Study Desk

But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, as the scripture says, "Whoever does everything the Law requires will live."

But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, "Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse."

Now, God made his promises to Abraham and to his descendant. The scripture does not use the plural "descendants," meaning many people, but the singular "descendant," meaning one person only, namely, Christ.

But a go-between is not needed when only one person is involved; and God is one.

But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.

But before the time for faith came, the Law kept us all locked up as prisoners until this coming faith should be revealed.

But now to continue—the son who will receive his father's property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything.

But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law,

So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

But now that you know God—or, I should say, now that God knows you—how is it that you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again?

But even though my physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you received me as you would an angel from heaven; you received me as you would Christ Jesus.

Those other people show a deep interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in them as they have in you.

His son by the slave woman was born in the usual way, but his son by the free woman was born as a result of God's promise.

But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our mother.

But what does the scripture say? It says, "Send the slave woman and her son away; for the son of the slave woman will not have a part of the father's property along with the son of the free woman."

So then, my friends, we are not the children of a slave woman but of a free woman.

But I still feel confident about you. Our life in union with the Lord makes me confident that you will not take a different view and that whoever is upsetting you will be punished by God.

But as for me, my friends, if I continue to preach that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? If that were true, then my preaching about the cross of Christ would cause no trouble.

As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another.

But if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other, then watch out, or you will completely destroy one another.