1 Y ou foolish Galatians! What strange powers are trying to lead you from the way of faith in Christ? We made it plain for you to see that Jesus Christ was put on a cross to die.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

2 T here is one thing I want to know. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the Law? Or did you receive Him by hearing about Christ?

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 H ow foolish can you be? You started the Christian life by the Holy Spirit. Do you think you are going to become better Christians by your old way of worship?

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

4 Y ou suffered so much because of the Good News you received. Was this all of no use?

Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 H e gave you the Holy Spirit and did powerful works among you. Does He do it because you do what the Law says or because you hear and believe the truth?

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

6 I t was the same with Abraham. He put his trust in God. This made Abraham right with God.

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

7 B e sure to remember that all men who put their trust in God are the sons of Abraham.

Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

8 T he Holy Writings said long ago that God would save the people who are not Jews from the punishment of sin also. Before this time the Holy Writings gave the Good News to Abraham in these words, “All nations will be happy because of you.”

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”

9 S o then, all those who have faith will be happy, along with Abraham who had faith.

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. The Law Brings a Curse

10 A ll those who expect the Law to save them from the punishment of sin will be punished. Because it is written, “Everyone who does not keep on doing all the things written in the Book of the Law will be punished.”

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

11 N o one is made right with God by doing what the Law says. For, “The man right with God will live by faith.”

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

12 T he Law does not use faith. It says, “You must obey all the Law or you will die.”

Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 C hrist bought us with His blood and made us free from the Law. In that way, the Law could not punish us. Christ did this by carrying the load and by being punished instead of us. It is written, “Anyone who hangs on a cross is hated and punished.”

Christ has 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” ),

14 B ecause of the price Christ Jesus paid, the good things that came to Abraham might come to the people who are not Jews. And by putting our trust in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit He has promised.

that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The Changeless Promise

15 C hristian brothers, let me show you what this means. If two men agree to something and sign their names on a paper promising to stay true to what they agree, it cannot be changed.

Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.

16 N ow the promise was made to Abraham and to his son. He does not say, “And to sons,” speaking of many. But instead, “And to your Son,” which means Christ.

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

17 T his is what I am saying: The Law which came 430 years later could not change the promise. The promise had already been made by God. The Law could not put that promise aside.

And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

18 I f it had been possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by obeying the Law, the promise God gave Abraham would be worth nothing. But since it is not possible to be saved by obeying the Law, the promise God gave Abraham is worth everything.

For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Purpose of the Law

19 T hen why do we have the Law? It was given because of sin. It was to be used until Christ came. The promise had been made looking toward Christ. The Law was given by angels through Moses who stood between God and man.

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

20 B ut when the promise was given to Abraham, God gave it without anyone standing between them.

Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

21 I s the Law against the promise of God? No! Never! If it had been possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by obeying the Law, then being right with God would have come by obeying the Law.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

22 B ut the Holy Writings say that all men are guilty of sin. Then that which was promised might be given to those who put their trust in Christ. It will be because their faith is in Him.

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 B efore it was possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by putting our trust in Christ, we were held under the Law. It was as if we were being kept in prison. We were kept this way until Christ came.

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

24 T he Law was used to lead us to Christ. It was our teacher, and so we were made right with God by putting our trust in Christ.

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 N ow that our faith is in Christ, we do not need the Law to lead us.

But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Sons and Heirs

26 Y ou are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 A ll of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 G od does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ.

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

29 I f you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.

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