Faith and Belief
1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He, therefore, who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?
6 Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” a 7 know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “Through you all the nations will be blessed.” b 9 So then, those who have faith are blessed along with the faithful Abraham.
Redeemed by Christ
10 For all those who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” c
11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for,
“The righteous will live by faith.” d
12 The law is not of faith, but,
“The man who does them will live by them.” e
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” f
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Law’s Purpose
15 Brothers, speaking in human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one can void it or add to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He does not say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, g which is Christ.
17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came 430 years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through the promise.
19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not between only one person, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could bring to life, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under the power of sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before this way of faith had come, we were kept under guard by the law, protected in confinement until this faith was revealed. 24 So that the law was our guardian to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that this way of faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Sons Through Faith in Christ
26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise.
a Genesis 15:6
b Genesis 12:3
c Deuteronomy 27:26
d Habakkuk 2:4
e Leviticus 18:5
f Deuteronomy 21:23
g Genesis 12:7