Sources & further reading
This topic is drawn from a sermon and Scripture. Watch and read for yourself — "they searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).
The sermon
- Primary · Sermon
"The Two Covenants in Galatians 4" by Henry Marte — a walk through Paul's argument in Galatians, following the central theme that justification is by God's grace through faith. Marte divides Galatians into personal (ch. 1–2), doctrinal (ch. 3–4), and practical (ch. 5–6), then unpacks the Hagar/Sarah allegory of the two covenants — concluding they are "not a matter of time, but of condition" of the heart.
Watch the sermon (YouTube) - Cited in the sermon E.J. Waggoner, exposition on Galatians (1888–1890s era) — source of the key statement: "the two covenants are not a matter of time, but of condition." Marte also references A.T. Jones and the 1888 message period.
- Cited in the sermon a well-known Christian author — Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 371–372 ("feeling that they were able to establish their own righteousness… all that the Lord hath said we will do"); and the "ropes of sand" image (cf. Christ's Object Lessons, p. 159: "Without the new heart… resolutions and efforts… like ropes of sand"). These works are free and searchable online.
Key Scripture passages
- Scripture · The allegory Galatians 4:22–31 (Hagar & Sarah, the two covenants) · Galatians 1:6–9 ("another gospel")
- Scripture · The two promises Exodus 19:8 (man's promise) · Ezekiel 36:26–27 (God's promise — the new heart) · Hebrews 8:6 (better covenant, better promises)
- Scripture · New Covenant before Sinai Genesis 26:5 (Abraham kept God's laws) · Genesis 17:7 (everlasting covenant) · John 8:56 (Abraham "saw my day")
- Scripture · The two lives Galatians 5:19–24 (works of the flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit) · Exodus 20:1–3 (deliverance first) · 2 Corinthians 13:5 (examine yourselves)
Related topics on this site
- Companion Righteousness — the same narrow road between cheap grace and legalism, framed as two ditches.
- Companion Christ Our Righteousness (Pastor Bill Lehman) — gift-righteousness in depth.
- Contrast — the legalism ditch Last Generation Theology — the furthest extreme of the Old Covenant. See how it relates.
Sam says
A note on sources, friend: the full sermon is on YouTube — go hear Henry Marte walk through Galatians himself. This topic quotes him, Waggoner, a well-known Christian author, and Scripture in context, and links you to everything. Be a good Berean and check it all!