la n a tio n o f th e a lle g o ry . T e ll m e y o u w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r la w , d o y o u n o t lis te n to th e la w ? F o r it is w ritte n th a t A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y th e b o n d w o m a n a n d o n e b y th e f r e e w o m a n . T h e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e fle s h a n d th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n th ro u g h th e p ro m is e . T h is is a lle g o ric a lly s p e a k in g fo r th e s e w o m e n a re tw o c o v e n a n ts , o n e p ro c e e d in g f ro m M o u n t S in a i b e a rin g c h ild re n w h o a re to b e s la v e s . S h e is H a g a r. N o w th is H a g a r is M o u n t S in a i in A ra b ia a n d c o rre s p o n d s to th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m f o r s h e is in s la v e ry w ith h e r c h ild re n b u t th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e is fre e . S h e is o u r m o th e r fo r it is w ritte n : “ R e jo ic e b a rre n w o m a n w h o d o e s b e a r. B re a k fo rth a n d s h o u t y o u w h o a re in la b o r fo r m o re n u m e ro u s a re th e c h ild re n o f th e d e s o la te th a n o f th e o n e w h o h a s a h u s b a n d a n d y o u , b re th re n , lik e Is a a c , a re c h ild re n o f p ro m is e b u t a s a t th a t tim e h e w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h p e rs e c u te d h im w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e S p rit s o it is n o w a ll a ls o .” W h a t d o e s th e S c rip tu re s a y ? “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n f o r th e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n s h a ll n o t b e a n h e ir w ith th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n .” S o th e n b re th re n w e a re n o t c h ild re n o f a b o n d w o m a n b u t o f th e f r e e w o m a n . M a y th e L o rd b le s s th is re a d in g o f H is W o rd le t’s p ra y .
-2"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
[P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k y o u fo r th e tim e w e h a v e to g e th e r h e re th is m o rn in g a n d w e c a n m e e t a s y o u r p e o p le o n th is L o rd ’s D a y a n d re a d th e S c rip tu re s a n d s e e k y o u r b le s s in g u p o n u s in e v e ry a s p e c t o f life b e c a u s e w e n e e d y o u r b le s s in g s in e v e ry a s p e c t o f life m a te ria lly , p h y s ic a lly a n d c e rta in ly s p iritu a lly a n d , F a th e r, w e lo o k a t th e p ra y e r lis t th a t w e h a v e a n d w e ’re re m in d e d o f o u r p h y s ic a l n e e d s . M a n y p e o p le w h o a re s ic k o r f a c in g s u rg e ry o r u n d e rg o in g a v a rie ty o f d iffic u ltie s , w e p ra y fo r th e m . W e lo o k to y o u fo r b le s s in g b e c a u s e y o u a re th e s o u rc e o f a ll th e b le s s in g s th a t w e h a v e th e s o u rc e o f o u r lif e . W e liv e a n d w e m o v e a n d w e e x is t in y o u . T h a t is tru e o f a ll y o u r c re a tu re s , a ll o f y o u r c re a tio n . T h e e n tire u n iv e rs e a s v a s t a s it is re a lly b e y o n d o u r c o m p re h e n s io n it is b u t a s p e c k o f d u s t to y o u a n d it e x is ts in y o u , y o u h o ld it a ll to g e th e r, y o u r S o n h o ld s it a ll to g e th e r a n d is b e a rin g h is to ry a lo n g , c a rry in g th is w o rld a lo n g a n d e v e ry m o m e n t o f o u r e x is te n c e is a g if t f ro m y o u . Y o u w ill it to b e . F o r y o u to c e a s e w illin g th a t w e e x is t, f o r y o u to c e a s e s u s ta in in g u s a t e v e ry m o m e n t w e w o u ld c e a s e to b e s o w e c o m e to y o u b e c a u s e w e ’re c o m p le te ly d e p e n d e n t u p o n . W e a re d e p e n d e n t f o r e v e ry m o m e n t o f o u r lif e a n d s o w e p ra y , L o rd , th a t y o u b le s s u s , m a te ria lly , b le s s th o s e w h o a re s ic k , g iv e th e m h e a lin g , th o s e w h o a re f a c in g s u rg e ry , b le s s th e d o c to rs w h o w ill a tte n d to th e m . W e p ra y th a t y o u ’d g iv e th e m q u ic k re c o v e rie s , s u c c e s s fu l s u rg e rie s . W e p ra y fo r th o s e th a t a re o u t o f w o rk . W e p ra y th a t y o u g iv e th e m p a tie n c e a n d d ilig e n c e a n d th a t y o u w o u ld o p e n d o o rs o f o p p o rtu n ity . L o rd , th e lis t c o u ld g o o n o f th e th in g s th a t w e n e e d p ra y e r f o r a n d I k n o w y o u k n o w f a r b e tte r th a n w e , w h a t o u r n e e d s a re b e tte r th a n w e o u rs e lv e s k n o w o u r o w n n e e d s a n d s o I p ra y , L o rd , th a t y o u w o u ld b le s s u s , m a te ria lly a n d p h y s ic a lly a n d , c e rta in ly , in th is h o u r, b le s s u s s p iritu a lly a n d o p e n o u r h e a rts to re c e iv e th e T ru th . H e lp u s to u n d e rs ta n d to u n d e rs ta n d th e g re a t s u b je c t o f g ra c e th a t P a u l is u n f o ld in g f o r u s in th is te x t a n d a s h e h a s d o n e a ll t h ro u g h
-3"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e B o o k o f G a la tia n s a n d , in f a c t, a s is u n f o ld e d a ll th ro u g h T h e B ib le , a ll 6 6 b o o k s o f it s o , L o rd , g u id e u s in o u r th in k in g a n d b u ild u s u p in th e fa ith a n d m a k e th e p ro p e r a p p lic a tio n s to e a c h o f u s in d iv id u a lly a n d m a y w e b e e q u ip p e d f o r th e d a y a n d th e w e e k a h e a d a n d b le s s u s e a c h d a y a n d b le s s th is a s s e m b ly , b le s s th is c h u rc h w ith f a ith f u ln e s s to y o u r tr u th , f a ith f u ln e s s to T h e G o s p e l a n d b le s s u s w ith liv e s th a t a re f u ll o f jo y a n d p e a c e th a t w e s h o u ld h a v e a s w e u n d e rs ta n d y o u r g ra c e a n d y o u r c a re fo r u s s o w e c o m m it o u r tim e to y o u n o w , L o rd . W e p ra y y o u ’d b le s s it, p re p a re o u r h e a rts fo r a tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r a n d w e p ra y th is in C h ris t’s n a m e , A m e n . [M e s s a g e ] T h e re a re m a n y w a y s to a n a ly z e a n d d iv id e th e w o rld . W e d o it a c c o rd in g to r a c e , re lig io n , re g io n , la n g u a g e a n d n a tio n , w h ic h s e p a ra te th e w o rld in to m a n y d iffe re n t p a rts . T h e a n c ie n ts w e re m u c h s im p le r. T h e G re e k s d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o . E v e ry o n e w a s e ith e r a G re e k o r a B a rb a ria n . T h e y to o k g re a t p rid e in th e ir la n g u a g e a n d c u ltu re . T h e J e w s d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o a s w e ll b e tw e e n th e J e w s a n d th e G e n tile s , T h e N a tio n a n d th e n a tio n s . T h e y w e re G o d ’s C h o s e n P e o p le a n d a ll o th e rs w e re o u ts id e th e p a le . T h e A p o s tle s a ls o d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o p a rts b u t in a v e ry d iffe re n t fro m th e s e o th e rs , in a w a y th a t in c lu d e d e v e ry trib e a n d to n g u e a n d p e o p le a n d n a tio n . T h e y d iv id e d it s p iritu a lly b e tw e e n b e lie v e rs a n d n o n b e lie v e rs , b e tw e e n th e C h ild re n o f G o d a n d th e c h ild re n o f th e d e v il. T h e D u tc h th e o lo g ia n A b ra h a m K u y p e r d e s c rib e d G o d ’s p e o p le a s s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is f ro m th e G re e k w o rd p a lin g e n e s ia , w h ic h s p e a k s o f re g e n e ra tio n . L ite ra lly it m e a n s b e in g b o rn a g a in . E v e ry o n e o b v io u s ly h a s a n a tu ra l b irth . W h a t d is tin g u is h e s p e o p le is th e s p iritu a l b irth s o p e o p le a re e ith e r b o rn a g a in o r th e y a re n o t. T h a t’s v e ry s im ila r to P a u l’s d e s c rip tio n in G a la tia n s 4 w h e re h e w rite s o f tw o c h ild re n , tw o s o n s o f A b ra h a m , o n e a s o n o f w o rk s , th e o th e r a s o n o f g ra c e . T h e J e w s to o k g re a t p rid e in th e ir a n c e s try a n d u n d e rs ta n d a b ly th e y c o u ld c la im D a v id a n d S o lo m o n a s p a rt o f th e ir fa m ily tre e , M o s e s a n d th e p ro p h e ts , th e y h a d g re a t a n c e s to rs b u t th e g re a te s t o f
-4"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a ll w a s A b ra h a m , a m a n re v e re d a ll o v e r th e w o rld . In J o h n 8 :3 3 a n d 3 9 th e y b o a s te d to C h ris t, th e J e w s d id , th a t “ W e a re A b ra h a m ’s o ffs p rin g ” a n d th e y s a id to H im , “ A b ra h a m is o u r fa th e r.” T h a t id e a , w e a re A b ra h a m ’s o ffs p rin g , is w h a t th e y fe lt g a v e th e m g ra v ita s in th e w o rld a n d w ith G o d , “ W e a re p le a s in g to G o d ,” th e y w e re s a y in g “ b e c a u s e w e h a v e A b ra h a m in o u r lin e a g e . W e c o m e f ro m a n d th a t m a k e s u s im p o rta n t in th e e y e s o f G o d .” W e ll, th is id e a o f th e im p o rta n c e o f a n c e s try a n d h e re d ita ry rig h ts w a s s tro n g a m o n g th e J e w s a n d f a ta l. P h y s ic a l d e c e n t im p re s s e s m e n . It d o e s n ’t im p re s s G o d . J o h n th e B a p tis t to ld th e J e w ish le a d e rs : “ G o d is a b le fro m th e s e s to n e s to ra is e u p s o n s to A b ra h a m .” W h a t m a tte rs u ltim a te ly is n o t p h y s ic a l b irth . It’s n o t o u r lin e a g e . It’s s p iritu a l b irth . J e s u s to ld N ic o d e m u s : “ Y o u m u s t b e b o rn a g a in .” L ite ra lly th a t m e a n s y o u m u s t b e b o rn f r o m a b o v e . Y o u m u s t b e b o rn o f G o d . Y o u m u s t h a v e a s u p e rn a tu ra l, s p iritu a l b irth to in h e rit th e K in g d o m o f G o d a n d th a t’s w h a t P a u l te a c h e s h e re in o u r p a s s a g e , in G a la tia n s 4 :2 1 -3 1 . T h e re a re o n ly tw o k in d s o f p e o p le , th e J u d a iz e rs ; th e te a c h e rs o f T h e L a w w e re o f o n e k in d . T h e y h a d c o m e to G a la tia b o a s tin g o f th e ir n a tu ra l b irth a n d h e rita g e in A b ra h a m a n d e v e n th o u g h th e G a la tia n s w e re g e n tile s a n d c o u ld n o t b e s o n s o f A b ra h a m b y n a tu ra l d e c e n t, th e s e J e w is h te a c h e rs a s s u re d th e m th a t th e y c o u ld b e a d o p te d in to A b ra h a m ’s f a m ily b y c irc u m c is io n , b y p u ttin g th e m s e lv e s u n d e r th e la w a n d , in s o d o in g , th e y w o u ld e n jo y a ll o f th e c o v e n a n t b le s s in g s o f th e L a w . N o w P a u l a n s w e re d th a t e a rlie r in C h a p te r 3 b y s h o w in g th a t s a lv a tio n h a s n o th in g to d o w ith la w k e e p in g . A b ra h a m w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s lo n g b e fo re th e L a w w a s e v e r g iv e n . In fa c t A b ra h a m w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s b y fa ith a lo n e b e fo re c irc u m c is io n w a s g iv e n to h im . H e w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s in G e n e s is : 1 5 . It’s y e a rs la te r in G e n e s is : 1 7 th a t th e rig h t o f c irc u m c is io n w a s g iv e n to h im . A p e rs o n b e c o m e s a s o n o f A b ra h a m n o t b y k e e p in g th e L a w b u t b y b e in g lik e A b ra h a m , b y b e lie v in g a s A b ra h a m d id . “ A b ra h a m b e lie v e d G o d a n d it w a s re c k o n e d to h im u n to rig h te o u s n e s s ” b u t P a u l n o w c o m e s b a c k
-5"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
to A b ra h a m a n d h e c o m e s b a c k to h im fo r th e la s t tim e in th e B o o k o f G a la tia n s b e c a u s e A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s w h o s h o w u s w h o is a tru e s o n o f A b ra h a m a n d h o w a p e rs o n o b ta in s th e b le s s in g s o f A b r a h a m th is p riv ile g e o f b e in g d e c la re d rig h te o u s a n d a c c e p te d b y G o d a s rig h te o u s, o n c e a n d fo re v e r a n d e n te rin g in to a ll o f th e p ro m is e s , th e g re a t in h e rita n c e th a t w a s g iv e n to A b ra h a m . “ T h e le s s o n ,” h e s a y s in V e rs e 2 1 , “ is fo r th o s e w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r L a w ,” a n d th a t w a s th e G a la tia n s . T h e y w e re e n a m o re d o f T h e L a w . T h e y w e re b e in g d ra w n in to th a t le g a lis tic s y s te m o f J u d a is m . It w a s fo r th e m b u t re a lly th is le s s o n tra n s c e n d s tim e a n d p la c e . It’s a p ro b le m in e v e ry g e n e ra tio n . L a rg e ly p e o p le w h o g iv e a n y th o u g h t to e te rn ity a n d th e ir s o u l la rg e ly w a n t to b u ild th e ir o w n h ig h w a y to H e a v e n b y ru le s a n d p e rs o n a l e ffo rt. T h a t w a s tru e o f th e G a la tia n s . T h e y ’d h e a rd a b o u t g ra c e . T h e y ’d b e e n ta u g h t g ra c e . T h e y ’d b e e n g ro u n d e d firm ly in g ra c e w h e n P a u l o rig in a lly c a m e to G a la tia th e re in S o u th e rn A s ia M in o r b u t s o o n a fte r th e s e te a c h e rs c a m e in a n d d re w th e m a w a y f ro m th a t a n d th e y b e c a m e , a s I s a id , e n a m o re d o f T h e L a w a n d s o “ y o u w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r T h e L a w ,” h e s a y s , “ th e re ’s a le s s o n f o r y o u f ro m T h e L a w ” s o P a u l g iv e s th a t le s s o n . It’s o n th is v e ry th in g , V e r s e 2 2 : “ F o r it is w ritte n th a t A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y th e b o n d w o m a n a n d o n e b y th e f r e e w o m a n .” T h o s e tw o s o n s a re Is h m a e l a n d Is a a c w h o s e b irth s o c c u rre d u n d e r v e ry d if f e re n t a n d s ig n ific a n t c irc u m s ta n c e s . W h e n A b ra h a m w a s c a lle d o u t o f U r o f th e C h a ld e a n s a n d if y o u w a n n a p u t U r o f th e C h a ld e a n s o n a m a p in y o u r m in d it is in m o d e rnd a y Ira q . T h a t’s w h e re A b ra h a m w a s b o rn a n d th a t’s w h e re h e liv e d u n til G o d c a lle d h im o u t o f th e re w h e n h e w a s 7 5 y e a rs o ld . A t th a t tim e h e w a s A b ra m , w h ic h m e a n s “ e x a lte d fa th e r” b u t th e e x a lte d f a th e r w a s c h ild le s s a n d h is w if e , S a r a h , w a s b a r r e n b u t w h e n G o d c a lle d h im , H e m a d e h im a p ro m is e . H e s a id , “ G o f o rth to y o u r c o u n try to th e la n d w h ic h I w ill s h o w y o u a n d I w ill m a k e y o u a g re a t n a tio n .” E v e ry th in g w a s a g a in s t th a t. H e w a s a n o ld m a n , h e ’s 7 5 y e a rs o ld , h is w ife w a s b a rre n b u t A b ra h a m w a s a m a n o f fa ith . T h is
-6"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
