Children of Grace, not Law

"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." (Galatians 4: 30)

In the third and fourth chapters of Galatians, Paul explains the role of the law, which kept the Israelites under bondage, under guardianship, until the  fullness of time, when Jesus came, bringing an end to the Old Covenant and establishing the New Covenant in His blood.

So, if the law was meant primarily for the Israelites, then what purpose does it serve afterwards?

None. Once the law has brought you to the end of yourself, showing you that you are in sin, born dead in trespasses, and you cry out for a Savior, then the law has done its job, and you no longer need it.

Paul illustrates this transition from the account in Genesis:

"21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4: 21-25)

The bondwoman, through whom Abraham had his first son Ishmael, was an arrogant slave who had to be disciplined by Sarah after being told to submit to her mistress.

When Isaac, the child of promise, was born, Sarah was clear as crystal: Cast out the bondwoman!

She had to go, since the first son was mocking and harassing the younger son, as is the case to this day, when Christians go from living under law to under grace:

"28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." (Galatians 4: 28-29)

Because we are born after the Spirit, dead to the law (Romans 7: 4-7), not only do we not need the law, but any thought of allowing the law to remain in our lives should offend us greatly!

We are children of promise, children of grace, not law, and thus the law can have no place in our lives once we have come to faith in all that Christ has done for us.