Justification through Faith

3 You foolish k Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, l before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed m as crucified? n 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? o 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh? p 4 Did you suffer q so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles r among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? s

6 Just as Abraham believed God, t and it was credited to him for righteousness, u v 7 then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. w 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would * justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, x saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. y z 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, a who had faith. b

Law and Promise

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, c because it is written: d Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed. e f 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live g by faith. h i 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. j k 13 Christ has * redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, l because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. m n 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith. o

15 * Brothers, I’m using a human illustration. p No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant q that has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his * seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, r s who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, t does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God u and cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then was the law given? v It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels w by means of a mediator. x 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. y 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, z a so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ b might be given to those who believe. c 23 Before this faith d came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. e 24 The law, then, was our guardian f until Christ, g so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith h has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.