is w h a t d is tin g u is h e s h im . H e b e lie v e d G o d . H e o b e y e d G o d . H e c a m e o u t o f th a t la n d . H e c a m e to C a n a a n b e lie v in g th e p ro m is e s o f G o d b u t G o d g a v e h im n o c h ild . Y e a rs w e n t b y a n d s till A b ra m w a s c h ild le s s . It w a s a g re a t tria l f o r b o th h im a n d S a ra h . T h e p ro m is e w a s g iv e n b u t it w a s im p o s s ib le fo r th e m to a c h ie v e . S o m e te n y e a rs la te r G o d a g a in s p o k e to A b ra m , in G e n e s is : 1 5 a n d H e re a f f i rm e d th e p ro m is e s . H e c a lle d h im o u ts id e o f h is te n t o n e n ig h t a n d h e to ld h im to lo o k u p a t th e h e a v e n s a n d n u m b e r th e s ta rs . T h e n h e s a id , “ S o s h a ll y o u r d e c e d e n ts b e .” A b ra m w a s n o w 8 5 y e a rs o ld a n d s till c h ild le s s . It w a s n ’t fo r la c k o f try in g b u t th e b io lo g ic a l c lo c k w a s tic k in g a n d tim e w a s ru n n in g o u t. T h e p ro b le m m u s t h a v e tro u b le d A b ra m g re a tly . G o d h a d c le a rly g iv e n h im a p ro m is e b u t it w a s n ’t h a p p e n in g . M a y b e th e q u e s tio n e n te re d h is m in d w h y , w h y is n ’t h a p p e n in g ? It c e rta in ly b o th e re d S a ra h b e c a u s e s h e k n e w e x a c tly w h y th e p ro m is e w a s n ’t b e in g fu lfille d . S h e k n e w w h a t th e p ro b le m w a s , s h e w a s th e p ro b le m . S h e w a s b a rre n b u t s h e g o t a n id e a . S h e h a d a h a n d m a id , H a g a r, a s la v e fro m E g y p t. S h e w o u ld g iv e h e r to A b ra m a n d h e c o u ld h a v e a c h ild b y h e r. It s o u n d s lik e a s tra n g e p ra c tic e to u s b u t it w a s a ll p e rfe c tly le g a l. T h e a n c ie n t m a rria g e c o n tra c ts o f th e tim e s ta te d th a t if a w if e p ro v e d c h ild le s s s h e w a s to p ro v id e h e r h u s b a n d w ith a s la v e w ife to p ro d u c e h e irs s o fo llo w in g th e c us to m o f th e d a y s h e to ld A b ra m , “ G o in to m y m a id , p e rh a p s I s h a ll o b ta in c h ild re n th ro u g h h e re .” A b ra h a m d id a n d fro m H a g a r th e s la v e , h e p ro d u c e d a s o n , Is h m a e l. N o w a t th e a g e o f 8 6 h e w a s n o lo n g e r E x a lte d F a th e r w ith o u t a s o n . H e p ro v e d h im s e lf s tro n g . H e p ro v e d h im s e lf v irile a n d a b le . Is h m a e l w a s p ro o f A b ra h a m ’s a b ility a n d w h a t o n e w rite r c a lle d , “ T h e re s u lt o f o u tw o rk in g o f th e p h ilo s o p h y th a t G o d -h e lp s -th o s e -w h o h e lp -th e m s e lv e s .” A f te r a ll S a ra h a n d A b ra m k n e w G o d ’s p ro m is e , th e y k n e w G o d ’s p ro m is e . T h e y k n e w w h a t H e h a d p ro m is e d to g iv e th e m , a s o n , a n d y e t th e y c o u ld n ’t d o it, p ro d u c e th is c h ild th e m s e lv e s
-7"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a n d s o th e y trie d to h e lp th a t p ro m is e , h e lp G o d a lo n g w ith th e ir o w n e f f o rts b u t G o d d o e s n ’t n e e d o u r h e lp . G o d k n o w s th e e n d fro m the b e g in n in g a n d h e ’s w o rk in g e v e ry th in g o u t a c c o rd in g to H is p la n w ith p e rf e c tio n . H e a lw a y s f u lf ills H is p r o m is e s in H is w a y a n d H is tim e , n o t o u r s . W e ’ r e s im p ly to tru s t H im . W e ’re s im p ly to k n o w H is W o rd , b e lie v e it, tru s t it, re s t in it, w a it o n H im . A b ra m d id n ’t. H e h a d a la p s e in fa ith , h e a c te d in th e f le s h a n d th e p ro d u c t o f th a t w h o b e c a m e h is p rid e a n d jo y w o u ld b e a s o u rc e o f g re a t s a d n e s s a n d tro u b le in h is fa m ily a n d h is life . It’s a lw a y s th e re s u lt o f n o t tru s tin g G o d ’s W o rd , o f n o t w a it in g o n H im a n d , in s te a d , ta k in g m a tte rs in to o u r o w n h a n d s , f le x in g o u r s p iritu a l m u s c le s a n d a c tin g in th e f le s h b u t it w a s n ’t lo n g b e f o re th e p ro b le m s b e g a n . H a g a r’s a b ility to c o n c e iv e g a v e h e r a s e n s e o f s u p e rio rity o v e r h e r m is tre s s , S a ra h . S h e c o u l d c o n c e iv e , S a ra h c o u ld n ’t a n d th a t f ille d H a g a r w ith a s e n s e o f p r id e a n d jo y a n d s h e b e g a n to g lo a t. I t w a s in s u ltin g to S a ra h a n d it w a s h u m ilia tin g . H a g a r a n d h e r s o n w e re a c o n s ta n t th o rn in h e r s id e a n d a re m in d e r to S a ra h th a t s h e w a s u n a b le . It w a s a re m in d e r o f h e r in a b ility a n d th a t w e n t o n fo r y e a rs b u t Is h m a e l w a s n ’t th e s o n o f p ro m is e . G o d w o u ld n o t fu lfill th e p ro m is e th ro u g h H a g a r. G o d d o e s th in g s d iffe re n tly fro m th e w a y m a n d o e s th e m . H is w a y s a re n o t o u r w a y s . H e is th e G o d o f m ig h ty th in g s . H e is th e G o d o f th e h u m a n ly im p o s s ib le . H e is th e G o d o f th e s u p e rn a tu ra l, th e G o d o f g ra c e n o t w o rk s a n d w h e n A b ra m w a s 9 9 , G o d a g a in v is ite d h im , c h a n g e d h is n a m e f ro m A b ra m , “ E x a lte d F a th e r,” to A b ra h a m , “ F a th e r o f a M u ltitu d e ” a n d s a id th a t S a ra h w o u ld h a v e a s o n . Y o u w o u ld c a ll h is n a m e Is a a c a n d h e w o u ld b e h e ir, n o t Is h m a e l s o n o w A b ra h a m is f a th e r o f a m u ltitu d e a n d w ith o u t a n h e ir , w ith o u t a le g itim a te s o n a n d w e ll p a s t th e a g e o f p ro d u c in g c h ild re n . B y n o w h e ’s 9 9 y e a rs o ld . H e c a n n o t p ro d u c e c h ild re n a n d h is w ife , S a ra h , s h e h a s n ’t c h a n g e d . S h e ’s s till b a rre n . It’s a n im p o s s ib le s itu a tio n b u t a ll o f th a t w a s b y d e s ig n , a ll p a rt o f G o d ’s p la n b e c a u s e n o w th a t A b ra h a m w a s n o
-8"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
lo n g e r p o te n t, n o lo n g e r a b le , h e h a d to re ly c o m p le te ly u p o n th e p ro m is e a n d th e p o w e r o f G o d . G o d n e v e r f a ils in H is p r o m is e s . W h e n A b r a h a m w a s 1 0 0 y e a r s o ld Is a a c w a s b o rn w h o s e n a m e m e a n s “ L a u g h te r.” H e w a s a m ira c le c h ild , p ro v in g th a t n o th in g is to o g re a t o r d if f ic u lt f o r G o d to d o . H e b rin g s life o u t o f d e a th . H e p ro d u c e s jo y w h e re th e re is s a d n e s s . G o d is a b le to ra is e u p c h ild re n to A b ra h a m f ro m s to n e s a n d th a t w a s a v e ry p u rp o s e fo r G o d w a itin g s o lo n g to g iv e A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h th e ir c h ild . D o n ’t b e d is c o u ra g e d if th e b le s s in g s y o u s e e k a n d y o u s h o u ld h a v e d o n ’t c o m e im m e d ia te ly . T h e re ’s a re a s o n f o r th e d e la y , y o u d o n ’t k n o w it. I d o n ’t k n o w it. It te s ts o u r p a tie n ts . G o d h a s a p u rp o s e in th o s e th in g s a n d h e re th e p u rp o s e w a s v e ry p la in . It w a s to m a k e a c le a r a n d im p o rta n t d e m o n s tra tio n to th is f a m ily a n d to G o d ’s p e o p le d o w n th ro u g h th e a g e s a n d to th e w o rld th a t G o d ’s b le s s in g s c o m e b y H is g ra c e , n o t b y o u r a b ility , n o t b y th e th in g s th a t w e c a n d o s o H e s h o w s th a t to A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h w ith th is c h ild th a t’s g iv e n to th e m , th is c h ild th a t b rin g s g re a t jo y , th is c h ild o f la u g h te r. H e s h o w s th e m th a t th e p ro m is e s c o m e b y H is p o w e r a n d g ra c e a n d n o t b y m a n ’s e f f o rt. N o w A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y H a g a r th e s la v e a n d o n e b y S a ra h th e fre e w o m a n a n d th e b o y s g re w u p to g e th e r u n til Is a a c w a s w e a n e d . N o w tra d itio n a lly J e w is h w o m e n w o u ld w e a n th e ir c h ild re n la te in th e c h ild ’s lif e w h e n th e y w a re a b o u t th re e y e a rs o ld , w h ic h w o u ld ’v e m a d e Is h m a e l 1 7 y e a rs o ld a t th e tim e . T h is w a s a b ig o c c a s io n , th is w e a n in g o f th e c h ild . It w a s a tim e in w h ic h a g re a t f e a s t, a p a r ty , a b a n q u e t w a s g iv e n a n d it’ s r e c o r d e d f o r u s in G e n e s is , 2 1 , a n d th e y g a v e a g re a t p a rty to c e le b ra te it. A b ra h a m g a v e a fe a s t b u t d u rin g th e c e le b ra tio n S a ra h s a w s o m e th in g . Y o u c a n im a g in e th e p ro v id e n c e o f G o d w o rk in g th is o ut. T h e re ’s a lo t o f a c tiv ity g o in g o n a n d w e d o n ’t k n o w w h e re S a ra h w a s b u t, a t th e rig h t m o m e n t, s o m e th in g c a tc h e s h e r e y e w h e re s h e lo o k s o v e r a t th e rig h t m o m e n t a n d s h e s e e s Is h m a e l m o c k in g Is a a c , la u g h in g a t h im a n d s h e s a w m o re in th a t th a n a b ro th e r’s p la y fu l
-9"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
c o n d u c t. If y o u h a v e s o n s o r y o u h a v e b ro th e rs , I g re w u p in a f a m ily o f fo u r b ro th e rs a n d th e re w a s lo ts o f ta u n tin g a n d te a s in g a n d a ll o f th a t th a t g o e s o n . T h a t’s a n a tu ra l p a rt o f a f a m ily , I g u e s s . T h a t’s n o t a g o o d p a rt I k n o w b u t it h a p p e n s a n d w e d o n ’t th in k m u c h o f it b u t S a ra h s a w th is a n d s a w s o m e th in g m o re th a t w o u ld n ’t n o rm a lly o c c u r. S h e re c o g n iz e d in th e m o c k in g a n d h o s tility , w h ic h s h e k n e w to b e d a n g e ro u s f o r Is a a c s o s h e in s is te d th a t A b ra h a m d riv e o u t H a g a r a n d Is h m a e l f r o m th e fa m ily . A b ra h a m w a s re lu c ta n t. H e lo v e d Is h m a e l. Is h m a e l w a s th e s o n o f h is p o te n c y , h is a b ility b u t, a p a rt fro m th a t, A b ra h a m w a s a g o d ly , lo v in g f a th e r w h o lo v e d th is s o n , Is h m a e l, a s h e s h o u ld lo v e th is s o n a n d s o b e c a u s e it w a s h is s o n h e d i d n ’t d o th a t a n d e v e n th e a n c ie n t la w c o d e s p ro te c te d th e s la v e -w ife fro m b e in g e x p e lle d fro m th e f a m ily s o h e r e s is te d b u t S a r a h h a d m o r e in s ig h t h e r e th a n A b r a h a m a n d G o d a g a in s p o k e to h im a n d H e to ld h im to lis te n to h is w if e a n d th e re ’s a b it o f a le s s o n in th a t fo r u s m e n b e c a u s e s o m e tim e s o u r w iv e s h a v e s o m e th in g to s a y a n d w e s h o u ld p a y a tte n tio n to th e m . In f a c t a s y o u r e a d th r o u g h T h e B ib le y o u s e e f r e q u e n tly th a t th e w if e h a s m o re in s ig h t th a n th e h u s b a n d , lis te n , a n d h e re th is g re a t m a n o f G o d , A b ra h a m , h a s le s s in s ig h t th a n S a ra h . S a ra h k n o w s w h a t’s h a p p e n in g . S h e s e e s s o m e th in g th a t h e d o e s n ’t a n d G o d c o n firm s th a t. H e s a y s , “ L is te n to w h a t s h e s a id fo r th ro u g h Is a a c y o u r d e c e d e n ts s h a ll b e n a m e d ” a n d s o Is h m a e l a n d H a g a r w e re g iv e n fo o d a n d w a te r a n d s e n t a w a y . N o w th a t’s th e s to ry w h e re P a u l fin d s th e le s s o n a n d , in V e rs e 2 3 , h e s e ts it u p b y d ra w in g o u t o f th e s e e v e n ts tw o c e n tra l fa c ts a b o u t e a c h s o n . T h e y h a d d iffe re n t m o th e rs a n d th e y h a d d iffe re n t b irth s . Is h m a e l w a s b o rn f r o m th e b o n d w o m a n a n d s o h e w a s a s la v e b o y w h ile Is a a c w a s fro m th e f re e w o m a n a n d h e w a s f re e . Is h m a e l w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h . T h a t’ s th e s e c o n d p o in t th a t h e m a k e s . “ B o rn a c c o rd in g to th e fle s h ” m e a n s a c c o rd in g to n a tu re , b y A b ra h a m ’s o w n p o w e r, w h ile Is a a c w a s b o rn th ro u g h th e p ro m is e , c o n tra ry to n a tu re . H is f a th e r w a s 9 9 y e a rs o ld , w e ll p a s t th e a g e o f
- 10 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p ro d u c in g c h ild re n . S a ra h w a s o v e r 9 0 a n d s h e w a s b a rre n a n d s o th e s la v e -c h ild w a s n a tu ra l, th e f re e -c h ild w a s s u p e rn a tu ra l. Is h m a e l w a s th e re s u lt o f A b ra h a m ’s s e lf -re lia n c e w h ile Is a a c w a s th e re s u lt o f re lia n c e o n G o d . T h o s e a re th e fa c ts a n d fro m th e m P a u l n o w d ra w s a le s s o n . H e in tro d u c e s it b y s a y in g th is s to ry o f A b ra h a m is a n a lle g o ry , V e rs e 2 4 . It h a s a s to ry b e h in d it. N o w in s a y in g th a t, P a u l d id n ’t m e a n a n a lle g o ry in o u r s e n s e o f th e w o rd , w h ic h is a s to ry th a t g iv e s a m o ra l o r s p iritu a l tru th w ith o u t b e in g h is to ric a lly tru e . J o h n B u n y a n ’s s to ry , P ilg r im ’s P r o g r e s s is a n a lle g o ry . It d o e s n ’t p re te n d to b e h is to ry . In fa c t a t th e b e g in n in g w rite s , “ I d re a m e d a d re a m .” It’s a fic tio n th a t illu s tra te s s p iritu a l tru th . T h e e v e n ts o f A b ra h a m ’s lif e a re h is to ry . P a u l m e a n t th a t th e y a re a lle g o ric a l in th e s e n s e th a t th e y c o rre s p o n d to s p iritu a l tru th a n d s o w h e n h e s p e a k s o f th e m be in g a lle g o ric a l w h a t h e m e a n s is th e y a re a n illu s tra tio n o f s p iritu a l tru th . T h e y ’re w h a t w e w o u ld c a ll a ty p e o f s p iritu a l tru th a n d s o w h e n h e s p e a k s o f th e m b e in g a lle g o ric a l w h a t h e m e a n s is th a t th e y a re a n illu s tra tio n o f s p iritu a l tru th . T h e y a r e w h a t w e c a ll a ty p e o f s p iritu a l tru th a n d T h e B ib le is fu ll o f ty p e s . W e g iv e a g re a t d e a l o f a tte n tio n w h e n w e re a d T h e O ld T e s ta m e n t to ty p o lo g y , w h ic h m a k e s a c o rre s p o n d e n c e b e tw e e n a p e rs o n o r th in g in th e p a s t a n d a p e rs o n o r th in g in th e f u tu re . It is a p ro p h e tic f o r e s h a d o w in g , a p r o p h e tic illu s tr a tio n . I s r a e l’ s h is to r y is f u ll o f ty p e s o f p ic tu re s , o f illu s tra tio n s . Its h is to ric a l d e liv e ra n c e fro m E g y p t is a n illu s tra tio n o f o u r s a lv a tio n . Is ra e l w a s re d e e m e d fro m s la v e ry in E g y p t, a lite ra l, h is to ric a l s la v e ry in E g y p t a n d b ro u g h t in to C a n a a n in to fre e d o m a n d s o w e s e e in th a t a n illu s tra tio n o f o u r re d e m p tio n , o u r d e liv e ra n c e f ro m s p iritu a l s la v e ry in S a ta n ’s d o m a in u n d e r h is ru le a n d b e in g b ro u g h t in to th e P ro m is e d L a n d o f H e a v e n a n d th e l is t g o e s o n : T h e s a c rif ic ia l s y s te m , th e la m b s a n d th e b u lls th a t w e re o ffe re d u p a re p ic tu re s o f th e f in a l s a c rif ic e f o r o u r s in th a t is g iv in g in C h ris t. T h e p rie s th o o d , th e ta b e rn a c le , th e te m p le , th e y ’re a ll lite ra l h is to ric a l e v e n ts a n d p e rs o n s a n d p la c e s a n d th in g s th a t illu s tra te a g re a t s p iritu a l tru th .
