Justification by Faith
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish?Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect bythe flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeeditwasin vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you,doesHedoitby the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
6 just as Abraham“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
7 Therefore know thatonlythose who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
8 Andthe Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand,saying,“In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
9 So then those whoareof faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written,“Cursediseveryone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of Godisevident, for“the just shall live by faith.”
12 Yetthe law is not of faith, but“the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,“Cursediseveryone who hangs on a tree”),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon theGentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receivethe promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Changeless Promise
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men:Thoughitisonly a man’s covenant, yetifitisconfirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as ofone,“And to your Seed,” who isChrist.
17 And this I say,thatthe law,which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ,that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For ifthe inheritanceisof the law,itisno longer of promise; but God gaveitto Abraham by promise.
Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose thendoesthe lawserve?It was added because of transgressions, till theSeed should come to whom the promise was made;anditwasappointed through angels by the handof a mediator.
20 Now a mediator does notmediatefor oneonly,but God is one.
21 Isthe law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confinedall under sin,that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Thereforethe law was our tutortobringusto Christ,that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Sons and Heirs
26 For youare all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 Foras many of you as were baptized into Christhave put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek,there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are allone in Christ Jesus.
29 Andif youareChrist’s, then you are Abraham’sseed, andheirs according to the promise.