1 O senseless Galatians, who has bewitched you ??you who had Jesus Christ the crucified placarded before your very eyes? 2 I simply want to ask you one thing: did you receive the Spirit by doing what the Law commands or by believing the gospel message? 3 Are you such fools? Did you begin with the spirit only to end now with the flesh? 4 Have you had all that experience for nothing (if it has really gone for nothing)? 5 When He supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, is it because you do what the Law commands or because you believe the gospel message?
6 Why, it is as with Abraham, he had faith in God and that was counted to him as righteousness. 7 Well then, you see that the real sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith. 8 Besides, Scripture anticipated God's justification of the Gentiles by faith when it announced the gospel beforehand to Abraham in these terms: All nations shall be blessed in thee. 9 So that those who rely on faith are blessed along with believing Abraham.
10 Whereas a curse rests on all who rely upon obedience to the Law; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not hold by all that is written in the book of the law, to perform it. 11 And because no one is justified on the score of the Law before God (plainly, the just shall live by faith, ??12 and the Law is not based on faith: no, he who performs these things shall live by them), 13 Christ ransomed us from the curse of the Law by becoming accursed for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a gibbet), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might reach the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised Spirit.
15 To take an illustration from human life, my brothers. Once a man's will is ratified, no one else annuls it or adds a codicil to it. 16 Now the Promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it is not said, 'and to your offsprings' in the plural, but in the singular and to your offspring ??which is Christ. 17 My point is this: the Law which arose four hundred and thirty years later does not repeal a will previously ratified by God, so as to cancel the Promise. 18 If the Inheritance is due to law, it ceases to be due to promise. Now it was by a promise that God bestowed it on Abraham.
19 Then what about the Law? Well, it was interpolated for the purpose of producing transgressions till such time as the Offspring arrived to whom the Promise was made; also, it was transmitted by means of angels through the agency of an intermediary 20 (an intermediary implies more than one party, but God is one). 21 Then the Law is contrary to God's Promises? Never! Had there been any law which had the power of producing life, righteousness would really have been due to law, 22 but Scripture has consigned all without exception to the custody of sin, in order that the promise due to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who have faith. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined by the Law and kept in custody, with the prospect of the faith that was to be revealed; 24 the Law thus held us as wards in discipline, till such time as Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But faith has come, and we are wards no longer; 26 you are all sons of God by your faith in Christ Jesus
27 (for all of you who had yourselves baptized into Christ have taken on the character of Christ). 28 There is no room for Jew or Greek, there is no room for slave or freeman, there is no room for male and female; you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 Now if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring; in virtue of the Promise, you are heirs.