- 11 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
T h e re ’re m a n y o f th o s e th a t w e c o u ld re c o u n t a n d th a t’s th e s e n s e in w h ic h P a u l is s p e a k in g h e re a n d h e s a y s in th e s e e v e n ts in A b ra h a m ’s lif e th a t w e h a v e a n a lle g o ry , m e a n in g a ty p e a n d h e e x p la in s th e m . H e s h o e s th e c o rre s p o n d e n c e . H e s a y s th e tw o w o m e n re p re s e n t tw o c o v e n a n ts , th e c o v e n a n t G o d m a d e w ith A b ra h a m a n d th e c o v e n a n t th a t G o d m a d e a t M o u n t S in a i, th e o ld c o v e n a n t a n d th e n e w c o v e n a n t, th e o n e re p re s e n tin g g ra c e a n d th e o n e re p re s e n tin g w o rk s . H a g a r th e s la v e re p re s e n ts w h a t p ro c e e d e d fro m M o u n t S in a i. S h e c o u ld o n ly b e a r s la v e c h ild re n a n d T h e L a w c a n o n ly p ro d u c e s p iritu a l s la v e s . It c a n ’t g iv e fre e d o m . It c a n o n ly p u t p e o p le in b o n d a g e . It h a s ru le s (“ th o u s h a lt” a n d “ th o u s h a lt n o t” ). It p u ts u s u n d e r th o s e ru le s b u t it d o e s n ’t g iv e u s th e p o w e r to d o th o s e ru le s s o it is a h e a v y y o k e th a t p e o p le s tra in u n d e r. P a u l k n e w th a t f ro m p e rs o n a l e x p e rie n c e . H e liv e d u n d e r T h e L a w . H e k n e w w h a t it w a s to s e e k , to b e o b e d ie n t to T h e L a w a n d m a in ta in rig h te o u s n e s s f r o m T h e L a w a n d h e k n e w th a t n o o n e c a n f o llo w T h e L a w p e rf e c tly a n d th a t la w p u ts p e o p le in b o n d a g e , it s h u ts th e m u p to th e ir s in b u t it d o e s n ’t le t th e m o u t. T h e L a w c o n d e m n s p e o p le b u t it d o e s n ’t p ro v id e a n e s c a p e f ro m its v e rd ic t. It h o ld s p e o p le c a p tiv e a s s la v e s to c o n s ta n tly w a lk th e tre a d m ill w ith o u t e v e r a rriv in g o r e v e r a c h ie v in g a n d it d o e s th a t d e lib e ra te ly , a s P a u l h a s e x p la in e d , to s h o w u s th a t w e c a n n o t a rriv e , to s h o w u s th a t w e c a n n o t a c h ie v e a rig h te o u s n e s s o f God. H a g a r c o u ld o n ly p ro d u c e a s la v e c h ild a n d th e s a m e is tru e o f J u d a is m w ith its in te rp re ta tio n o f T h e L a w a s th e m e a n s o f s a lv a tio n , th e o n ly w a y o f g a in in g G o d ’s a p p ro v a l. In V e rs e 2 5 , P a u l m a k e s th a t c o n n e c tio n . H a g a r h e s a y s c o rre s p o n d s to J e ru s a le m , w h ic h re p re s e n ts J u d a is m . J e ru s a le m is th e c a p ita l o f th e J e w is h le g a l s y s te m ; a t le a s t it w a s in P a u l’s d a y . It h a d th e te m p le , th e p rie s th o o d ; th e g re a t s c h o o ls o f J e w is h L a w w e re th e re . It w a s th e c a p ita l o f J u d a is m , o f th a t le g a l s y s te m , a n d lik e H a g a r it c a n o n ly p ro d u c e s p iritu a l s la v e s s o P a u l tra c e s o u t a lin e o f s la v e ry fro m H a g a r to M o u n t S in a i to th e C ity o f J e ru s a le m a n d h e r p e o p le fo r, h e s a y s , “ s h e , th a t is J e ru s a le m ,
- 12 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
lik e H a g a r, is in s la v e ry w ith h e r c h ild re n ” b u t th e re is a n o th e r J e ru s a le m in V e rs e 2 6 , th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d it is fre e , P a u l s a y s . S h e is o u r m o th e r. In o th e r w o rd s th e c a p ita l o f tru e re lig io n , th e s u p e rn a tu ra l, G o d -m a d e re lig io n is H e a v e n s o it’s n o t e n o u g h to c la im A b ra h a m a s o n e ’s fa th e r. Is h m a e l c la im ed th a t b u t h e w a s a s la v e . T h e re a l q u e s tio n is , “ W h o is y o u r m o th e r, H a g a r o r S a ra h ? ” W e re y o u b o rn f ro m a b o v e o r f ro m b e lo w ? W a s y o u r b irth p u re ly h u m a n o r w a s it d iv in e ? W a s it o n ly n a tu ra l o r w a s it s u p e rn a tu ra l? D o e s it c o m e fro m H e a v e n fro m e a rth ? T h o s e w h o s e m o th e r is th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e , th o s e w h o h a v e b e e n b o rn fro m a b o v e a re fre e , P a u l s a y s , lik e Is a a c . N o w I th in k it’s w o rth n o tin g th a t P a u l c o n tra s ts th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m w ith th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d w e m ig h t h a v e e x p e c te d b e c a u s e h e s p e a k s o f th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m th a t h e w o u ld h a v e s p o k e n o f th e J e ru s a le m to c o m e , th e F u tu re J e ru s a le m b e c a u s e th a t’s o u r g re a t h o p e . W e s e e in th e B o o k o f R e v e la tio n a t th e e n d in C h a p te r 2 1 th e J e ru s a le m fro m a b o v e c o m in g d o w n . T h a t’s th e fu tu re b u t h e d o e s n ’t d o th a t. H e d o e s n ’t s a y , “ J e ru s a le m to c o m e ” a n d c o n tra s ts it to th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m . H e s p e a k s o f th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d h e d o e s th a t b e c a u s e th e re is a p a ra lle l re a lity w ith e a rth ly J e ru s a le m a n d it is a c ity to w h ic h w e c a n p re s e n tly b e lo n g. T h a t f u tu re J e ru s a le m th a t is f u tu re to th is e a rth , to its p re s e n c e in th e e a rth is in e x is te n c e n o w . It is a b o v e a n d w h ile w e lo o k f o r w a r d to th a t f u tu r e d a y , w e h a v e a p r e s e n t c o n n e c tio n w ith it n o w . It’s n o t ju s t a fu tu re h o p e . In P h ilip p ia n s 3 :2 0 , P a u l s a y s , “ O u r c itiz e n s h ip p re s e n tly is in H e a v e n .” It d o e s n ’t s a y , “ P re s e n tly ” in th e te x t b u t th a t’s th e s e n s e o f it. R ig h t n o w a s a b e lie v e r in J e s u s C h ris t, y o u r c itiz e n s h ip is in H e a v e n . T h a t’s a p re s e n t re a lity s o , a s b e lie v e rs , w e liv e w ith a ll o f th e p riv ile g e s a n d th e p o w e r o f h e a v e n th o u g h w e liv e h e re o n e a rth a n d th a t J e ru s a le m a b o v e , w h e re C h ris t is , is p re s e n tly p ro d u c in g s p iritu a l c h ild re n th a t a re c h ild re n o f A b ra h a m , s p iritu a l c h ild re n a n d h e irs o f a ll o f th e p ro m is e s g iv e n to A b ra h a m s o th e re a re tw o re a litie s . T h e re a re tw o p a ra lle l w o rld s , o n e n a tu ra l a n d o n e s p iritu a l. T h e re is H a g a r th e b o n d w o m a n a n d S a ra h
- 13 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e f re e w o m a n . T h e re is Is h m a e l w h o h a d a n a tu ra l b irth . T h e re is Is a a c w h o h a d a s u p e rn a tu ra l b irth . T h e re is th e O ld C o v e n a n t o f T h e L a w . T h e re is th e N e w C o v e n a n t o f G ra c e . T h e re is e a rth ly J e ru s a le m , J u d a is m a n d h e a v e n ly J e ru s a le m , C h ris tia n ity . T h e re a re tw o k in d s o f p e o p le in th is w o rld : T h o s e w h o a re o f f a ith a n d f r e e a n d th o s e w h o a r e o f w o r k s a n d e n s la v e d . P au l s u p p o rts th is d iv is io n f ro m S c rip tu re w ith a q u o te in V e rs e 2 7 f ro m Is ia h 5 4 :1 s o th is d iv is io n , th is in te rp re ta tio n o f S a ra h is n ’t s o m e th in g th a t c o m e s o u t o f P a u l’s im a g in a tio n , it’s g ro u n d e d in S c rip tu re . Is a ia h ta u g h t th e s a m e th in g . In th e re , in C h a p te r 5 4 :1 h e fin d s th a t th is s p iritu a l le s s o n in S a ra h th a t g iv e s a p ic tu re o f G o d ’s life g iv in g g ra c e . N o w th is s ta te m e n t th a t h e m a k e s in Is a ia h 5 4 :1 o b v io u s ly f o llo w s I s a ia h 5 3 :1 1 , w h ic h is th e g r e a t d e s c rip tio n , th a t c h a p te r o f Is a ia h 5 3 o f th e s u ff e r in g s e r v a n t. I t’ s a p ic tu r e o f C h r is t a n d h is w o rk o f re d e m p tio n a n d w h a t h e w o u ld d o fo r u s a n d th e re in Is a ia h 5 3 :1 1 h e s a y s : “ M y s e rv a n t, th e M e s s ia h , th e C h ris t, w ill ju s tify th e m a n y a s h e w ill b e a r th e ir in e q u itie s .” H o w w ill b e ju s tif ie d ? H o w c a n a m a n b e ju s t b e f o re G o d ? W e ll, n o t b y h is w o rk s . Is a ia h s a y s it. It’s b y th e w o rk th a t th e M e s s ia h w o u ld d o th e w o rk o f th e s e rv a n t, w h o w ill b e a r th e ir in e q u itie s . G o d w ill ju s tify th e m a n y a s h e s a y s th e re b e c a u s e h e p u n is h e s th e ir s in s in a s u b s titu te . W e ll W e ll, h a v in g s a id th a t a n d b a s e d o n th e w o rk o f re d e m p tio n, Is a ia h th e n w rite s in th a t n e x t c h a p te r, th e n e x t ve rs e s , th e g lo rio u s f u tu r e , h e w r ite s in th a t n e x t c h a p te r , th e n e x t v e r s u s o f th e g lo r io u s f u tu r e , h e w r ite s : “ F o r it is w r itten re jo ic e b a rre n w o m a n w h o d o e s n o t b e a r, b re a k fo rth a n d s h o u t y o u w h o a re in la b o r fo r m o re n u m e ro u s a re th e c h ild re n o f th e d e s o la te th a n o f th e o n e w h o h a s th e h u s b a n d .” It’s a c o n tra s t b e tw e e n H a g a r a n d S a ra h a n d it’s a p ro p h e s y th e re in Is a ia h o f f u tu re b le s s in g f o r Is ra e l. It’s a p ro m is e th a t e th n ic Is ra e l h a s a fu tu re b u t h e re P a u l ta k e s th a t s ta te m e n t o f Is a ia h a n d h e a p p lie s it to th e c h u rc h a s b e in g f u lf ille d in th e c h u rc h w ith g e n tile s a lv a tio n a n d th e re a s o n h e c a n d o th a t is b e c a u s e e v e ry o n e, w h e th e r
- 14 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
it’s J e w o r g e n tile , is s a v e d in th e s a m e w a y b y g ra c e a lo n e , th ro u g h f a ith a lo n e a n d it’ s a lw a y s b e e n th a t w a y a s A b r a h a m is th e p r o o f . F ro m th e b e g in n in g o f tim e to th e e n d th e re ’s o n ly o n e w a y o f s a lv a tio n a n d s o w h e th e r it’s a J e w o r a g e n tile , w h e th e r th e p ro m is e is to Is ra e l o r n o t, it a p p lie s to a ll m e n a n d P a u l d o e s th a t h e re a n d w h a t h e ’s d o in g h e re in th is a p p lic a tio n is th e s a m e th a t h e d o e s in R o m a n s 1 1 :1 1 -2 4 w ith th e p a ra b le o f th e o liv e tre e a n d th e w ild b ra n c h e s , o f th e g e n tile s b e in g g ra f te d in to Is ra e l’s b le s s in g s a n d b o th Is a ia h a n d P a u l m a k e it c le a r th a t th is s a lv a tio n is a ll o f g ra c e . T h e b a rre n o n e , th e o n e w h o h a s n o a b ility w ill h a v e n u m e ro u s c h ild re n ju s t a s S a ra h d id . Is ra e l is b a rre n n o w b u t th e y w ill b e f r u itf u l ju s t a s S a ra h w a s f r u itf u l a n d , in th a t, w e h a v e th e g re a t p rin c ip le o f th is w o rk o f g ra c e . W e ’re s a v e d b y G o d ’s s u p e rn a tu ra l in te rv e n tio n in o u r liv e s . T h a t’s th e le s s o n o f th e tw o w o m e n a n d th e tw o s o n s . It is th e le s s o n o f th e triu m p h o f g ra c e a n d th e f a ilu re o f w o rk s a n d P a u l a p p lie s th a t to th e G a la tia n s in V e rs e 2 8 . H e s a y s : “ Y o u b re th re n , lik e Is a a c , a re c h ild re n o f p ro m is e .” T h e y a re s u p e rn a tu ra l p e o p le . J u s t a s Is a a c w a s b o rn p h y s ic a lly b y d iv in e in te rv e n tio n s o e v e ry b e lie v e r is b o rn s p iritu a lly b y d iv in e in te rv e n tio n a n d s in c e th e ir s p iritu a l b irth w a s lik e Is a a c ’s b irth th e y s h o u ld e x p e c t th a t th e ir liv e s w ill b e Is a a c ’s life a n d Is a a c ’s life w a s a b le s s e d life b e c a u s e it w a s a G o d -g iv e n life a n d w e c a n e x p e c t a s G o d ’s p e o p le to b e b le s s e d b y H im . Y o u h a v e th e b e s t life th a t a n y o n e c o u ld h a v e if y o u a re a b e lie v e r in J e s u s C h ris t a n d a s y o u w a lk b y th e S p irit a n d P a u l w ill g o in to th a t in C h a p te r 5 o f G a la tia n s : “ A s y o u liv e o b e d ie n tly e v e n th o u g h tim e s w ill b e d if f ic u lt, n e v e rth e le s s y o u w i ll liv e th e b e s t lif e th a t c a n b e liv e d a n d G o d w ill b le s s y o u g re a tly ,” a n d s o w e c a n e x p e c t to h a v e Is a a c ’s k in d o f lif e , a b le s s e d lif e , b e c a u s e w e a re th e s a m e a s Is a a c , s u p e rn a tu ra l p e o p le , w e h a v e a s u p e rn a tu ra l b irth b u t Is a a c a ls o h a d a d iffic u lt lif e b e c a u s e h e h a d a b ro th e r w h o p e rs e c u te d h im a n d th a t’s P a u l’s p o in t in V e rs e 2 9 .
