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Text -- Galatians 3:1-25 (NET)
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Context
Justification by Law or by Faith?
3:1 You foolish Galatians ! Who has cast a spell on you ? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified !
3:2 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 ?
3:3 Are you so foolish ? Although you began with the Spirit , are you now trying to finish by human effort ?
3:4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing ?– if indeed it was for nothing .
3:5 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 ?
3:6 Just as Abraham believed God , and it was credited to him as righteousness ,
3:7 so then , understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham .
3:8 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 .”
3:9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer .
3:10 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 .”
3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law , because the righteous one will live by faith .
3:12 But the law is not based on faith , but the one who does the works of the law will live by them .
3:13 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 ”)
3:14 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
3:15 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.
3:16 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 .
3:17 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 .
3:18 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 .
3:19 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 .
3:20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one .
3:21 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 .
3:22 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
3:23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law , being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed .
3:24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ , so that we could be declared righteous by faith .
3:25 But now that faith has come , we are no longer under a guardian .
Parallel
Cross Reference (TSK)
ITL
Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Salvation |
Covenant |
Judaism |
Faith |
Minister |
Works |
GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE |
Abraham |
James, Epistle of |
Justification |
LAW OF MOSES |
PAUL, THE APOSTLE, 6 |
QUOTATIONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT |
Quotations and Allusions |
LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT |
PAULINE THEOLOGY |
IMPUTATION |
INSPIRATION, 1-7 |
Holy Spirit |
HOLY SPIRIT, 2 |
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