The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

1O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of [†]the Law, or by [†]hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun [†]by the Spirit, are you now [†]being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you [†]suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works [†]miracles among you, do it by the works of [†]the Law, or by [†]hearing with faith?

6Just as Abraham BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, 7so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God [†]would justify the [†]Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with [†]Abraham, the believer.

10For as many as are of the works of [†]the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” 11Now that no one is justified [†]by [†]the Law before God is evident, [†]for “[†]THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12[†]However, the Law is not [†]of faith; rather, “HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE [†]BY THEM.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become 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 would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Promise by Faith

15Brothers, I speak [†]in human terms: even though it is only a man’s [†]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [†]conditions to it. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ. 17And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise.

19Why the Law then? It was added [†]because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20Now a mediator is not [†]for one person only, whereas God is one. 21Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22But the Scripture has shut up [†]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [†]tutor. 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you [†]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [†]seed, heirs according to promise.