- 15 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
W e to o c a n e x p e c t to b e p e rs e c u te d ju s t a s Is a a c w a s b u t a s a t th a t tim e h e w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h p e rs e c u te d h im w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e S p irit s o it is n o w a ls o . P a u l’s re f e rrin g to th e in c id e n t b a c k in G e n e s is : 2 1 w h e n Is a a c w a s w e a n e d a n d Is h m a e l a t th e a g e o f 1 7 la u g h e d a t h im , m o c k e d h im . It is n a tu ra l f o r th e f le s h to p e r s e c u te th e s p ir it a n d w e s h o u ld e x p e c t th a t th e w o r ld w ill b e h o s tile to w a rd th e c h u rc h . T h e tw o a re fu n d a m e n ta lly d iffe re n t f r o m o n e a n o th e r . T h e L o r d w a s p e r s e c u te d b y th e u n b e lie v in g re lig io u s a n d s e c u la r a u th o ritie s . P a u l w a s p e rs e c u te d a s h a v e G o d ’s p e o p le d o w n th ro u g h th e a g e s . H is to ric a lly , th a t’s m o s t fa m o u s ly s e e n w ith th e s ta te ’s p e rs e c u tio n o f th e c h u rc h a s in a n c ie n t tim e s w ith P a g a n R o m e a n d in m o d e rn tim e s w ith C o m m u n is tic c o u n trie s b u t it h a p p e n s in to le ra n t tim e s a n d p la c e s a s w e ll. It h a p p e n s a t w o rk w h e n c o w o rk e rs o s tra c iz e a C h ris tia n w h o is v o c a l a b o u t h i s o r h e r fa ith . It h a p p e n s in a c a d e m ic in s titu tio n s . A b ra h a m K u y p e r, w h o I q u o te d a t th e b e g in n in g o f o u r le s s o n , w ro te th a t in E u ro p e th e re w e re f e w C h r is tia n s w h o h a d p r o f e s s o r s h ip s o r le c tu r e s h ip s in T h e S c ie n c e s a n d h e c o u ld w rite a b o u t th a t w ith a u th o rity b e c a u s e A b ra h a m K u y p e r w a s n o t o n ly a g re a t th e o lo g ia n b u t h e w a s a n a c a d e m ic ia n . H e w a s g re a t in m a n y w a y s . H e w a s P rim e M in is te r o f H o lla n d . H e p u b lis h e d jo u rn a ls b u t h e w a s a ls o a m a n w h o w a s o f th e A c a d e m y . H e s ta rte d o n e o f th e g re a t u n iv e rs itie s o f H o lla n d , th e F re e U n iv e rs ity o f A m s te rd a m s o h e k n e w a b o u t th e s e th in g s a n d h e m a k e s th e s ta te m e n t th a t f e w C h ris tia n s h a v e p ro f e s s o rs h ip s o r le c tu re s h ip s in S c ie n c e b e c a u s e th o s e w h o a p p o in te d p e o p le to s u c h p o s itio n s a re , a s a ru le , h e w ro te , in c lin e d to e x c lu d e th e s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is a n d th e y e x c lu d e th e m b e c a u s e th e s o n s o f th is e a rth , th e n a tu ra l m a n , d o e s n ’t s e e th in g s th e w a y th e c h ild o f G o d d o e s , th e c h ild o f th e N e w B irth . W e h a v e a d if f e re n t p e rs p e c tiv e f ro m th e w a y o f th e w o rld . In fa c t it’s th e o p p o s ite p e rs p e c tiv e a n d s o th o s e w h o h a v e p o w e r to d o s o e x c lu d e th o s e w h o h a v e a s p iritu a l C h ris tia n p e rs p e c tiv e o n life . N o w h e w ro te th a t o v e r a c e n tu ry a g o . It h a s n ’t c h a n g e d to d a y . In f a c t it’s p ro b a b ly m u c h w o rs e to d a y . T h e W e s t is
- 16 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
s e c u la riz e d a n d h o s tile to w a rd th e s o n s a n d d a u g h te rs o f th e N e w B irth a n d s o w h e n y o u s e n d y o u r s o n s o r y o u r d a u g h te rs o ff to c o lle g e d o n ’t e x p e c t th e m to g e t a C h ris tia n e d u c a tio n . Y o u ’re re a lly s e n d in g th e m to w h a t is g e n e ra lly a h o s tile p la c e f o r th e f a ith s o w e s h o u ld n ’t b e s u rp ris e d b y th a t. T h a t’s th e n a tu re o f th in g s . T h a t’s w h a t P a u l is s a y in g h e re a n d th a t’s w h a t P a u l to ld T im o th y in 2 T im o th y 3 :1 2 : “ A n d in d e e d a ll w h o d e s ire to liv e g o d ly in C h ris t J e s u s w ill b e p e rs e c u te d .” Is a a c is a lw a y s m o c k e d a n d p e rs e c u te d b y Is h m a e l. T h o s e w h o f o llo w le g a lis m , th e re lig io n o f re d e m p tio n b y h u m a n e f f o rt, th e re lig io n o f s a lv a tio n b y w o rk s w ill a lw a y s o p p o s e g ra c e b e c a u s e th e y w a n t to p o in t to th e ir o w n a c h ie v e m e n ts a n d g ra c e s trip s th e m o f th a t s o th e y p e rs e c u te th o s e o f g ra c e a n d th e y d o it in v a rio u s w a y s b u t h e re , a s in th e c o n te x t o f th e G a la tia n s it is b y try in g to b rin g p e o p le u n d e r th e b o n d a g e o f T h e L a w a n d th e le g a lis tic s y s te m . T h e re a re e s s e n tia lly tw o re lig io n s in th e w o rld . O n e o f la w a n d o n e o f g ra c e , o n e o f w o rk s a n d o n e o f fa ith a n d th e tw o c a n n o t b e m ix e d , th e y c a n n o t liv e to g e th e r, th e y c a n n o t b e to le ra te d a n d s o P a u l g iv e s th e G a la tia n s s o m e d e c is iv e in s tru c tio n in V e rs e 3 0 : “ S in c e th e y a re lik e Is a a c , th e y m u s t f o llo w th e c o u n s e l o f h is m o th e r a n d g e t rid o f th e le g a lis ts .” T h a t’s th e c o m m a n d o f S c rip tu re b u t w h a t d o e s T h e S c rip tu re s a y , P a u l a s k s ? “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n fo r th e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n s h a ll n o t b e a n h e ir w ith th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n .” S a r a h ’ s a c tio n to u s m a y s e e m h a rs h p a rtic u la rly a s w e g o b a c k in to G e n e s is a n d c o n s id e r it b u t it w a s n e c e s s a ry . Is h m a e l w a s a d a n g e r to Is a a c a n d to th e fa m ily o f p ro m is e . H e w a s a d a n g e r to th e W o rk o f G o d a n d th e W o rk o f S a lv a tio n . Is a a c w a s Is h m a e l’s riv a l a n d h e w o u ld ’v e o v e rth ro w n h im w h e n h e h a d th e o p p o rtu n ity a n d S a ra h re c o g n iz e d th a t. H e r ju d g m e n t w a s o f G o d a n d h e re , b y a p p lic a tio n to th e G a la tia n s s itu a tio n , a ll w a s g iv in g G o d ’s ju d g m e n t o n le g a lis ts . T h e y c o u ld n o t liv e w ith m e n o f fa ith , th e tw o c a n n o t b e m ix e d . P e o p le o f f a ith c a n n o t to le ra te le g a lis m b e c a u s e th o s e o f th is le g a lis tic b e n t w ill s e e k to u n d e rm in e G o d ’s w o rk a s th o s e J u d a iz e rs
- 17 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w e re d o in g in G a la tia n s s o , h e s a y s , th e y ’re to b e th ro w n o u t. T h e re ’s n o m id d le g ro u n d . N o w w e s h o u ld b e c le a r a n d I m e n tio n th is b e c a u s e it’s v e ry e a s y a t th is p o in t in o n e ’s th in k in g o r in a s tu d y o f s u c h th in g s to d ra w a w ro n g im p lic a tio n a b o u t g ra c e a n d th e m e a n in g o f le g a lis m . L e g a lis m d o e s n o t m e a n th e re c o g n itio n o f s p iritu a l s ta n d a rd s o r ru le s . T h e N e w T e s ta m e n t is fille d w ith ru le s a n d e x a m p le s fo r u s to fo llo w a n d g e n u in e b e lie v e rs d o th a t. G e n u in e b e lie v e rs o b e y . T h a t’s a s ig n a n d e v id e n c e th a t w e a re g e n u in e ly b o rn a g a in b e c a u s e w e lo n g to b e p le a s in g to G o d , w e h a v e a h e a rt th a t d e s ire s to b e o b e d ie n t a n d w e f o llo w th e r u le s o f S c r ip tu r e . W e liv e o b e d ie n t liv e s . L e g a lis m is n o t th e re c o g n itio n o f ru le s . L e g a lis m is th e b e lie f th a t it is b y f o llo w in g ru le s in o u r s tre n g th in o u r o w n a b ility th a t w e g a in G o d ’s fa v o r, th a t w e w in h is a p p ro v a l, th a t w e o b ta in s a lv a tio n . W e d o it b y ru le k e e p in g . W e d o it b y c e re m o n ie s . T h a t is c o m p le te ly c o n tra ry to g ra c e . T h a t is a d e n ia l o f T h e G o s p e l s o P a u l s a y s , “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n .” T h e n h e c o n c lu d e s b y s u m m a riz in g h is a rg u m e n t in V e rs e 3 1 : “ S o th e n b re th re n w e a re n o t c h ild re n o f a b o n d w o m a n b u t o f th e fre e w o m a n .” B e lie v e rs in J e s u s C h ris t a re n o t u n d e r T h e L a w . W e a re fre e fro m th e L a w o f M o s e s th ro u g h C h ris t a n d P a u l w a s te llin g th e G a la tia n s th a t th a t w a s tru e o f th e m ; th e y ’re f re e f ro m T h e L a w . T h e y ’re s o n s o f th e f re e w o m a n s o th e y ’re to liv e a s f re e p e o p le . T h e re a re o n ly tw o k in d s o f p e o p le in th e w o rld . W e c a n d e s c rib e th e m in a n u m b e r o f w a y s : A s th e fre e a n d th e e n s la v e d , a s b e lie v e rs a n d n o n -b e lie v e rs , c h ild re n o f G o d a n d c h ild re n o f T h e D e v il b u t w h a t d iv id e s th e w o rld in to tw o g ro u p s is th e g ra c e o f G o d . W e a re a ll e ith e r th e s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is o r th e c h ild re n o f n a tu ra l g e n e s is . A t th e e n d o f C h a p te r 3 , P a u l c a lls b e lie v e rs A b ra h a m ’s d e c e d e n ts , h e irs a c c o rd in g to p ro m is e . It is n o t n a tu ra l b irth th a t m a k e s a p e rs o n A b ra h a m ’s s p iritu a l o f f s p rin g a n d h e ir, it is g ra c e , a n d Is a a c is th e g re a t illu s tra tio n o f th a t. H e w a s b o rn b y G o d ’s p o w e r, b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e s p irit, a c c o rd in g to V e rs e 2 9 a n d th e C h ris tia n is
- 18 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
b o rn o f th e s p irit, a c c o rd in g to J o h n 3 :1 -7 : “ T h a t w h ic h is b o rn o f th e f le s h is f le s h , th a t w h ic h is b o r n o f th e s p ir it is s p ir it.” N ic o d e m u s c a m e to O u r L o rd th a t n ig h t w ith th e q u e s tio n in h is m in d , “ W h a t m u s t I d o to in h e rit th e K in g d o m o f G o d ” a n d b e f o r e h e e v e r s p o k e it, J e s u s g a v e h im th e a n s w e r. H e s a w it in h is m in d . H e re a d h is th o u g h ts a n d h e s a id , “ Y o u m u s t b e b o rn a g a in .” Y o u c a n n o t h a v e it n a tu ra lly . It h a s n o th in g to d o w ith y o u r n a tu ra l b irth .
Y o u h a v e to b e b o rn a g a in
to e n te r th e K i n g d o m o f G o d . T h a t is h o w s a lv a tio n o c c u rs . It is b y g ra c e th ro u g h fa ith a n d th e re s u lt is jo y . T h e fru it o f th a t b le s s e d re la tio n s h ip th a t G o d g a v e to A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h w a s Is a a c w h o s e n a m e m e a n s “ la u g h te r.” H e b ro u g h t jo y to h is p a re n ts a n d s a lv a tio n b rin g s jo y to u s . T h e L a w c a n ’t g iv e th a t. L if e a n d jo y a re f o u n d in C h ris t a n d w e h a v e C h ris t th ro u g h f a ith a lo n e s o h a v e y o u b e lie v e d in H im ? I f y o u h a v e , th e n r e jo ic e . Y o u h a v e b e e n b o rn a g a in . Y o u a re a s o n o f p a lin g e n e s is , o f th e N e w B irth . Y o u h a v e e te rn a l life . If y o u ’v e n o t b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t th e n lo o k to h im , c a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n , th ro u g h o f f T h e L a w , tu rn a w a y f ro m e v e ry id e a o f s a v in g y o u rs e lf b y y o u r o w n e f f o rt. B e lie v e in th e L o rd J e s u s C h ris t a n d y o u w ill b e s a v e d . M a y G o d h e lp y o u to d o th a t a n d m a y H e h e lp a ll o f u s to u n d e rs ta n d H is g ra c e a n d re jo ic e in th e g re a t g if t o f lif e th a t H e h a s g iv e n to u s f re e ly in H is S o n . L e t’s p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k y o u f o r th is g re a t s to ry , th is a lle g o ry th a t P a u l g iv e s u s , th is e x p la n a tio n o f th e s e e v e n ts th a t o c c u rre d in a n c ie n t tim e s b u t a re re le v a n t to d a y ju s t a s th e y w e re th e n a re tim e le s s tru th s th a t th e re a re ju s t tw o k in d s o f p e o p le : T h o s e w h o h a v e a n a tu ra l b irth a n d th o s e w h o h a v e a s p iritu a l b irth a n d w e h a v e s p iritu a l b irth b y y o u r g ra c e a lo n e a n d w e th a n k y o u th a t s a lv a tio n f r o m th e f ir s t d a y to th e la s t d a y is th e s a m e w a y . I t’ s th r o u g h y o u r g ra c e a n d fa ith in C h ris t. W e th a n k y o u f o r s e n d in g H im f o r h is d e a th f o r u s a n d to H is n a m e w e p r a y . A m e n .
