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What does the allegory of Hagar and Sarah represent?

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Hagar and Sarah represent the distinction between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace.

The allegory of Hagar and Sarah found in Galatians 4:21-31 illustrates the contrasting covenants of works and grace. Hagar represents the old covenant, based on human effort and the flesh, while Sarah represents the new covenant of grace, which is dependent on God’s promise and miraculous provision. Paul emphasizes that the son of the bondwoman (Ishmael) cannot inherit with the son of the free woman (Isaac), reinforcing the principle that salvation cannot co-mingle with works. This allegory serves as a powerful reminder of our complete dependence on God’s grace and the necessity of casting away any reliance on our own efforts for salvation.
Scripture References: Galatians 4:21-31, Genesis 21:10-12

Sermons (1)

Born Free
Henry Mahan · Nov 7, 1982
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