Pastor Chuck Smith points to the apostle Paul’s description of Abraham’s children, Ishmael and Isaac, to show us that we can be spiritually free. Learn more in this installment of our series based on Chuck’s book, Why Grace Changes Everything.

Painting the Picture

When Paul wanted to bolster his case for righteousness by grace through faith, he pointed his readers back to the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. He said the story of Abraham contained an allegory that could make his point clear.

Traditionally, rabbis of Paul's time held that there were primarily two interpretations for every page of the Scriptures. The first, called the peshat, referred to the plain and obvious meaning of the text. They also held that there was a hidden meaning to each passage, the remez. Some rabbis held to two additional types of interpretation: the derash, which involved allegorical meanings and anything not literal; and the sod (“secret”), which yielded an allegorical meaning. The drawback to these complex and often contradictory schools of thought is that they leave the average person confused and doubtful about the message of Scripture.

I believe the best focus is the plain and obvious meaning of the text. God is entirely capable of saying exactly what He means to say. So many have strayed from the clear teaching of the Bible by pursuing spiritualized, fanciful interpretations of Scripture. Let's face it: with enough spiritualizing, we can take something as innocuous as Old Mother Hubbard and develop a tremendous sermon out of that tale. Think of the deep spiritual implications of this old woman who went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone. Why, we can picture her, trapped in the desolation, discouragement, and emptiness of life because the cupboard was bare. What a tragic day when all our resources are gone!

With a little imagination, we can create doctrinal mountains out of the smallest molehill. The best rule of thumb, then, is to avoid allegorical interpretations unless Scripture itself gives us the basis for the allegory. In this case, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul draws an allegorical implication from the life of Abraham, which can be trusted:

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid [Hagar], the other by a freewoman [Sarah]. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar [Hagar] is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Galatians 4:22-31, KJV

Follow along in our next installment as Pastor Chuck discusses how the events in Abraham’s life illustrate the plight of those who try to inherit the blessings of God through works.

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