G a la tia n s
" T w o K in d s o f P e o p le "
T R A N S C R IP T
[M e s s a g e ] T h is m o rn in g w e ’re in G a la tia n s C h a p te r 4 a n d w e ’re g o in g to lo o k a t v e rs u s 2 1 th ro u g h 3 1 , P a u l’s e x p la n a tio n o f th e a lle g o ry . T e ll m e y o u w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r la w , d o y o u n o t lis te n to th e la w ? F o r it is w ritte n th a t A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y th e b o n d w o m a n a n d o n e b y th e f r e e w o m a n . T h e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e fle s h a n d th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n th ro u g h th e p ro m is e . T h is is a lle g o ric a lly s p e a k in g fo r th e s e w o m e n a re tw o c o v e n a n ts , o n e p ro c e e d in g f ro m M o u n t S in a i b e a rin g c h ild re n w h o a re to b e s la v e s . S h e is H a g a r. N o w th is H a g a r is M o u n t S in a i in A ra b ia a n d c o rre s p o n d s to th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m f o r s h e is in s la v e ry w ith h e r c h ild re n b u t th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e is fre e . S h e is o u r m o th e r fo r it is w ritte n : “ R e jo ic e b a rre n w o m a n w h o d o e s b e a r. B re a k fo rth a n d s h o u t y o u w h o a re in la b o r fo r m o re n u m e ro u s a re th e c h ild re n o f th e d e s o la te th a n o f th e o n e w h o h a s a h u s b a n d a n d y o u , b re th re n , lik e Is a a c , a re c h ild re n o f p ro m is e b u t a s a t th a t tim e h e w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h p e rs e c u te d h im w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e S p rit s o it is n o w a ll a ls o .” W h a t d o e s th e S c rip tu re s a y ? “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n f o r th e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n s h a ll n o t b e a n h e ir w ith th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n .” S o th e n b re th re n w e a re n o t c h ild re n o f a b o n d w o m a n b u t o f th e f r e e w o m a n . M a y th e L o rd b le s s th is re a d in g o f H is W o rd le t’s p ra y .
-2"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
[P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k y o u fo r th e tim e w e h a v e to g e th e r h e re th is m o rn in g a n d w e c a n m e e t a s y o u r p e o p le o n th is L o rd ’s D a y a n d re a d th e S c rip tu re s a n d s e e k y o u r b le s s in g u p o n u s in e v e ry a s p e c t o f life b e c a u s e w e n e e d y o u r b le s s in g s in e v e ry a s p e c t o f life m a te ria lly , p h y s ic a lly a n d c e rta in ly s p iritu a lly a n d , F a th e r, w e lo o k a t th e p ra y e r lis t th a t w e h a v e a n d w e ’re re m in d e d o f o u r p h y s ic a l n e e d s . M a n y p e o p le w h o a re s ic k o r f a c in g s u rg e ry o r u n d e rg o in g a v a rie ty o f d iffic u ltie s , w e p ra y fo r th e m . W e lo o k to y o u fo r b le s s in g b e c a u s e y o u a re th e s o u rc e o f a ll th e b le s s in g s th a t w e h a v e th e s o u rc e o f o u r lif e . W e liv e a n d w e m o v e a n d w e e x is t in y o u . T h a t is tru e o f a ll y o u r c re a tu re s , a ll o f y o u r c re a tio n . T h e e n tire u n iv e rs e a s v a s t a s it is re a lly b e y o n d o u r c o m p re h e n s io n it is b u t a s p e c k o f d u s t to y o u a n d it e x is ts in y o u , y o u h o ld it a ll to g e th e r, y o u r S o n h o ld s it a ll to g e th e r a n d is b e a rin g h is to ry a lo n g , c a rry in g th is w o rld a lo n g a n d e v e ry m o m e n t o f o u r e x is te n c e is a g if t f ro m y o u . Y o u w ill it to b e . F o r y o u to c e a s e w illin g th a t w e e x is t, f o r y o u to c e a s e s u s ta in in g u s a t e v e ry m o m e n t w e w o u ld c e a s e to b e s o w e c o m e to y o u b e c a u s e w e ’re c o m p le te ly d e p e n d e n t u p o n . W e a re d e p e n d e n t f o r e v e ry m o m e n t o f o u r lif e a n d s o w e p ra y , L o rd , th a t y o u b le s s u s , m a te ria lly , b le s s th o s e w h o a re s ic k , g iv e th e m h e a lin g , th o s e w h o a re f a c in g s u rg e ry , b le s s th e d o c to rs w h o w ill a tte n d to th e m . W e p ra y th a t y o u ’d g iv e th e m q u ic k re c o v e rie s , s u c c e s s fu l s u rg e rie s . W e p ra y fo r th o s e th a t a re o u t o f w o rk . W e p ra y th a t y o u g iv e th e m p a tie n c e a n d d ilig e n c e a n d th a t y o u w o u ld o p e n d o o rs o f o p p o rtu n ity . L o rd , th e lis t c o u ld g o o n o f th e th in g s th a t w e n e e d p ra y e r f o r a n d I k n o w y o u k n o w f a r b e tte r th a n w e , w h a t o u r n e e d s a re b e tte r th a n w e o u rs e lv e s k n o w o u r o w n n e e d s a n d s o I p ra y , L o rd , th a t y o u w o u ld b le s s u s , m a te ria lly a n d p h y s ic a lly a n d , c e rta in ly , in th is h o u r, b le s s u s s p iritu a lly a n d o p e n o u r h e a rts to re c e iv e th e T ru th . H e lp u s to u n d e rs ta n d to u n d e rs ta n d th e g re a t s u b je c t o f g ra c e th a t P a u l is u n f o ld in g f o r u s in th is te x t a n d a s h e h a s d o n e a ll t h ro u g h
-3"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e B o o k o f G a la tia n s a n d , in f a c t, a s is u n f o ld e d a ll th ro u g h T h e B ib le , a ll 6 6 b o o k s o f it s o , L o rd , g u id e u s in o u r th in k in g a n d b u ild u s u p in th e fa ith a n d m a k e th e p ro p e r a p p lic a tio n s to e a c h o f u s in d iv id u a lly a n d m a y w e b e e q u ip p e d f o r th e d a y a n d th e w e e k a h e a d a n d b le s s u s e a c h d a y a n d b le s s th is a s s e m b ly , b le s s th is c h u rc h w ith f a ith f u ln e s s to y o u r tr u th , f a ith f u ln e s s to T h e G o s p e l a n d b le s s u s w ith liv e s th a t a re f u ll o f jo y a n d p e a c e th a t w e s h o u ld h a v e a s w e u n d e rs ta n d y o u r g ra c e a n d y o u r c a re fo r u s s o w e c o m m it o u r tim e to y o u n o w , L o rd . W e p ra y y o u ’d b le s s it, p re p a re o u r h e a rts fo r a tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r a n d w e p ra y th is in C h ris t’s n a m e , A m e n . [M e s s a g e ] T h e re a re m a n y w a y s to a n a ly z e a n d d iv id e th e w o rld . W e d o it a c c o rd in g to r a c e , re lig io n , re g io n , la n g u a g e a n d n a tio n , w h ic h s e p a ra te th e w o rld in to m a n y d iffe re n t p a rts . T h e a n c ie n ts w e re m u c h s im p le r. T h e G re e k s d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o . E v e ry o n e w a s e ith e r a G re e k o r a B a rb a ria n . T h e y to o k g re a t p rid e in th e ir la n g u a g e a n d c u ltu re . T h e J e w s d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o a s w e ll b e tw e e n th e J e w s a n d th e G e n tile s , T h e N a tio n a n d th e n a tio n s . T h e y w e re G o d ’s C h o s e n P e o p le a n d a ll o th e rs w e re o u ts id e th e p a le . T h e A p o s tle s a ls o d iv id e d th e w o rld in tw o p a rts b u t in a v e ry d iffe re n t fro m th e s e o th e rs , in a w a y th a t in c lu d e d e v e ry trib e a n d to n g u e a n d p e o p le a n d n a tio n . T h e y d iv id e d it s p iritu a lly b e tw e e n b e lie v e rs a n d n o n b e lie v e rs , b e tw e e n th e C h ild re n o f G o d a n d th e c h ild re n o f th e d e v il. T h e D u tc h th e o lo g ia n A b ra h a m K u y p e r d e s c rib e d G o d ’s p e o p le a s s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is f ro m th e G re e k w o rd p a lin g e n e s ia , w h ic h s p e a k s o f re g e n e ra tio n . L ite ra lly it m e a n s b e in g b o rn a g a in . E v e ry o n e o b v io u s ly h a s a n a tu ra l b irth . W h a t d is tin g u is h e s p e o p le is th e s p iritu a l b irth s o p e o p le a re e ith e r b o rn a g a in o r th e y a re n o t. T h a t’s v e ry s im ila r to P a u l’s d e s c rip tio n in G a la tia n s 4 w h e re h e w rite s o f tw o c h ild re n , tw o s o n s o f A b ra h a m , o n e a s o n o f w o rk s , th e o th e r a s o n o f g ra c e . T h e J e w s to o k g re a t p rid e in th e ir a n c e s try a n d u n d e rs ta n d a b ly th e y c o u ld c la im D a v id a n d S o lo m o n a s p a rt o f th e ir fa m ily tre e , M o s e s a n d th e p ro p h e ts , th e y h a d g re a t a n c e s to rs b u t th e g re a te s t o f
-4"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a ll w a s A b ra h a m , a m a n re v e re d a ll o v e r th e w o rld . In J o h n 8 :3 3 a n d 3 9 th e y b o a s te d to C h ris t, th e J e w s d id , th a t “ W e a re A b ra h a m ’s o ffs p rin g ” a n d th e y s a id to H im , “ A b ra h a m is o u r fa th e r.” T h a t id e a , w e a re A b ra h a m ’s o ffs p rin g , is w h a t th e y fe lt g a v e th e m g ra v ita s in th e w o rld a n d w ith G o d , “ W e a re p le a s in g to G o d ,” th e y w e re s a y in g “ b e c a u s e w e h a v e A b ra h a m in o u r lin e a g e . W e c o m e f ro m a n d th a t m a k e s u s im p o rta n t in th e e y e s o f G o d .” W e ll, th is id e a o f th e im p o rta n c e o f a n c e s try a n d h e re d ita ry rig h ts w a s s tro n g a m o n g th e J e w s a n d f a ta l. P h y s ic a l d e c e n t im p re s s e s m e n . It d o e s n ’t im p re s s G o d . J o h n th e B a p tis t to ld th e J e w ish le a d e rs : “ G o d is a b le fro m th e s e s to n e s to ra is e u p s o n s to A b ra h a m .” W h a t m a tte rs u ltim a te ly is n o t p h y s ic a l b irth . It’s n o t o u r lin e a g e . It’s s p iritu a l b irth . J e s u s to ld N ic o d e m u s : “ Y o u m u s t b e b o rn a g a in .” L ite ra lly th a t m e a n s y o u m u s t b e b o rn f r o m a b o v e . Y o u m u s t b e b o rn o f G o d . Y o u m u s t h a v e a s u p e rn a tu ra l, s p iritu a l b irth to in h e rit th e K in g d o m o f G o d a n d th a t’s w h a t P a u l te a c h e s h e re in o u r p a s s a g e , in G a la tia n s 4 :2 1 -3 1 . T h e re a re o n ly tw o k in d s o f p e o p le , th e J u d a iz e rs ; th e te a c h e rs o f T h e L a w w e re o f o n e k in d . T h e y h a d c o m e to G a la tia b o a s tin g o f th e ir n a tu ra l b irth a n d h e rita g e in A b ra h a m a n d e v e n th o u g h th e G a la tia n s w e re g e n tile s a n d c o u ld n o t b e s o n s o f A b ra h a m b y n a tu ra l d e c e n t, th e s e J e w is h te a c h e rs a s s u re d th e m th a t th e y c o u ld b e a d o p te d in to A b ra h a m ’s f a m ily b y c irc u m c is io n , b y p u ttin g th e m s e lv e s u n d e r th e la w a n d , in s o d o in g , th e y w o u ld e n jo y a ll o f th e c o v e n a n t b le s s in g s o f th e L a w . N o w P a u l a n s w e re d th a t e a rlie r in C h a p te r 3 b y s h o w in g th a t s a lv a tio n h a s n o th in g to d o w ith la w k e e p in g . A b ra h a m w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s lo n g b e fo re th e L a w w a s e v e r g iv e n . In fa c t A b ra h a m w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s b y fa ith a lo n e b e fo re c irc u m c is io n w a s g iv e n to h im . H e w a s d e c la re d rig h te o u s in G e n e s is : 1 5 . It’s y e a rs la te r in G e n e s is : 1 7 th a t th e rig h t o f c irc u m c is io n w a s g iv e n to h im . A p e rs o n b e c o m e s a s o n o f A b ra h a m n o t b y k e e p in g th e L a w b u t b y b e in g lik e A b ra h a m , b y b e lie v in g a s A b ra h a m d id . “ A b ra h a m b e lie v e d G o d a n d it w a s re c k o n e d to h im u n to rig h te o u s n e s s ” b u t P a u l n o w c o m e s b a c k
-5"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
to A b ra h a m a n d h e c o m e s b a c k to h im fo r th e la s t tim e in th e B o o k o f G a la tia n s b e c a u s e A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s w h o s h o w u s w h o is a tru e s o n o f A b ra h a m a n d h o w a p e rs o n o b ta in s th e b le s s in g s o f A b r a h a m th is p riv ile g e o f b e in g d e c la re d rig h te o u s a n d a c c e p te d b y G o d a s rig h te o u s, o n c e a n d fo re v e r a n d e n te rin g in to a ll o f th e p ro m is e s , th e g re a t in h e rita n c e th a t w a s g iv e n to A b ra h a m . “ T h e le s s o n ,” h e s a y s in V e rs e 2 1 , “ is fo r th o s e w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r L a w ,” a n d th a t w a s th e G a la tia n s . T h e y w e re e n a m o re d o f T h e L a w . T h e y w e re b e in g d ra w n in to th a t le g a lis tic s y s te m o f J u d a is m . It w a s fo r th e m b u t re a lly th is le s s o n tra n s c e n d s tim e a n d p la c e . It’s a p ro b le m in e v e ry g e n e ra tio n . L a rg e ly p e o p le w h o g iv e a n y th o u g h t to e te rn ity a n d th e ir s o u l la rg e ly w a n t to b u ild th e ir o w n h ig h w a y to H e a v e n b y ru le s a n d p e rs o n a l e ffo rt. T h a t w a s tru e o f th e G a la tia n s . T h e y ’d h e a rd a b o u t g ra c e . T h e y ’d b e e n ta u g h t g ra c e . T h e y ’d b e e n g ro u n d e d firm ly in g ra c e w h e n P a u l o rig in a lly c a m e to G a la tia th e re in S o u th e rn A s ia M in o r b u t s o o n a fte r th e s e te a c h e rs c a m e in a n d d re w th e m a w a y f ro m th a t a n d th e y b e c a m e , a s I s a id , e n a m o re d o f T h e L a w a n d s o “ y o u w h o w a n t to b e u n d e r T h e L a w ,” h e s a y s , “ th e re ’s a le s s o n f o r y o u f ro m T h e L a w ” s o P a u l g iv e s th a t le s s o n . It’s o n th is v e ry th in g , V e r s e 2 2 : “ F o r it is w ritte n th a t A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y th e b o n d w o m a n a n d o n e b y th e f r e e w o m a n .” T h o s e tw o s o n s a re Is h m a e l a n d Is a a c w h o s e b irth s o c c u rre d u n d e r v e ry d if f e re n t a n d s ig n ific a n t c irc u m s ta n c e s . W h e n A b ra h a m w a s c a lle d o u t o f U r o f th e C h a ld e a n s a n d if y o u w a n n a p u t U r o f th e C h a ld e a n s o n a m a p in y o u r m in d it is in m o d e rnd a y Ira q . T h a t’s w h e re A b ra h a m w a s b o rn a n d th a t’s w h e re h e liv e d u n til G o d c a lle d h im o u t o f th e re w h e n h e w a s 7 5 y e a rs o ld . A t th a t tim e h e w a s A b ra m , w h ic h m e a n s “ e x a lte d fa th e r” b u t th e e x a lte d f a th e r w a s c h ild le s s a n d h is w if e , S a r a h , w a s b a r r e n b u t w h e n G o d c a lle d h im , H e m a d e h im a p ro m is e . H e s a id , “ G o f o rth to y o u r c o u n try to th e la n d w h ic h I w ill s h o w y o u a n d I w ill m a k e y o u a g re a t n a tio n .” E v e ry th in g w a s a g a in s t th a t. H e w a s a n o ld m a n , h e ’s 7 5 y e a rs o ld , h is w ife w a s b a rre n b u t A b ra h a m w a s a m a n o f fa ith . T h is
-6"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
