Paul, an apostlesent not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it;

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through his grace, was pleased

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I do not lie.)

And they glorified God because of me.

And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)those, I say, who were of repute added nothing to me;

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died for nothing."

Even so Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you will all the nations be blessed."

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith."

What I mean is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Now a mediator does not represent just one party; but God is one.

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness would indeed have come by the law.

For you are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things? Do you desire to be enslaved all over again?

and though my fleshly condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or scorn me, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

They seek you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, so that you may seek them.

But it is always good to seek a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you.

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Let the one who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.