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Faith and Belief

Verse1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

Verse2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

Verse3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

Verse4Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?

Verse5Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?

Verse6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Verse7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

Verse8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Verse9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Christ Has Redeemed Us

Verse10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Verse11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Verse12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

Verse13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Verse14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Purpose of the Law

Verse15Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

Verse16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Verse17What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Verse18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Verse19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

Verse20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

Verse21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Verse22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Verse23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

Verse24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Verse25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Sons through Faith in Christ

Verse26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Verse27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Verse28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Verse29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.