is w h a t d is tin g u is h e s h im . H e b e lie v e d G o d . H e o b e y e d G o d . H e c a m e o u t o f th a t la n d . H e c a m e to C a n a a n b e lie v in g th e p ro m is e s o f G o d b u t G o d g a v e h im n o c h ild . Y e a rs w e n t b y a n d s till A b ra m w a s c h ild le s s . It w a s a g re a t tria l f o r b o th h im a n d S a ra h . T h e p ro m is e w a s g iv e n b u t it w a s im p o s s ib le fo r th e m to a c h ie v e . S o m e te n y e a rs la te r G o d a g a in s p o k e to A b ra m , in G e n e s is : 1 5 a n d H e re a f f i rm e d th e p ro m is e s . H e c a lle d h im o u ts id e o f h is te n t o n e n ig h t a n d h e to ld h im to lo o k u p a t th e h e a v e n s a n d n u m b e r th e s ta rs . T h e n h e s a id , “ S o s h a ll y o u r d e c e d e n ts b e .” A b ra m w a s n o w 8 5 y e a rs o ld a n d s till c h ild le s s . It w a s n ’t fo r la c k o f try in g b u t th e b io lo g ic a l c lo c k w a s tic k in g a n d tim e w a s ru n n in g o u t. T h e p ro b le m m u s t h a v e tro u b le d A b ra m g re a tly . G o d h a d c le a rly g iv e n h im a p ro m is e b u t it w a s n ’t h a p p e n in g . M a y b e th e q u e s tio n e n te re d h is m in d w h y , w h y is n ’t h a p p e n in g ? It c e rta in ly b o th e re d S a ra h b e c a u s e s h e k n e w e x a c tly w h y th e p ro m is e w a s n ’t b e in g fu lfille d . S h e k n e w w h a t th e p ro b le m w a s , s h e w a s th e p ro b le m . S h e w a s b a rre n b u t s h e g o t a n id e a . S h e h a d a h a n d m a id , H a g a r, a s la v e fro m E g y p t. S h e w o u ld g iv e h e r to A b ra m a n d h e c o u ld h a v e a c h ild b y h e r. It s o u n d s lik e a s tra n g e p ra c tic e to u s b u t it w a s a ll p e rfe c tly le g a l. T h e a n c ie n t m a rria g e c o n tra c ts o f th e tim e s ta te d th a t if a w if e p ro v e d c h ild le s s s h e w a s to p ro v id e h e r h u s b a n d w ith a s la v e w ife to p ro d u c e h e irs s o fo llo w in g th e c us to m o f th e d a y s h e to ld A b ra m , “ G o in to m y m a id , p e rh a p s I s h a ll o b ta in c h ild re n th ro u g h h e re .” A b ra h a m d id a n d fro m H a g a r th e s la v e , h e p ro d u c e d a s o n , Is h m a e l. N o w a t th e a g e o f 8 6 h e w a s n o lo n g e r E x a lte d F a th e r w ith o u t a s o n . H e p ro v e d h im s e lf s tro n g . H e p ro v e d h im s e lf v irile a n d a b le . Is h m a e l w a s p ro o f A b ra h a m ’s a b ility a n d w h a t o n e w rite r c a lle d , “ T h e re s u lt o f o u tw o rk in g o f th e p h ilo s o p h y th a t G o d -h e lp s -th o s e -w h o h e lp -th e m s e lv e s .” A f te r a ll S a ra h a n d A b ra m k n e w G o d ’s p ro m is e , th e y k n e w G o d ’s p ro m is e . T h e y k n e w w h a t H e h a d p ro m is e d to g iv e th e m , a s o n , a n d y e t th e y c o u ld n ’t d o it, p ro d u c e th is c h ild th e m s e lv e s
-7"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a n d s o th e y trie d to h e lp th a t p ro m is e , h e lp G o d a lo n g w ith th e ir o w n e f f o rts b u t G o d d o e s n ’t n e e d o u r h e lp . G o d k n o w s th e e n d fro m the b e g in n in g a n d h e ’s w o rk in g e v e ry th in g o u t a c c o rd in g to H is p la n w ith p e rf e c tio n . H e a lw a y s f u lf ills H is p r o m is e s in H is w a y a n d H is tim e , n o t o u r s . W e ’ r e s im p ly to tru s t H im . W e ’re s im p ly to k n o w H is W o rd , b e lie v e it, tru s t it, re s t in it, w a it o n H im . A b ra m d id n ’t. H e h a d a la p s e in fa ith , h e a c te d in th e f le s h a n d th e p ro d u c t o f th a t w h o b e c a m e h is p rid e a n d jo y w o u ld b e a s o u rc e o f g re a t s a d n e s s a n d tro u b le in h is fa m ily a n d h is life . It’s a lw a y s th e re s u lt o f n o t tru s tin g G o d ’s W o rd , o f n o t w a it in g o n H im a n d , in s te a d , ta k in g m a tte rs in to o u r o w n h a n d s , f le x in g o u r s p iritu a l m u s c le s a n d a c tin g in th e f le s h b u t it w a s n ’t lo n g b e f o re th e p ro b le m s b e g a n . H a g a r’s a b ility to c o n c e iv e g a v e h e r a s e n s e o f s u p e rio rity o v e r h e r m is tre s s , S a ra h . S h e c o u l d c o n c e iv e , S a ra h c o u ld n ’t a n d th a t f ille d H a g a r w ith a s e n s e o f p r id e a n d jo y a n d s h e b e g a n to g lo a t. I t w a s in s u ltin g to S a ra h a n d it w a s h u m ilia tin g . H a g a r a n d h e r s o n w e re a c o n s ta n t th o rn in h e r s id e a n d a re m in d e r to S a ra h th a t s h e w a s u n a b le . It w a s a re m in d e r o f h e r in a b ility a n d th a t w e n t o n fo r y e a rs b u t Is h m a e l w a s n ’t th e s o n o f p ro m is e . G o d w o u ld n o t fu lfill th e p ro m is e th ro u g h H a g a r. G o d d o e s th in g s d iffe re n tly fro m th e w a y m a n d o e s th e m . H is w a y s a re n o t o u r w a y s . H e is th e G o d o f m ig h ty th in g s . H e is th e G o d o f th e h u m a n ly im p o s s ib le . H e is th e G o d o f th e s u p e rn a tu ra l, th e G o d o f g ra c e n o t w o rk s a n d w h e n A b ra m w a s 9 9 , G o d a g a in v is ite d h im , c h a n g e d h is n a m e f ro m A b ra m , “ E x a lte d F a th e r,” to A b ra h a m , “ F a th e r o f a M u ltitu d e ” a n d s a id th a t S a ra h w o u ld h a v e a s o n . Y o u w o u ld c a ll h is n a m e Is a a c a n d h e w o u ld b e h e ir, n o t Is h m a e l s o n o w A b ra h a m is f a th e r o f a m u ltitu d e a n d w ith o u t a n h e ir , w ith o u t a le g itim a te s o n a n d w e ll p a s t th e a g e o f p ro d u c in g c h ild re n . B y n o w h e ’s 9 9 y e a rs o ld . H e c a n n o t p ro d u c e c h ild re n a n d h is w ife , S a ra h , s h e h a s n ’t c h a n g e d . S h e ’s s till b a rre n . It’s a n im p o s s ib le s itu a tio n b u t a ll o f th a t w a s b y d e s ig n , a ll p a rt o f G o d ’s p la n b e c a u s e n o w th a t A b ra h a m w a s n o
-8"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
lo n g e r p o te n t, n o lo n g e r a b le , h e h a d to re ly c o m p le te ly u p o n th e p ro m is e a n d th e p o w e r o f G o d . G o d n e v e r f a ils in H is p r o m is e s . W h e n A b r a h a m w a s 1 0 0 y e a r s o ld Is a a c w a s b o rn w h o s e n a m e m e a n s “ L a u g h te r.” H e w a s a m ira c le c h ild , p ro v in g th a t n o th in g is to o g re a t o r d if f ic u lt f o r G o d to d o . H e b rin g s life o u t o f d e a th . H e p ro d u c e s jo y w h e re th e re is s a d n e s s . G o d is a b le to ra is e u p c h ild re n to A b ra h a m f ro m s to n e s a n d th a t w a s a v e ry p u rp o s e fo r G o d w a itin g s o lo n g to g iv e A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h th e ir c h ild . D o n ’t b e d is c o u ra g e d if th e b le s s in g s y o u s e e k a n d y o u s h o u ld h a v e d o n ’t c o m e im m e d ia te ly . T h e re ’s a re a s o n f o r th e d e la y , y o u d o n ’t k n o w it. I d o n ’t k n o w it. It te s ts o u r p a tie n ts . G o d h a s a p u rp o s e in th o s e th in g s a n d h e re th e p u rp o s e w a s v e ry p la in . It w a s to m a k e a c le a r a n d im p o rta n t d e m o n s tra tio n to th is f a m ily a n d to G o d ’s p e o p le d o w n th ro u g h th e a g e s a n d to th e w o rld th a t G o d ’s b le s s in g s c o m e b y H is g ra c e , n o t b y o u r a b ility , n o t b y th e th in g s th a t w e c a n d o s o H e s h o w s th a t to A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h w ith th is c h ild th a t’s g iv e n to th e m , th is c h ild th a t b rin g s g re a t jo y , th is c h ild o f la u g h te r. H e s h o w s th e m th a t th e p ro m is e s c o m e b y H is p o w e r a n d g ra c e a n d n o t b y m a n ’s e f f o rt. N o w A b ra h a m h a d tw o s o n s , o n e b y H a g a r th e s la v e a n d o n e b y S a ra h th e fre e w o m a n a n d th e b o y s g re w u p to g e th e r u n til Is a a c w a s w e a n e d . N o w tra d itio n a lly J e w is h w o m e n w o u ld w e a n th e ir c h ild re n la te in th e c h ild ’s lif e w h e n th e y w a re a b o u t th re e y e a rs o ld , w h ic h w o u ld ’v e m a d e Is h m a e l 1 7 y e a rs o ld a t th e tim e . T h is w a s a b ig o c c a s io n , th is w e a n in g o f th e c h ild . It w a s a tim e in w h ic h a g re a t f e a s t, a p a r ty , a b a n q u e t w a s g iv e n a n d it’ s r e c o r d e d f o r u s in G e n e s is , 2 1 , a n d th e y g a v e a g re a t p a rty to c e le b ra te it. A b ra h a m g a v e a fe a s t b u t d u rin g th e c e le b ra tio n S a ra h s a w s o m e th in g . Y o u c a n im a g in e th e p ro v id e n c e o f G o d w o rk in g th is o ut. T h e re ’s a lo t o f a c tiv ity g o in g o n a n d w e d o n ’t k n o w w h e re S a ra h w a s b u t, a t th e rig h t m o m e n t, s o m e th in g c a tc h e s h e r e y e w h e re s h e lo o k s o v e r a t th e rig h t m o m e n t a n d s h e s e e s Is h m a e l m o c k in g Is a a c , la u g h in g a t h im a n d s h e s a w m o re in th a t th a n a b ro th e r’s p la y fu l
-9"Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
c o n d u c t. If y o u h a v e s o n s o r y o u h a v e b ro th e rs , I g re w u p in a f a m ily o f fo u r b ro th e rs a n d th e re w a s lo ts o f ta u n tin g a n d te a s in g a n d a ll o f th a t th a t g o e s o n . T h a t’s a n a tu ra l p a rt o f a f a m ily , I g u e s s . T h a t’s n o t a g o o d p a rt I k n o w b u t it h a p p e n s a n d w e d o n ’t th in k m u c h o f it b u t S a ra h s a w th is a n d s a w s o m e th in g m o re th a t w o u ld n ’t n o rm a lly o c c u r. S h e re c o g n iz e d in th e m o c k in g a n d h o s tility , w h ic h s h e k n e w to b e d a n g e ro u s f o r Is a a c s o s h e in s is te d th a t A b ra h a m d riv e o u t H a g a r a n d Is h m a e l f r o m th e fa m ily . A b ra h a m w a s re lu c ta n t. H e lo v e d Is h m a e l. Is h m a e l w a s th e s o n o f h is p o te n c y , h is a b ility b u t, a p a rt fro m th a t, A b ra h a m w a s a g o d ly , lo v in g f a th e r w h o lo v e d th is s o n , Is h m a e l, a s h e s h o u ld lo v e th is s o n a n d s o b e c a u s e it w a s h is s o n h e d i d n ’t d o th a t a n d e v e n th e a n c ie n t la w c o d e s p ro te c te d th e s la v e -w ife fro m b e in g e x p e lle d fro m th e f a m ily s o h e r e s is te d b u t S a r a h h a d m o r e in s ig h t h e r e th a n A b r a h a m a n d G o d a g a in s p o k e to h im a n d H e to ld h im to lis te n to h is w if e a n d th e re ’s a b it o f a le s s o n in th a t fo r u s m e n b e c a u s e s o m e tim e s o u r w iv e s h a v e s o m e th in g to s a y a n d w e s h o u ld p a y a tte n tio n to th e m . In f a c t a s y o u r e a d th r o u g h T h e B ib le y o u s e e f r e q u e n tly th a t th e w if e h a s m o re in s ig h t th a n th e h u s b a n d , lis te n , a n d h e re th is g re a t m a n o f G o d , A b ra h a m , h a s le s s in s ig h t th a n S a ra h . S a ra h k n o w s w h a t’s h a p p e n in g . S h e s e e s s o m e th in g th a t h e d o e s n ’t a n d G o d c o n firm s th a t. H e s a y s , “ L is te n to w h a t s h e s a id fo r th ro u g h Is a a c y o u r d e c e d e n ts s h a ll b e n a m e d ” a n d s o Is h m a e l a n d H a g a r w e re g iv e n fo o d a n d w a te r a n d s e n t a w a y . N o w th a t’s th e s to ry w h e re P a u l fin d s th e le s s o n a n d , in V e rs e 2 3 , h e s e ts it u p b y d ra w in g o u t o f th e s e e v e n ts tw o c e n tra l fa c ts a b o u t e a c h s o n . T h e y h a d d iffe re n t m o th e rs a n d th e y h a d d iffe re n t b irth s . Is h m a e l w a s b o rn f r o m th e b o n d w o m a n a n d s o h e w a s a s la v e b o y w h ile Is a a c w a s fro m th e f re e w o m a n a n d h e w a s f re e . Is h m a e l w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h . T h a t’ s th e s e c o n d p o in t th a t h e m a k e s . “ B o rn a c c o rd in g to th e fle s h ” m e a n s a c c o rd in g to n a tu re , b y A b ra h a m ’s o w n p o w e r, w h ile Is a a c w a s b o rn th ro u g h th e p ro m is e , c o n tra ry to n a tu re . H is f a th e r w a s 9 9 y e a rs o ld , w e ll p a s t th e a g e o f
- 10 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p ro d u c in g c h ild re n . S a ra h w a s o v e r 9 0 a n d s h e w a s b a rre n a n d s o th e s la v e -c h ild w a s n a tu ra l, th e f re e -c h ild w a s s u p e rn a tu ra l. Is h m a e l w a s th e re s u lt o f A b ra h a m ’s s e lf -re lia n c e w h ile Is a a c w a s th e re s u lt o f re lia n c e o n G o d . T h o s e a re th e fa c ts a n d fro m th e m P a u l n o w d ra w s a le s s o n . H e in tro d u c e s it b y s a y in g th is s to ry o f A b ra h a m is a n a lle g o ry , V e rs e 2 4 . It h a s a s to ry b e h in d it. N o w in s a y in g th a t, P a u l d id n ’t m e a n a n a lle g o ry in o u r s e n s e o f th e w o rd , w h ic h is a s to ry th a t g iv e s a m o ra l o r s p iritu a l tru th w ith o u t b e in g h is to ric a lly tru e . J o h n B u n y a n ’s s to ry , P ilg r im ’s P r o g r e s s is a n a lle g o ry . It d o e s n ’t p re te n d to b e h is to ry . In fa c t a t th e b e g in n in g w rite s , “ I d re a m e d a d re a m .” It’s a fic tio n th a t illu s tra te s s p iritu a l tru th . T h e e v e n ts o f A b ra h a m ’s lif e a re h is to ry . P a u l m e a n t th a t th e y a re a lle g o ric a l in th e s e n s e th a t th e y c o rre s p o n d to s p iritu a l tru th a n d s o w h e n h e s p e a k s o f th e m be in g a lle g o ric a l w h a t h e m e a n s is th e y a re a n illu s tra tio n o f s p iritu a l tru th . T h e y ’re w h a t w e w o u ld c a ll a ty p e o f s p iritu a l tru th a n d s o w h e n h e s p e a k s o f th e m b e in g a lle g o ric a l w h a t h e m e a n s is th a t th e y a re a n illu s tra tio n o f s p iritu a l tru th . T h e y a r e w h a t w e c a ll a ty p e o f s p iritu a l tru th a n d T h e B ib le is fu ll o f ty p e s . W e g iv e a g re a t d e a l o f a tte n tio n w h e n w e re a d T h e O ld T e s ta m e n t to ty p o lo g y , w h ic h m a k e s a c o rre s p o n d e n c e b e tw e e n a p e rs o n o r th in g in th e p a s t a n d a p e rs o n o r th in g in th e f u tu re . It is a p ro p h e tic f o r e s h a d o w in g , a p r o p h e tic illu s tr a tio n . I s r a e l’ s h is to r y is f u ll o f ty p e s o f p ic tu re s , o f illu s tra tio n s . Its h is to ric a l d e liv e ra n c e fro m E g y p t is a n illu s tra tio n o f o u r s a lv a tio n . Is ra e l w a s re d e e m e d fro m s la v e ry in E g y p t, a lite ra l, h is to ric a l s la v e ry in E g y p t a n d b ro u g h t in to C a n a a n in to fre e d o m a n d s o w e s e e in th a t a n illu s tra tio n o f o u r re d e m p tio n , o u r d e liv e ra n c e f ro m s p iritu a l s la v e ry in S a ta n ’s d o m a in u n d e r h is ru le a n d b e in g b ro u g h t in to th e P ro m is e d L a n d o f H e a v e n a n d th e l is t g o e s o n : T h e s a c rif ic ia l s y s te m , th e la m b s a n d th e b u lls th a t w e re o ffe re d u p a re p ic tu re s o f th e f in a l s a c rif ic e f o r o u r s in th a t is g iv in g in C h ris t. T h e p rie s th o o d , th e ta b e rn a c le , th e te m p le , th e y ’re a ll lite ra l h is to ric a l e v e n ts a n d p e rs o n s a n d p la c e s a n d th in g s th a t illu s tra te a g re a t s p iritu a l tru th .
