ABRAHAM AND THE GENTILE 71

The last reference to Abraham in this epistle cuts the deepest into the national pride and fleshly advantage of the

circumcision. `Abraham had two sons'. Which are you? The one is related to the bondage of law, the other to the

freedom of gospel; the one is connected with the flesh, the other with spirit; the one is the Jerusalem which now is,

the other is the Jerusalem which is above. The persecutors are the Ishmaels, the persecuted are the Isaacs. Abraham

certainly had two sons, and the Galatians were exhorted to discriminate. By observing the structure of the epistle at

this point, it will be seen that flesh versus spirit, and bondage versus liberty, are the key words of the two great

A 1:1 to 2:14.  Apostolic authority and gospel.- Salvation.

B 2:15 to 4:12.

Doctrine.  Faith v Works.

Liberty v Bondage.

B 4:13 to 6:16.

Spirit v Flesh.

Liberty v Bondage.

The marks of the Lord Jesus.- Benediction.

The relation between liberty of doctrine and faith, and liberty of practice and spirit, is strongly marked in John 8

where the two sons of Abraham are indicated; see verses 32,33,37,39,40,41,44,59. When we come to Romans 4 we

shall find the apostle adding the one item which completely broke the fleshly pride of the circumcision. Abraham

was blessed by God before circumcision:

`And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being

uncircumcised: that he might be the father of ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY BE NOT CIRCUMCISED'

(Rom. 4:11).

Not only so, Abraham is the father of the Jew who is not merely of the circumcision:

`... but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had BEING YET UNCIRCUMCISED'

(Rom. 4:12).

It will not be possible, in our allotted space, to give a lengthy exposition of each epistle. We propose supplying

the reader with such outlines as will, if used, lead on to the understanding of the epistle. The large outline has

already been given. Apart from the great question of the apostolic authority of Paul, the argument revolves around

circumcision, and its relation to faith and works; flesh and spirit; liberty and bondage. The Structure also of

Galatians 2:14 has been given. The essential point of the remainder of the chapters can be discovered along the lines

suggested as follows:

Statement of doctrine.

Argument. Absurdity.

Explanation of doctrine.

Argument. Illogical.

This can be traced out by noticing the sequence of thought, thus:

A 16. a Knowing ... a man not justified.

b By works of law.

c But by faith of Jesus Christ.

c Even we ... by faith of Christ.

b Not by works of law.

a No flesh justified.

If, while we seek to be justified.

We ourselves found sinners.

Then Christ is the minister of sin!