Galatians 3 — NETB

3Verse 1You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!^{Verse 2}The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?^{Verse 3}Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?^{Verse 4}Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.^{Verse 5}Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?^{Verse 6}Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,^{Verse 7}so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.^{Verse 8}And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you*.”^{Verse 9}So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.^{Verse 10}For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”^{Verse 11}Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.^{Verse 12}But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.^{Verse 13}Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)^{Verse 14}in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law

^{Verse 15}Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.^{Verse 16}Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.^{Verse 17}What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.^{Verse 18}For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.^{Verse 19}Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.^{Verse 20}Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.^{Verse 21}Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{Verse 22}But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.

Sons of God Are Heirs of Promise

^{Verse 23}Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.^{Verse 24}Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.^{Verse 25}But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^{Verse 26}For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.^{Verse 27}For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{Verse 28}There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.^{Verse 29}And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.