NEW RELATIONSHIPS
NEW RELATIONSHIPS
Abraham is our father, but we are begotten through Sarah, that is, the new covenant. We are begotten of the gospel. But there is another point brought in with Isaac; we are begotten of God’s purpose, being children of promise. Isaac was the true seed of Abraham according to God’s purpose and promise. It is what God brings in, we are begotten of His will. At the end of God’s ways the children of the flesh will disappear and the children of promise alone remain. Ishmael was cast out and Isaac had his place in Abraham’s house. Ishmael represents the [p. 501] man that did not rejoice, but mocked at the sovereign mercy of God. Mercy is the ground on which God establishes everything, there is no other ground when man is lost. So Michal was like Ishmael, despising David in her heart; the sure mercies of God were with David.
It is wonderful how God sets forth His ways. In Abraham another city and country came into view. In Sarah, the new covenant, we have Christ glorified and Jerusalem above presented to us, and then we have the Spirit come down to make good God’s purpose. When the Spirit came the children of God became manifest. We are governed by what we look at. If we look at Christ glorified and the world to come (and that is faith) we are governed by it, and faith works by love, love is the expression of faith.