EXAMPLE #1: “Types & Shadows” (repeats)
CHILDREN OF PROMISE vs. CHILDREN OF LAW: Galatians 4:21-22 “Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.”
Abraham’s marriages were a “type” or “shadow” of COVENANTS. If you thought Abraham only represented a “chosen bloodline,” not determined by faith, but solely on race, then you do not understand the Bible.
Why do you think Abraham had 2 WIVES? God was demonstrating and teaching Abraham what “covenant” or a “marriage contract” was all about. Hagar represented the Old Covenant and Sarah represented the New Covenant. Of course, Abraham, Hagar & Sarah were real people. I am not saying they weren’t. Rather, I am emphasizing how even our lives like theirs could be used in a symbolic way for something greater. {This is the journey of FAITH that many will discover.}
Galatians 4:24 “These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants.”
Did you know that even today, those who claim to be Christians are in 2 camps as well? Those who are married to Hagar and those who are married to Sarah ~ figuratively speaking here. *You following me?
There are millions of Christians who believe that God has a racial preference over people groups because they do not see nor understand the usage of “types” and “shadows” in the Bible. “Types” and “shadows” are universal and can withstand time because these are ARCHETYPES of important truths that God wants to teach humanity throughout the ages. Thus, “types” and “shadows” can repeat throughout history. The Bible uses it then, and we can apply it today.
Let’s go back to Hagar & Sarah. Those who believe that God has a chosen race of people that he favors and must give land back to or that they have a special place in God’s Kingdom over other races are those who still are living under the Old Covenant.
Those who believe that everyone is now “chosen” or “special” because we come through the bloodline of Jesus are believers who not only understand the New Covenant but live in it every day.
If you are confused over the story of Abraham in the Old Testament, then any confusion should be made crystal clear by the writings of Paul. He draws very distinct lines from Abraham’s marriages to drive it home: NO BLOODLINE OR TRIBE OR LAND OR RACE is favored over another by God. What remains is by grace, through faith, in Christ! (Eph. 2:8-9)
The Old Covenant is dead since 2000 years ago. How can anyone live in it anymore? The New Covenant is alive forevermore!
Galatians 3: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Romans 4:13 “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Galatians 3:7 “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”
What other “types & shadows” do you see in the Bible?