What does the Bible say about the bondmaid and the freewoman in Galatians?
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The bondmaid represents the law and bondage, while the freewoman represents grace and freedom through the promise of God.
In Galatians 4, Paul uses the allegory of the bondmaid and the freewoman to illustrate the two covenants: the covenant of works represented by Hagar (the bondmaid) and the covenant of grace represented by Sarah (the freewoman). The bondmaid's offspring, born after the flesh, symbolizes life under the law, which brings bondage. Conversely, the freewoman's offspring, born through divine promise, symbolizes the grace of God that leads to freedom and eternal life. This stark representation underscores the impossibility of coexisting under law and grace, where acceptance from God comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law on behalf of His people.
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