Galatians 3:14–29

¹⁴The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith. ^o

¹⁵Brothers, I’m using a human illustration. ^pNo one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant ^qthat has been ratified. ¹⁶Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, ^rswho is Christ. ¹⁷And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, ^tdoes not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God ^uand cancel the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹Why then was the law given? ^vIt was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels ^wby means of a mediator. ^x20Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. ^y21Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. ²²But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, ^zaso that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ ^bmight be given to those who believe. ^c23Before this faith ^dcame, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. ^e24The law, then, was our guardian ^funtil Christ, ^gso that we could be justified by faith. ²⁵But since that faith ^hhas come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Sons and Heirs

²⁷For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. ⁱ²⁸There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, ^jmale or female; ^kfor you are all one ^lin Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs ^maccording to the promise. ⁿ