Galatians 4:29-30 Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman

Galatians 4:29-30 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

The Judaizers, just like Ishmael, who were natural Jews and so tried to live by the letter, not the Spirit of the Law, persecuted and harassed the fledgling Church. This persecution was both physical, with beatings, imprisonments, and murders, as well as in reference to their religion. The Church was not under the legalistic system of keeping holidays and circumcision, but were living by faith in Christ. They were to live by faith, not by sight.(2 Corinthians 5:7). Their hope was to be in the Kingdom to come, not the present condition.

This harassment on religious issues was confusing and deceiving many of the Galatians, and thus they turned back to the system of the Law. This was not to be the case, however. The whole system of the Judaizers was to be done away with. They were to “cast out the bondwoman and her son.” Both the system and those who adhered to it were to be distinguished from and removed from the Church. The Church is new wine and thus is to be put in new wineskins. The old wineskins of Judaism were to be done away with so that both the Church and its gospel will be preserved (Matthew 9:17). The Judaizers were not to be listened to and were not to have fellowship with the Christians. They are not heirs of the Kingdom; only Christians are.

Legalists today are just as relentless to get you to follow their systems, dear Christians. They will seek to make you slaves once again right along with them. They are those who seek to merit the favor of God and seek to cleanse themselves of sin on their own power, not by the power of Christ to break the bonds of sin. They will harass you for your adherence to the gospel and will seek to deceive you out of your hope.

Today, brothers and sisters, many are calling for us to be pluralistic: accepting all religions as equal. We are told to accept the Jew, the Muslim, and the Hindu (and all other religions) as our brothers and as equal, or at least sufficient ways to God. We are told to accept them as coheirs in the Kingdom of God. We are told to treat them just the same as we would a believer. This, however, is not the case. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Such lies are from Satan, seeking to deceive both Christians and those of the other religions. For if Christians believe this, they will see no need to evangelize the other religions and bring them into the family of God in Christ; and further, those who are of the other religions believe this, they will not see their need of coming to Christ.

Brothers and sisters, “cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall be an heir with the son of the free woman.” Do not kick them out of the pews on Sunday morning. Rather, do not fellowship with them as you would other believers. Do not offer them the sacraments and do not seek them for ministry partners or for accountability. Further, do not allow them membership in the local church. They are not to have a say in the ordeals of the church. They are not heirs, so do not treat them as if they are. Treat them with love as you should any unbeliever, and seek to proselytize them.