- 11 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
T h e re ’re m a n y o f th o s e th a t w e c o u ld re c o u n t a n d th a t’s th e s e n s e in w h ic h P a u l is s p e a k in g h e re a n d h e s a y s in th e s e e v e n ts in A b ra h a m ’s lif e th a t w e h a v e a n a lle g o ry , m e a n in g a ty p e a n d h e e x p la in s th e m . H e s h o e s th e c o rre s p o n d e n c e . H e s a y s th e tw o w o m e n re p re s e n t tw o c o v e n a n ts , th e c o v e n a n t G o d m a d e w ith A b ra h a m a n d th e c o v e n a n t th a t G o d m a d e a t M o u n t S in a i, th e o ld c o v e n a n t a n d th e n e w c o v e n a n t, th e o n e re p re s e n tin g g ra c e a n d th e o n e re p re s e n tin g w o rk s . H a g a r th e s la v e re p re s e n ts w h a t p ro c e e d e d fro m M o u n t S in a i. S h e c o u ld o n ly b e a r s la v e c h ild re n a n d T h e L a w c a n o n ly p ro d u c e s p iritu a l s la v e s . It c a n ’t g iv e fre e d o m . It c a n o n ly p u t p e o p le in b o n d a g e . It h a s ru le s (“ th o u s h a lt” a n d “ th o u s h a lt n o t” ). It p u ts u s u n d e r th o s e ru le s b u t it d o e s n ’t g iv e u s th e p o w e r to d o th o s e ru le s s o it is a h e a v y y o k e th a t p e o p le s tra in u n d e r. P a u l k n e w th a t f ro m p e rs o n a l e x p e rie n c e . H e liv e d u n d e r T h e L a w . H e k n e w w h a t it w a s to s e e k , to b e o b e d ie n t to T h e L a w a n d m a in ta in rig h te o u s n e s s f r o m T h e L a w a n d h e k n e w th a t n o o n e c a n f o llo w T h e L a w p e rf e c tly a n d th a t la w p u ts p e o p le in b o n d a g e , it s h u ts th e m u p to th e ir s in b u t it d o e s n ’t le t th e m o u t. T h e L a w c o n d e m n s p e o p le b u t it d o e s n ’t p ro v id e a n e s c a p e f ro m its v e rd ic t. It h o ld s p e o p le c a p tiv e a s s la v e s to c o n s ta n tly w a lk th e tre a d m ill w ith o u t e v e r a rriv in g o r e v e r a c h ie v in g a n d it d o e s th a t d e lib e ra te ly , a s P a u l h a s e x p la in e d , to s h o w u s th a t w e c a n n o t a rriv e , to s h o w u s th a t w e c a n n o t a c h ie v e a rig h te o u s n e s s o f God. H a g a r c o u ld o n ly p ro d u c e a s la v e c h ild a n d th e s a m e is tru e o f J u d a is m w ith its in te rp re ta tio n o f T h e L a w a s th e m e a n s o f s a lv a tio n , th e o n ly w a y o f g a in in g G o d ’s a p p ro v a l. In V e rs e 2 5 , P a u l m a k e s th a t c o n n e c tio n . H a g a r h e s a y s c o rre s p o n d s to J e ru s a le m , w h ic h re p re s e n ts J u d a is m . J e ru s a le m is th e c a p ita l o f th e J e w is h le g a l s y s te m ; a t le a s t it w a s in P a u l’s d a y . It h a d th e te m p le , th e p rie s th o o d ; th e g re a t s c h o o ls o f J e w is h L a w w e re th e re . It w a s th e c a p ita l o f J u d a is m , o f th a t le g a l s y s te m , a n d lik e H a g a r it c a n o n ly p ro d u c e s p iritu a l s la v e s s o P a u l tra c e s o u t a lin e o f s la v e ry fro m H a g a r to M o u n t S in a i to th e C ity o f J e ru s a le m a n d h e r p e o p le fo r, h e s a y s , “ s h e , th a t is J e ru s a le m ,
- 12 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
lik e H a g a r, is in s la v e ry w ith h e r c h ild re n ” b u t th e re is a n o th e r J e ru s a le m in V e rs e 2 6 , th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d it is fre e , P a u l s a y s . S h e is o u r m o th e r. In o th e r w o rd s th e c a p ita l o f tru e re lig io n , th e s u p e rn a tu ra l, G o d -m a d e re lig io n is H e a v e n s o it’s n o t e n o u g h to c la im A b ra h a m a s o n e ’s fa th e r. Is h m a e l c la im ed th a t b u t h e w a s a s la v e . T h e re a l q u e s tio n is , “ W h o is y o u r m o th e r, H a g a r o r S a ra h ? ” W e re y o u b o rn f ro m a b o v e o r f ro m b e lo w ? W a s y o u r b irth p u re ly h u m a n o r w a s it d iv in e ? W a s it o n ly n a tu ra l o r w a s it s u p e rn a tu ra l? D o e s it c o m e fro m H e a v e n fro m e a rth ? T h o s e w h o s e m o th e r is th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e , th o s e w h o h a v e b e e n b o rn fro m a b o v e a re fre e , P a u l s a y s , lik e Is a a c . N o w I th in k it’s w o rth n o tin g th a t P a u l c o n tra s ts th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m w ith th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d w e m ig h t h a v e e x p e c te d b e c a u s e h e s p e a k s o f th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m th a t h e w o u ld h a v e s p o k e n o f th e J e ru s a le m to c o m e , th e F u tu re J e ru s a le m b e c a u s e th a t’s o u r g re a t h o p e . W e s e e in th e B o o k o f R e v e la tio n a t th e e n d in C h a p te r 2 1 th e J e ru s a le m fro m a b o v e c o m in g d o w n . T h a t’s th e fu tu re b u t h e d o e s n ’t d o th a t. H e d o e s n ’t s a y , “ J e ru s a le m to c o m e ” a n d c o n tra s ts it to th e p re s e n t J e ru s a le m . H e s p e a k s o f th e J e ru s a le m a b o v e a n d h e d o e s th a t b e c a u s e th e re is a p a ra lle l re a lity w ith e a rth ly J e ru s a le m a n d it is a c ity to w h ic h w e c a n p re s e n tly b e lo n g. T h a t f u tu re J e ru s a le m th a t is f u tu re to th is e a rth , to its p re s e n c e in th e e a rth is in e x is te n c e n o w . It is a b o v e a n d w h ile w e lo o k f o r w a r d to th a t f u tu r e d a y , w e h a v e a p r e s e n t c o n n e c tio n w ith it n o w . It’s n o t ju s t a fu tu re h o p e . In P h ilip p ia n s 3 :2 0 , P a u l s a y s , “ O u r c itiz e n s h ip p re s e n tly is in H e a v e n .” It d o e s n ’t s a y , “ P re s e n tly ” in th e te x t b u t th a t’s th e s e n s e o f it. R ig h t n o w a s a b e lie v e r in J e s u s C h ris t, y o u r c itiz e n s h ip is in H e a v e n . T h a t’s a p re s e n t re a lity s o , a s b e lie v e rs , w e liv e w ith a ll o f th e p riv ile g e s a n d th e p o w e r o f h e a v e n th o u g h w e liv e h e re o n e a rth a n d th a t J e ru s a le m a b o v e , w h e re C h ris t is , is p re s e n tly p ro d u c in g s p iritu a l c h ild re n th a t a re c h ild re n o f A b ra h a m , s p iritu a l c h ild re n a n d h e irs o f a ll o f th e p ro m is e s g iv e n to A b ra h a m s o th e re a re tw o re a litie s . T h e re a re tw o p a ra lle l w o rld s , o n e n a tu ra l a n d o n e s p iritu a l. T h e re is H a g a r th e b o n d w o m a n a n d S a ra h
- 13 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e f re e w o m a n . T h e re is Is h m a e l w h o h a d a n a tu ra l b irth . T h e re is Is a a c w h o h a d a s u p e rn a tu ra l b irth . T h e re is th e O ld C o v e n a n t o f T h e L a w . T h e re is th e N e w C o v e n a n t o f G ra c e . T h e re is e a rth ly J e ru s a le m , J u d a is m a n d h e a v e n ly J e ru s a le m , C h ris tia n ity . T h e re a re tw o k in d s o f p e o p le in th is w o rld : T h o s e w h o a re o f f a ith a n d f r e e a n d th o s e w h o a r e o f w o r k s a n d e n s la v e d . P au l s u p p o rts th is d iv is io n f ro m S c rip tu re w ith a q u o te in V e rs e 2 7 f ro m Is ia h 5 4 :1 s o th is d iv is io n , th is in te rp re ta tio n o f S a ra h is n ’t s o m e th in g th a t c o m e s o u t o f P a u l’s im a g in a tio n , it’s g ro u n d e d in S c rip tu re . Is a ia h ta u g h t th e s a m e th in g . In th e re , in C h a p te r 5 4 :1 h e fin d s th a t th is s p iritu a l le s s o n in S a ra h th a t g iv e s a p ic tu re o f G o d ’s life g iv in g g ra c e . N o w th is s ta te m e n t th a t h e m a k e s in Is a ia h 5 4 :1 o b v io u s ly f o llo w s I s a ia h 5 3 :1 1 , w h ic h is th e g r e a t d e s c rip tio n , th a t c h a p te r o f Is a ia h 5 3 o f th e s u ff e r in g s e r v a n t. I t’ s a p ic tu r e o f C h r is t a n d h is w o rk o f re d e m p tio n a n d w h a t h e w o u ld d o fo r u s a n d th e re in Is a ia h 5 3 :1 1 h e s a y s : “ M y s e rv a n t, th e M e s s ia h , th e C h ris t, w ill ju s tify th e m a n y a s h e w ill b e a r th e ir in e q u itie s .” H o w w ill b e ju s tif ie d ? H o w c a n a m a n b e ju s t b e f o re G o d ? W e ll, n o t b y h is w o rk s . Is a ia h s a y s it. It’s b y th e w o rk th a t th e M e s s ia h w o u ld d o th e w o rk o f th e s e rv a n t, w h o w ill b e a r th e ir in e q u itie s . G o d w ill ju s tify th e m a n y a s h e s a y s th e re b e c a u s e h e p u n is h e s th e ir s in s in a s u b s titu te . W e ll W e ll, h a v in g s a id th a t a n d b a s e d o n th e w o rk o f re d e m p tio n, Is a ia h th e n w rite s in th a t n e x t c h a p te r, th e n e x t ve rs e s , th e g lo rio u s f u tu r e , h e w r ite s in th a t n e x t c h a p te r , th e n e x t v e r s u s o f th e g lo r io u s f u tu r e , h e w r ite s : “ F o r it is w r itten re jo ic e b a rre n w o m a n w h o d o e s n o t b e a r, b re a k fo rth a n d s h o u t y o u w h o a re in la b o r fo r m o re n u m e ro u s a re th e c h ild re n o f th e d e s o la te th a n o f th e o n e w h o h a s th e h u s b a n d .” It’s a c o n tra s t b e tw e e n H a g a r a n d S a ra h a n d it’s a p ro p h e s y th e re in Is a ia h o f f u tu re b le s s in g f o r Is ra e l. It’s a p ro m is e th a t e th n ic Is ra e l h a s a fu tu re b u t h e re P a u l ta k e s th a t s ta te m e n t o f Is a ia h a n d h e a p p lie s it to th e c h u rc h a s b e in g f u lf ille d in th e c h u rc h w ith g e n tile s a lv a tio n a n d th e re a s o n h e c a n d o th a t is b e c a u s e e v e ry o n e, w h e th e r
- 14 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
it’s J e w o r g e n tile , is s a v e d in th e s a m e w a y b y g ra c e a lo n e , th ro u g h f a ith a lo n e a n d it’ s a lw a y s b e e n th a t w a y a s A b r a h a m is th e p r o o f . F ro m th e b e g in n in g o f tim e to th e e n d th e re ’s o n ly o n e w a y o f s a lv a tio n a n d s o w h e th e r it’s a J e w o r a g e n tile , w h e th e r th e p ro m is e is to Is ra e l o r n o t, it a p p lie s to a ll m e n a n d P a u l d o e s th a t h e re a n d w h a t h e ’s d o in g h e re in th is a p p lic a tio n is th e s a m e th a t h e d o e s in R o m a n s 1 1 :1 1 -2 4 w ith th e p a ra b le o f th e o liv e tre e a n d th e w ild b ra n c h e s , o f th e g e n tile s b e in g g ra f te d in to Is ra e l’s b le s s in g s a n d b o th Is a ia h a n d P a u l m a k e it c le a r th a t th is s a lv a tio n is a ll o f g ra c e . T h e b a rre n o n e , th e o n e w h o h a s n o a b ility w ill h a v e n u m e ro u s c h ild re n ju s t a s S a ra h d id . Is ra e l is b a rre n n o w b u t th e y w ill b e f r u itf u l ju s t a s S a ra h w a s f r u itf u l a n d , in th a t, w e h a v e th e g re a t p rin c ip le o f th is w o rk o f g ra c e . W e ’re s a v e d b y G o d ’s s u p e rn a tu ra l in te rv e n tio n in o u r liv e s . T h a t’s th e le s s o n o f th e tw o w o m e n a n d th e tw o s o n s . It is th e le s s o n o f th e triu m p h o f g ra c e a n d th e f a ilu re o f w o rk s a n d P a u l a p p lie s th a t to th e G a la tia n s in V e rs e 2 8 . H e s a y s : “ Y o u b re th re n , lik e Is a a c , a re c h ild re n o f p ro m is e .” T h e y a re s u p e rn a tu ra l p e o p le . J u s t a s Is a a c w a s b o rn p h y s ic a lly b y d iv in e in te rv e n tio n s o e v e ry b e lie v e r is b o rn s p iritu a lly b y d iv in e in te rv e n tio n a n d s in c e th e ir s p iritu a l b irth w a s lik e Is a a c ’s b irth th e y s h o u ld e x p e c t th a t th e ir liv e s w ill b e Is a a c ’s life a n d Is a a c ’s life w a s a b le s s e d life b e c a u s e it w a s a G o d -g iv e n life a n d w e c a n e x p e c t a s G o d ’s p e o p le to b e b le s s e d b y H im . Y o u h a v e th e b e s t life th a t a n y o n e c o u ld h a v e if y o u a re a b e lie v e r in J e s u s C h ris t a n d a s y o u w a lk b y th e S p irit a n d P a u l w ill g o in to th a t in C h a p te r 5 o f G a la tia n s : “ A s y o u liv e o b e d ie n tly e v e n th o u g h tim e s w ill b e d if f ic u lt, n e v e rth e le s s y o u w i ll liv e th e b e s t lif e th a t c a n b e liv e d a n d G o d w ill b le s s y o u g re a tly ,” a n d s o w e c a n e x p e c t to h a v e Is a a c ’s k in d o f lif e , a b le s s e d lif e , b e c a u s e w e a re th e s a m e a s Is a a c , s u p e rn a tu ra l p e o p le , w e h a v e a s u p e rn a tu ra l b irth b u t Is a a c a ls o h a d a d iffic u lt lif e b e c a u s e h e h a d a b ro th e r w h o p e rs e c u te d h im a n d th a t’s P a u l’s p o in t in V e rs e 2 9 .
