Renewing Your Mind Podcast: "Hagar and Sarah" (Feb 8, 2026) — Episode Summary

Episode Theme and Purpose

This episode, featuring the late Dr. R.C. Sproul, is the concluding sermon in a series on Galatians 4. The central focus is Paul's allegory of Hagar and Sarah, used to contrast slavery under the law with the freedom found in the promise of the Gospel. Dr. Sproul explores the deeper meaning behind Paul's message to the Galatians, emphasizing the significance of Christian liberty, the human condition under sin, and the transformative power of God’s promise.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Context: Returning to the Law (00:00–01:19)

• Paul addresses the Galatians who were being convinced by false teachers to turn back to the Jewish law as a means of earning God's favor.
• Dr. Sproul frames Paul’s challenge: "Do you want to be the child of slavery or the child of promise?" (00:08)

2. Exegesis of Galatians 4: Allegory Explained (01:19–08:00)

• Dr. Sproul reads Paul’s allegory: Abraham had two sons, one "by a slave woman and one by a free woman" (01:19).
• Paul interprets this story allegorically: the two women symbolize two covenants—Hagar representing slavery under the law, Sarah representing freedom through God’s promise.
• "These women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children of slavery. She is Hagar... But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother." (01:19–02:28)
• The historical narrative of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is retold, highlighting that Ishmael (Hagar’s son) is of flesh and slavery; Isaac (Sarah’s son) is of promise.

3. Freedom vs. Slavery: Repeating Old Patterns (02:29–06:00)

• Sproul compares the Galatians’ desire to return to the law with both an ex-convict seeking the familiarity of prison and the Israelites nostalgic for slavery in Egypt.
• Notable moment: "Can you imagine somebody just getting out of jail and wants to go back? Well, this is what Paul is saying to the Galatians." (02:48)
• Israel's complaint in the desert is likened to Christians forsaking their freedom for the comfort of legalism.

4. Biblical and Philosophical Reflections on Human Freedom (06:01–13:30)

• Discussion on freedom and slavery recurs in both Scripture and Western philosophy (e.g., quoting Rousseau: "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains").
• Sproul disagrees: "I agree with half of Rousseau’s assessment... But I don’t believe that we are born free. Lions may be born free, but human beings are not born free." (08:04)
• The doctrine of original sin is discussed, referencing Jonathan Edwards’ writings to assert human beings' inherent bondage to sin.
• Quote: "If we were all born free from any inherited corruption, wouldn’t you suppose that at least 50% of the population would remain perfect and sinless?" (10:50)

5. Jonathan Edwards and Free Will (13:31–17:45)

• Sproul explains Edwards’ distinction between natural ability (ability to choose) and moral ability (capacity to choose God).
• "We have the natural ability to make choices... what we don’t have is the moral ability to choose the things of God. By nature, we’re in moral slavery, and only God can set us free." (15:41)
• The concept that choices are always determined by the strongest inclination at the moment.
• Memorable analogy: Root canal story—choosing pain because it’s less bad than the alternative (16:53).
• "You have never made a choice to do anything in your life that you didn’t want to do." (18:37)

6. Real Freedom in the Gospel (17:46–22:00)

• The path to true freedom is not through human effort or the law, but through embracing the promise of the Gospel.
• "More people willingly choose slavery than freedom. But you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise." (20:10)
• Paul’s timeless warning: Those who are born "according to the flesh" persecute those "born according to the Spirit."

7. Practical Challenge: What Do You Do With Your Guilt? (22:01–22:50)

• Sproul recounts witnessing in apologetics, highlighting the universal sense of guilt.
• "What do you do with your guilt? You can rationalize it, you can deny it, or you can have it forgiven. The only answer to the law is the promise." (22:23)
• Emphasizes that legalism cannot remove guilt—only the promise of Christ can.

8. Conclusion: Children of the Free Woman (22:51–24:06)

• Paul’s instruction to "cast out the slave woman and her son" is a call to reject legalism and embrace inheritance as children of the promise.
• "We are not children of the slave, but of the free woman. That’s what the Gospel is all about. Slavery or freedom—and our inheritance is... in the heavenly Jerusalem as children of the Promised." (23:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On returning to bondage:
  "Can you imagine somebody just getting out of jail and wants to go back? Well, this is what Paul is saying to the Galatians." — R.C. Sproul (02:48)
• On Rousseau and original sin:
  "Lions may be born free, but human beings are not born free." — R.C. Sproul (08:15)
• On universal depravity:
  "The universality of the fallen human condition screams from natural reason for an explanation." — R.C. Sproul (11:12)
• On wanting to choose God:
  "You can choose God if you want to, but not if you don't want to, because in one sense, we're doomed by our freedom." — R.C. Sproul (16:33)
• On guilt:
  "What do you do with your guilt? You can rationalize it, you can deny it, or you can have it forgiven. And the only answer to the law is the promise." — R.C. Sproul (22:23)
• On spiritual inheritance:
  "We are not children of the slave, but of the free woman... our inheritance is... in the heavenly Jerusalem as children of the Promised." — R.C. Sproul (23:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction: Legalism vs. Promise
• 01:19 – Reading and unpacking Galatians 4
• 02:48 – Analogy: Prisoner who prefers bondage
• 06:01 – Israelites longing for Egypt; freedom vs. slavery in Scripture
• 08:04 – Rousseau and original sin
• 13:31 – Jonathan Edwards’ view on will and ability
• 16:53 – Root canal analogy: Choosing by strongest inclination
• 20:10 – Spiritual inheritance and identity
• 22:23 – The heart of the Gospel: What do you do with your guilt?
• 23:40 – Closing: Rejecting legalism, embracing freedom

Tone and Delivery

Dr. Sproul blends scholarly depth with relatable stories and clear illustrations, using both personal anecdotes and historical references to clarify Paul's teaching. The overall tone is pastoral, warm, and urgent, challenging listeners to examine whether they live as children of the free woman or slaves to the law.

Summary:
In this deeply thoughtful episode, Dr. R.C. Sproul urges believers to reject the temptation of legalism and embrace the freedom found in God’s promise, skillfully using biblical narrative, philosophy, and practical life questions to drive home the eternal contrast between slavery to the law and liberty in Christ.