This persuasion<n id="1" /> does not come from the one who calls you!

For it is written:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;<b><i>Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children;i>b><n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry"><b><i>break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,i>b>p> <p class="poetry"><b><i>because the children of the desolate woman are more numerousi>b>p> <p class="poetry"><b><i>than those of the woman who has a husbandi>b><sc>.&#8221;sc><n id="2" />p>

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people,<n id="1" /> or of God? Or am I trying to please people?<n id="2" /> If I were still trying to please<n id="3" /> people,<n id="4" /> I would not be a slave<n id="5" /> of Christ!p>

But the scripture imprisoned<n id="1" /> everything and everyone<n id="2" /> under sin so that the promise could be given &#8211; because of the faithfulness<n id="3" /> of Jesus Christ &#8211; to those who believe.p>

to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.p>

But the Jerusalem above is free,<n id="1" /> and she is our mother.

<p class="bodytext">The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be<n id="1" /> with your spirit, brothers and sisters.<n id="2" /> Amen.p>

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach<n id="1" /> a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you,<n id="2" /> let him be condemned to hell!<n id="3" />

But<n id="1" /> we did not surrender to them<n id="2" /> even for a moment,<n id="3" /> in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.<n id="4" />p>

The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law<n id="1" /> or by believing what you heard?<n id="2" />

Does God then give<n id="1" /> you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law<n id="2" /> or by your believing what you heard?<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> I offer an example from everyday life:<n id="2" /> When a covenant<n id="3" /> has been ratified,<n id="4" /> even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave<n id="1" /> it to Abraham through the promise.p>

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time,<n id="1" /> saying, &#8220;<b><i>All the nationsi>b><n id="2" /> <b><i>will be blessed in youi>b><sc>.&#8221;sc><n id="3" />

in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,<n id="1" /> so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.p>

I am confident<n id="1" /> in the Lord that you will accept no other view.<n id="2" /> But the one who is confusing<n id="3" /> you will pay the penalty,<n id="4" /> whoever he may be.

I went there<n id="1" /> because of<n id="2" /> a revelation and presented<n id="3" /> to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so<n id="4" /> only in a private meeting with the influential people,<n id="5" /> to make sure that I was not running &#8211; or had not run<n id="6" /> &#8211; in vain.

Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God?<n id="1" /> Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.<n id="2" />

But what does the scripture say? &#8220;<i><b>Throw out the slave woman and her sonb>, <b>for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the sonb>i><sc>&#8221;sc><n id="1" /> of the free woman.

For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires<n id="1" /> that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to<n id="2" /> each other, so that you cannot do what you want.