Galatians 3:14–29

¹⁴in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.^*

The Promise to Abraham

¹⁵Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s willⁿ has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.^{* 16}Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;^o it does not say, “And to offsprings,”^p as of many, but it says, “And to your offspring,”^q that is, to one person, who is Christ.^{* 17}My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.^{* 18}For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise, but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.^*

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring^r would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.^{* 20}Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.^*

²¹Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. ²²But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ^s might be given to those who believe.^*

²³Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous^t by faith.^{* 25}But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.^{* 27}As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{* 28}There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.^{* 29}And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,^u heirs according to the promise.^*