16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.v Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”i w meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 yearsx later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;y but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressionsz until the Seeda to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angelsb and entrusted to a mediator.c 20 A mediator,d however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!e For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.f 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,g so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

23 Before the coming of this faith,j we were held in custodyh under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.i 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ camej that we might be justified by faith.k 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.l