- 15 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
W e to o c a n e x p e c t to b e p e rs e c u te d ju s t a s Is a a c w a s b u t a s a t th a t tim e h e w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e f le s h p e rs e c u te d h im w h o w a s b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e S p irit s o it is n o w a ls o . P a u l’s re f e rrin g to th e in c id e n t b a c k in G e n e s is : 2 1 w h e n Is a a c w a s w e a n e d a n d Is h m a e l a t th e a g e o f 1 7 la u g h e d a t h im , m o c k e d h im . It is n a tu ra l f o r th e f le s h to p e r s e c u te th e s p ir it a n d w e s h o u ld e x p e c t th a t th e w o r ld w ill b e h o s tile to w a rd th e c h u rc h . T h e tw o a re fu n d a m e n ta lly d iffe re n t f r o m o n e a n o th e r . T h e L o r d w a s p e r s e c u te d b y th e u n b e lie v in g re lig io u s a n d s e c u la r a u th o ritie s . P a u l w a s p e rs e c u te d a s h a v e G o d ’s p e o p le d o w n th ro u g h th e a g e s . H is to ric a lly , th a t’s m o s t fa m o u s ly s e e n w ith th e s ta te ’s p e rs e c u tio n o f th e c h u rc h a s in a n c ie n t tim e s w ith P a g a n R o m e a n d in m o d e rn tim e s w ith C o m m u n is tic c o u n trie s b u t it h a p p e n s in to le ra n t tim e s a n d p la c e s a s w e ll. It h a p p e n s a t w o rk w h e n c o w o rk e rs o s tra c iz e a C h ris tia n w h o is v o c a l a b o u t h i s o r h e r fa ith . It h a p p e n s in a c a d e m ic in s titu tio n s . A b ra h a m K u y p e r, w h o I q u o te d a t th e b e g in n in g o f o u r le s s o n , w ro te th a t in E u ro p e th e re w e re f e w C h r is tia n s w h o h a d p r o f e s s o r s h ip s o r le c tu r e s h ip s in T h e S c ie n c e s a n d h e c o u ld w rite a b o u t th a t w ith a u th o rity b e c a u s e A b ra h a m K u y p e r w a s n o t o n ly a g re a t th e o lo g ia n b u t h e w a s a n a c a d e m ic ia n . H e w a s g re a t in m a n y w a y s . H e w a s P rim e M in is te r o f H o lla n d . H e p u b lis h e d jo u rn a ls b u t h e w a s a ls o a m a n w h o w a s o f th e A c a d e m y . H e s ta rte d o n e o f th e g re a t u n iv e rs itie s o f H o lla n d , th e F re e U n iv e rs ity o f A m s te rd a m s o h e k n e w a b o u t th e s e th in g s a n d h e m a k e s th e s ta te m e n t th a t f e w C h ris tia n s h a v e p ro f e s s o rs h ip s o r le c tu re s h ip s in S c ie n c e b e c a u s e th o s e w h o a p p o in te d p e o p le to s u c h p o s itio n s a re , a s a ru le , h e w ro te , in c lin e d to e x c lu d e th e s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is a n d th e y e x c lu d e th e m b e c a u s e th e s o n s o f th is e a rth , th e n a tu ra l m a n , d o e s n ’t s e e th in g s th e w a y th e c h ild o f G o d d o e s , th e c h ild o f th e N e w B irth . W e h a v e a d if f e re n t p e rs p e c tiv e f ro m th e w a y o f th e w o rld . In fa c t it’s th e o p p o s ite p e rs p e c tiv e a n d s o th o s e w h o h a v e p o w e r to d o s o e x c lu d e th o s e w h o h a v e a s p iritu a l C h ris tia n p e rs p e c tiv e o n life . N o w h e w ro te th a t o v e r a c e n tu ry a g o . It h a s n ’t c h a n g e d to d a y . In f a c t it’s p ro b a b ly m u c h w o rs e to d a y . T h e W e s t is
- 16 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
s e c u la riz e d a n d h o s tile to w a rd th e s o n s a n d d a u g h te rs o f th e N e w B irth a n d s o w h e n y o u s e n d y o u r s o n s o r y o u r d a u g h te rs o ff to c o lle g e d o n ’t e x p e c t th e m to g e t a C h ris tia n e d u c a tio n . Y o u ’re re a lly s e n d in g th e m to w h a t is g e n e ra lly a h o s tile p la c e f o r th e f a ith s o w e s h o u ld n ’t b e s u rp ris e d b y th a t. T h a t’s th e n a tu re o f th in g s . T h a t’s w h a t P a u l is s a y in g h e re a n d th a t’s w h a t P a u l to ld T im o th y in 2 T im o th y 3 :1 2 : “ A n d in d e e d a ll w h o d e s ire to liv e g o d ly in C h ris t J e s u s w ill b e p e rs e c u te d .” Is a a c is a lw a y s m o c k e d a n d p e rs e c u te d b y Is h m a e l. T h o s e w h o f o llo w le g a lis m , th e re lig io n o f re d e m p tio n b y h u m a n e f f o rt, th e re lig io n o f s a lv a tio n b y w o rk s w ill a lw a y s o p p o s e g ra c e b e c a u s e th e y w a n t to p o in t to th e ir o w n a c h ie v e m e n ts a n d g ra c e s trip s th e m o f th a t s o th e y p e rs e c u te th o s e o f g ra c e a n d th e y d o it in v a rio u s w a y s b u t h e re , a s in th e c o n te x t o f th e G a la tia n s it is b y try in g to b rin g p e o p le u n d e r th e b o n d a g e o f T h e L a w a n d th e le g a lis tic s y s te m . T h e re a re e s s e n tia lly tw o re lig io n s in th e w o rld . O n e o f la w a n d o n e o f g ra c e , o n e o f w o rk s a n d o n e o f fa ith a n d th e tw o c a n n o t b e m ix e d , th e y c a n n o t liv e to g e th e r, th e y c a n n o t b e to le ra te d a n d s o P a u l g iv e s th e G a la tia n s s o m e d e c is iv e in s tru c tio n in V e rs e 3 0 : “ S in c e th e y a re lik e Is a a c , th e y m u s t f o llo w th e c o u n s e l o f h is m o th e r a n d g e t rid o f th e le g a lis ts .” T h a t’s th e c o m m a n d o f S c rip tu re b u t w h a t d o e s T h e S c rip tu re s a y , P a u l a s k s ? “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n fo r th e s o n o f th e b o n d w o m a n s h a ll n o t b e a n h e ir w ith th e s o n o f th e f r e e w o m a n .” S a r a h ’ s a c tio n to u s m a y s e e m h a rs h p a rtic u la rly a s w e g o b a c k in to G e n e s is a n d c o n s id e r it b u t it w a s n e c e s s a ry . Is h m a e l w a s a d a n g e r to Is a a c a n d to th e fa m ily o f p ro m is e . H e w a s a d a n g e r to th e W o rk o f G o d a n d th e W o rk o f S a lv a tio n . Is a a c w a s Is h m a e l’s riv a l a n d h e w o u ld ’v e o v e rth ro w n h im w h e n h e h a d th e o p p o rtu n ity a n d S a ra h re c o g n iz e d th a t. H e r ju d g m e n t w a s o f G o d a n d h e re , b y a p p lic a tio n to th e G a la tia n s s itu a tio n , a ll w a s g iv in g G o d ’s ju d g m e n t o n le g a lis ts . T h e y c o u ld n o t liv e w ith m e n o f fa ith , th e tw o c a n n o t b e m ix e d . P e o p le o f f a ith c a n n o t to le ra te le g a lis m b e c a u s e th o s e o f th is le g a lis tic b e n t w ill s e e k to u n d e rm in e G o d ’s w o rk a s th o s e J u d a iz e rs
- 17 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w e re d o in g in G a la tia n s s o , h e s a y s , th e y ’re to b e th ro w n o u t. T h e re ’s n o m id d le g ro u n d . N o w w e s h o u ld b e c le a r a n d I m e n tio n th is b e c a u s e it’s v e ry e a s y a t th is p o in t in o n e ’s th in k in g o r in a s tu d y o f s u c h th in g s to d ra w a w ro n g im p lic a tio n a b o u t g ra c e a n d th e m e a n in g o f le g a lis m . L e g a lis m d o e s n o t m e a n th e re c o g n itio n o f s p iritu a l s ta n d a rd s o r ru le s . T h e N e w T e s ta m e n t is fille d w ith ru le s a n d e x a m p le s fo r u s to fo llo w a n d g e n u in e b e lie v e rs d o th a t. G e n u in e b e lie v e rs o b e y . T h a t’s a s ig n a n d e v id e n c e th a t w e a re g e n u in e ly b o rn a g a in b e c a u s e w e lo n g to b e p le a s in g to G o d , w e h a v e a h e a rt th a t d e s ire s to b e o b e d ie n t a n d w e f o llo w th e r u le s o f S c r ip tu r e . W e liv e o b e d ie n t liv e s . L e g a lis m is n o t th e re c o g n itio n o f ru le s . L e g a lis m is th e b e lie f th a t it is b y f o llo w in g ru le s in o u r s tre n g th in o u r o w n a b ility th a t w e g a in G o d ’s fa v o r, th a t w e w in h is a p p ro v a l, th a t w e o b ta in s a lv a tio n . W e d o it b y ru le k e e p in g . W e d o it b y c e re m o n ie s . T h a t is c o m p le te ly c o n tra ry to g ra c e . T h a t is a d e n ia l o f T h e G o s p e l s o P a u l s a y s , “ C a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n a n d h e r s o n .” T h e n h e c o n c lu d e s b y s u m m a riz in g h is a rg u m e n t in V e rs e 3 1 : “ S o th e n b re th re n w e a re n o t c h ild re n o f a b o n d w o m a n b u t o f th e fre e w o m a n .” B e lie v e rs in J e s u s C h ris t a re n o t u n d e r T h e L a w . W e a re fre e fro m th e L a w o f M o s e s th ro u g h C h ris t a n d P a u l w a s te llin g th e G a la tia n s th a t th a t w a s tru e o f th e m ; th e y ’re f re e f ro m T h e L a w . T h e y ’re s o n s o f th e f re e w o m a n s o th e y ’re to liv e a s f re e p e o p le . T h e re a re o n ly tw o k in d s o f p e o p le in th e w o rld . W e c a n d e s c rib e th e m in a n u m b e r o f w a y s : A s th e fre e a n d th e e n s la v e d , a s b e lie v e rs a n d n o n -b e lie v e rs , c h ild re n o f G o d a n d c h ild re n o f T h e D e v il b u t w h a t d iv id e s th e w o rld in to tw o g ro u p s is th e g ra c e o f G o d . W e a re a ll e ith e r th e s o n s o f p a lin g e n e s is o r th e c h ild re n o f n a tu ra l g e n e s is . A t th e e n d o f C h a p te r 3 , P a u l c a lls b e lie v e rs A b ra h a m ’s d e c e d e n ts , h e irs a c c o rd in g to p ro m is e . It is n o t n a tu ra l b irth th a t m a k e s a p e rs o n A b ra h a m ’s s p iritu a l o f f s p rin g a n d h e ir, it is g ra c e , a n d Is a a c is th e g re a t illu s tra tio n o f th a t. H e w a s b o rn b y G o d ’s p o w e r, b o rn a c c o rd in g to th e s p irit, a c c o rd in g to V e rs e 2 9 a n d th e C h ris tia n is
- 18 "Two Kinds of People" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
b o rn o f th e s p irit, a c c o rd in g to J o h n 3 :1 -7 : “ T h a t w h ic h is b o rn o f th e f le s h is f le s h , th a t w h ic h is b o r n o f th e s p ir it is s p ir it.” N ic o d e m u s c a m e to O u r L o rd th a t n ig h t w ith th e q u e s tio n in h is m in d , “ W h a t m u s t I d o to in h e rit th e K in g d o m o f G o d ” a n d b e f o r e h e e v e r s p o k e it, J e s u s g a v e h im th e a n s w e r. H e s a w it in h is m in d . H e re a d h is th o u g h ts a n d h e s a id , “ Y o u m u s t b e b o rn a g a in .” Y o u c a n n o t h a v e it n a tu ra lly . It h a s n o th in g to d o w ith y o u r n a tu ra l b irth .
Y o u h a v e to b e b o rn a g a in
to e n te r th e K i n g d o m o f G o d . T h a t is h o w s a lv a tio n o c c u rs . It is b y g ra c e th ro u g h fa ith a n d th e re s u lt is jo y . T h e fru it o f th a t b le s s e d re la tio n s h ip th a t G o d g a v e to A b ra h a m a n d S a ra h w a s Is a a c w h o s e n a m e m e a n s “ la u g h te r.” H e b ro u g h t jo y to h is p a re n ts a n d s a lv a tio n b rin g s jo y to u s . T h e L a w c a n ’t g iv e th a t. L if e a n d jo y a re f o u n d in C h ris t a n d w e h a v e C h ris t th ro u g h f a ith a lo n e s o h a v e y o u b e lie v e d in H im ? I f y o u h a v e , th e n r e jo ic e . Y o u h a v e b e e n b o rn a g a in . Y o u a re a s o n o f p a lin g e n e s is , o f th e N e w B irth . Y o u h a v e e te rn a l life . If y o u ’v e n o t b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t th e n lo o k to h im , c a s t o u t th e b o n d w o m a n , th ro u g h o f f T h e L a w , tu rn a w a y f ro m e v e ry id e a o f s a v in g y o u rs e lf b y y o u r o w n e f f o rt. B e lie v e in th e L o rd J e s u s C h ris t a n d y o u w ill b e s a v e d . M a y G o d h e lp y o u to d o th a t a n d m a y H e h e lp a ll o f u s to u n d e rs ta n d H is g ra c e a n d re jo ic e in th e g re a t g if t o f lif e th a t H e h a s g iv e n to u s f re e ly in H is S o n . L e t’s p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k y o u f o r th is g re a t s to ry , th is a lle g o ry th a t P a u l g iv e s u s , th is e x p la n a tio n o f th e s e e v e n ts th a t o c c u rre d in a n c ie n t tim e s b u t a re re le v a n t to d a y ju s t a s th e y w e re th e n a re tim e le s s tru th s th a t th e re a re ju s t tw o k in d s o f p e o p le : T h o s e w h o h a v e a n a tu ra l b irth a n d th o s e w h o h a v e a s p iritu a l b irth a n d w e h a v e s p iritu a l b irth b y y o u r g ra c e a lo n e a n d w e th a n k y o u th a t s a lv a tio n f r o m th e f ir s t d a y to th e la s t d a y is th e s a m e w a y . I t’ s th r o u g h y o u r g ra c e a n d fa ith in C h ris t. W e th a n k y o u f o r s e n d in g H im f o r h is d e a th f o r u s a n d to H is n a m e w e p r a y . A m e n .
