Galatians 3:7–22

⁷Therefore know that only ^fthose who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ⁸And ^gthe Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ^h“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” ⁹So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ⁱ“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹But that no one is ⁴justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ^j“the just shall live by faith.” ¹²Yet ^kthe law is not of faith, but ^l“the man who does them shall live by them.”

^13mChrist has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ⁿ“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ^14othat the blessing of Abraham might come upon the ^pGentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive ^qthe promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise

¹⁵Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: ^rThough it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of ^sone, ^t“And to your Seed,” who is ^uChrist. ¹⁷And this I say, that the law, ^vwhich was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God ⁵in Christ, ^wthat it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸For if ^xthe inheritance is of the law, ^yit is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹What purpose then does the law serve? ^zIt was added because of transgressions, till the ^aSeed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ^bappointed through angels by the hand ^cof a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, ^dbut God is one.

²¹Is the 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. ²²But the Scripture has confined ^eall under sin, ^fthat the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.