Born Free

River Church Sermons

Let Freedom Ring

Pt. 6: Born Free

By Louie Marsh, 7-7-2025

Last slide – now I’m expensive

Allegory:

noun

1. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
2. A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's Moby-Dick are allegories.
3. A symbolic representation

Examples: “I shot the Rabbit of hope with my gun of despair!” For instance, a crooked banker might symbolize greed, while the character of Mr. Legality in the allegory Pilgrim's Progress symbolizes a viewpoint that prioritizes the law over faith in Jesus Christ.

Changed into his likeness book.

“21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?” (Galatians 4:21, BSB)

1) The Historical Choice: two SONS.

“22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. (Galatians 4:22, BSB)

· Ismael – the son of a SLAVE.

23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,.. (Galatians 4:23a, BSB)

· Isaac – the son of a FREE woman.

23…but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.” (Galatians 4:22–23, BSB)

2) The Allegorical Choice: Two RELIGIONS.

“24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants… (Galatians 4:24a BSB)

· Old Covenant – a religion of BONDAGE to the Law.

One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children… (Galatians 4:24b–25, BSB)

· New Covenant – a religion of authentic FREEDOM.

. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”” (Galatians 4:25–27, BSB)

3) The Personal Choice – Two WAYS to live.

“28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:28–31, BSB)

· I can trust in MYSELF.

· Or I can trust in JESUS.