"The people or the church of the new testament is completely without law so far as its conscience is concerned. Therefore, in the sight of the world she appears to be deserted. But even though she appears barren, without law or works, yet in the eyes of God it is very prolific, giving birth to an infinite number of sons, and free ones at that. How? Not through the husband Law but through the Word and the Spirit of Christ, given through the gospel, it conceives, bears, and rears its sons.
"With this allegory Paul clearly shows the distinction between law and gospel (Gal 4:28-31). First, when he calls Hagar the old testament and Sarah the new. Next, when he calls one a servant woman and the other a free woman. Finally, when he says that the one who has a husband and is prolific will grow ill and will be cast out of the house with her sons, but that the one who is barren and desolate will become prolific and will produce an infinite number of sons, all of whom will be heirs.
These are the essential differences between faith and the law. The people of faith does not have the law as its husband; it is not in slavery; it was not born of the present Jerusalem as its mother. But it has the promise; it is free; and it is born of Sarah, the free woman."
Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians, loc. cit.
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