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Faith Brings Righteousness

^1 (F1)You foolish ^(C1)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^(C2)was publicly portrayed as crucified?² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of ^(F1)the Law, or by ^(F2)(C1)hearing with faith?³ Are you so foolish? Having begun ^(F1)by the Spirit, are you now ^(F2)being perfected by the flesh?⁴ Did you ^(F1)suffer so many things in vain--^(C1)if indeed it was in vain?⁵ So then, does He who ^(C1)provides you with the Spirit and ^(C2)works ^(F1)miracles among you, do it by the works of ^(F2)the Law, or by ^(F3)(C3)hearing with faith?

^6 (F1)Even so ^(C1)Abraham ^(C2)BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.⁷ Therefore, ^(F1)be sure that ^(C1)it is those who are of faith who are ^(C2)sons of Abraham.⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^(F1)would justify the ^(F2)Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "^(C1)ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."⁹ So then ^(C1)those who are of faith are blessed with ^(F1)Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of ^(F1)the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "^(C1)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."¹¹ Now that ^(C1)no one is justified ^(F1)by ^(F2)the Law before God is evident; for, "^(F3)(C2)THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."^12 (F1)However, the Law is not ^(F2)of faith; on the contrary, "^(C1)HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE ^(F3)BY THEM."¹³ Christ ^(C1)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "^(C2)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON ^(C3)A ^(F1)TREE"--¹⁴ in order that ^(C1)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^(F1)come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(C2)would receive ^(C3)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (C1)Brethren, ^(C2)I speak ^(F1)in terms of human relations: ^(C3)even though it is only a man's ^(F2)covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^(F3)conditions to it.¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(C1)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "^(C2)And to your seed," that is, Christ.¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(C1)four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.¹⁸ For ^(C1)if the inheritance is ^(F1)based on law, it is no longer ^(F1)based on a promise; but ^(C2)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (C1)Why the Law then? It was added ^(F1)because of transgressions, having been ^(C2)ordained through angels ^(C3)by the ^(F2)agency of a mediator, until ^(C4)the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.²⁰ Now ^(C1)a mediator is not ^(F1)for one party only; whereas God is only one.²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^(C1)May it never be! For ^(C2)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ^(F1)would indeed have been ^(F2)based on law.²² But the Scripture has ^(C1)shut up ^(F1)everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, ^(C1)being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^(C1)tutor to lead us to Christ, so that ^(C2)we may be justified by faith.²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^(F1)(C1)tutor.²⁶ For you are all ^(C1)sons of God through faith in ^(C2)Christ Jesus.²⁷ For all of you who were ^(C1)baptized into Christ have ^(C2)clothed yourselves with Christ.^28 (C1)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is ^(F1)neither male nor female; for ^(C2)you are all one in ^(C3)Christ Jesus.²⁹ And if ^(C1)you ^(F1)belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's ^(F2)descendants, heirs according to ^(C2)promise.