Galatians 3:6–29

⁶Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”^{* 7}so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. ⁸And the scripture, foreseeing that God would reckon as righteous the gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the gentiles shall be blessed in you.”^{* 9}For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.

¹⁰For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.”^{* 11}Now it is evident that no one is reckoned as righteous before God by the law, for “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”^{l* 12}But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law^m will live by them.”^{* 13}Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”^*—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.^*