Galatians 3

1 O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?2 This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3 Are you so foolish, that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh?4 Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain.5 He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you; doth he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?6 As it is written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.7 Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.8 And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.9 Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.10 For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.11 But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.12 But the law is not of faith: but, He that doth those things, shall live in them.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.15 Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man's testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.16 To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.17 Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.19 Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.20 Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.21 Was the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.23 But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.24 Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25 But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.26 For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3

Justification by Law or by Faith?

1 Yout foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spellt on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayedt as crucified!2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the lawt or by believing what you heard?t3 Are you so foolish? Although you begant witht the Spirit, are you now trying to finisht by human effort?t4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.

5 Does God then givet you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the lawt or by your believing what you heard?t
6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,s7 so then, understandt that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.t8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time,t saying, “All the nationstwill be blessed in you,"s9 So then those who believet are blessed along with Abraham the believer.10 For all whot rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”ts11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.t12 But the law is not based on faith,t but the one who does the works of the lawtwill live by them.s13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becomingt a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)s

14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,t so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law

15 Brothers and sisters,t I offer an example from everyday life:t When a covenantt has been ratified,t even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant.t Scripturet does not say, “and to the descendants,”t referring to many, but “and to your descendant,”ts referring to one, who is Christ.17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God,s so as to invalidate the promise.

18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gavet it to Abraham through the promise.
19 Why then was the law given?t It was addeds because of transgressions,s until the arrival of the descendantt to whom the promise had been made. It was administeredt through angels by an intermediary.t20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.t21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God?s Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.t

22 But the scripture imprisonedt everything and everyonet under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulnessts of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.

Sons of God Are Heirs of Promise

23 Now before faitht came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisonersst until the coming faith would be revealed.24 Thus the law had become our guardiant until Christ, so that we could be declared righteoust by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.t26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.t27 For all of you whot were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavet nor free, there is neither male nor femalet – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,t heirs according to the promise.