Justification by Law or by Faith?

3:1 You1 foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell2 on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed3 as crucified! 3:2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law4 or by believing what you heard?5 3:3 Are you so foolish? Although you began6 with7 the Spirit, are you now trying to finish8 by human effort?9 3:4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing?—if indeed it was for nothing. 3:5 Does God then give10 you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law11 or by your believing what you heard?12

3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,13 3:7 so then, understand14 that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.15 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time,16 saying, “All the nations17 will be blessed in you.”18 3:9 So then those who believe19 are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 3:10 For all who20 rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”21 3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.22 3:12 But the law is not based on faith,23 but the one who does the works of the law24 will live by them.25 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming26 a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)27 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,28 so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.