Justification through Faith
1You foolish3:1 Rm 1:14 Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you,3:1 Other mss add not to obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed3:1 Other mss add among you as crucified?3:1 Mt 27:22
2I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?3:2 Lit hearing with faith, also in v. 5
3Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?
Law and Promise
10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,3:10 Jms 3:10 because it is written,3:10 Ac 15:15 Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.3:10Dt 27:263:10 Dt 27:26; Rm 4:15
11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live3:11 Php 1:21 by faith.3:11Hab 2:43:11 Hab 2:4
12But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.3:12Lv 18:53:12 Lv 18:5
15Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.3:15 Or a human covenant that has been ratified
16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,3:16Gn 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 24:73:16 Gn 12:7; 13:15; 17:8; 24:7 who is Christ.
17My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later,3:17 Gn 15:13; Ex 12:40; Ac 7:6 does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God3:17 Other mss add in Christ and thus cancel the promise.
18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.
The Purpose of the Law
19Why, then, was the law given?3:19 Rm 4:15; 5:20 It was added for the sake of transgressions3:19 Or because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels3:19 Gn 16:7; Mt 13:49; Lk 1:11; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6 by means of a mediator.3:19 Heb 8:6
21Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.
22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power,3:22 Lit under sin3:22 Rm 6:23 so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith3:22 Rm 3:22 in Jesus Christ to those who believe.3:22 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10
23Before this faith3:23 Jd 3 came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.3:23 Lk 10:21
24The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,3:24 Mt 5:17; Col 2:17; Heb 9:10 so that we could be justified by faith.
26for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
Sons and Heirs
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
