Continued from yesterday
There is a phrase in Hebrews 12:27 that I want us to focus in on today. "The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain."
Thinking back to 9/11, the first few weeks that followed were quite amazing and intriguing in two ways. First, of all the devastation itself was, and truthfully at some level still is, simply overwhelming. We thought then that It would take months, if not years, before everything could be restored to what it once was (I'm not sure it will ever really happen). Secondly is the church’s response to what has happened.
Let’s first talk about the shakable kingdom. Verse 27 calls the shakable kingdom those things that have been created (by man). The world that man has created is capable of caving in at any second. (At that statement we can all think of the recent earthquakes and their devastation.) Anything that is wood, hay, or stubble, anything that is flesh and bone, has the potential of being destroyed at a moment’s notice. The only thing that will last for eternity is God’s Unshakable Kingdom.
Now, let's to look at what the Bible says about these two things. Galatians 4:22-31 "…Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry loud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman."
These verses talk of two types of births: one by the flesh (ordinary way), one by the promise (Spirit). Contextually it’s dealing with the difference between the law and grace. The one born in the ordinary way is the one trying to find his way into the Kingdom of God through keeping the law. The one born according to the promise is talking about the one who has been born of the Spirit into the Kingdom of God.
Paul even says (in verse 24) that the reference to the two women, Sarah and Hagar, can be taken figuratively. In other words, these two women represent the difference between the law and grace. Hagar is the law, Sarah is grace. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael: Ishmael represents the end result of man trying to do things in his own flesh. He was not born of the Spirit. God had promised Abraham that he would have a son, but as time passed and no son was born, Sarah suggested that Abraham take her maid, Hagar, and have a son by her. Abraham did just that and Ishmael was born but Ishmael was not the promise that God gave Abraham. Eventually God gave Abraham a son through Sarah, which was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. She gave birth to Isaac. So we have Isaac and Ishmael, step brothers. Isaac represents the promise of the Spirit, Ishmael represents the Law.
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