Page 54 - Laying Down the Law

Hagar

n the preceding chapters I have set forth a panoramic view of Yahweh’s plan to
Ibring forth mature spiritual sons and daughters. I have labored to show the place
of the Law in God’s plan of the ages. Man was not created sinful, nor did Yahweh
intend for man to remain perpetually enslaved to sin. The Law would not always be
needed to serve as a restraint upon carnal people. Yahweh has determined to have
sons and daughters who share His divine nature.
A great leap forward in the divine plan occurred when Christ sent forth His
Spirit to indwell man. Yahshua declared to His disciples:

John 16:7-8
“It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will
not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has
come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

One cannot put too much emphasis on the words, “It is to your advantage...” The
Greek word translated into English as “advantage” is “sumphero.” It is derived from
two root words that mean “to gather together, as if to collect.” What Christ was
expressing to His disciples is that they would reap an increase; they would be
abundantly supplied; they would be greatly enlarged and improved in every way,
when Christ sent forth the Holy Spirit unto them.
What man has gained through receiving the Holy Spirit is beyond measure.
Those who were dead in their trespasses and sins, were made alive. Those who were
formless (lacking the image of God) and void (lacking the indwelling Spirit of God)
were fashioned into a new creation.

II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new.

It was truly a vain work for any man to attempt to arrive at Yahweh’s desire to
have offspring in His image through works of the flesh. The flesh profits nothing. The
best we can do in our own strength is unacceptable in the eyes of the Father. Our
attempts to arrive at the promises of God are mirrored in the life of Abraham.
Abraham earnestly desired a son in his image, one who sprang from his own
loins. When Abraham was unable to acquire such a son through his wife Sarah, he
went into his wife’s handmaid Hagar in an attempt to produce that which his soul
greatly desired. Ishmael was the fruit of this fleshly work, and Yahweh had no regard
for him. God has given us this testimony from Abraham’s life to reveal important
matters pertaining to the Law.