Galatians 3

New King James Version

Justification by Faith^(A)

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you^[a]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed^[b]among you as crucified?² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,^(B)or by the hearing of faith?³ Are you so foolish?^(C)Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by^(D)the flesh?^4 (E)Have you suffered so^[c]many things in vain—if indeedit wasin vain?

⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you,does He do itby the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—⁶ just as Abraham^(F)“believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”⁷ Therefore know thatonly^(G)those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.⁸ And^(H)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand,saying,^(I)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.”⁹ So then those whoareof faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written,^(J)“Cursediseveryone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”¹¹ But that no one is^[d]justified by the law in the sight of Godisevident, for^(K)“the just shall live by faith.”¹² Yet^(L)the law is not of faith, but^(M)“the man who does them shall live by them.”

^13 (N)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,^(O)“Cursediseveryone who hangs on a tree”),^14 (P)that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the^(Q)Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive^(R)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise^(S)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in the manner of men:^(T)Thoughit isonly a man’s covenant, yetif it isconfirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of^(U)one,^(V)“And to your Seed,”who is^(W)Christ.¹⁷ And this I say,thatthe law,^(X)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God^[e]in Christ,^(Y)that it should make the promise of no effect.¹⁸ For if^(Z)the inheritanceisof the law,^(AA)it isno longer of promise; but God gaveitto Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose thendoesthe lawserve?^(AB)It was added because of transgressions, till the^(AC)Seed should come to whom the promise was made;and it was^(AD)appointed through angels by the hand^(AE)of a mediator.²⁰ Now a mediator does notmediatefor oneonly,^(AF)but God is one.

²¹ Isthe law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.²² But the Scripture has confined^(AG)all under sin,^(AH)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law,^[f]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.²⁴ Therefore^(AI)the law was our^[g]tutorto bring usto Christ,^(AJ)that we might be justified by faith.²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you^(AK)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.²⁷ For^(AL)as many of you as were baptized into Christ^(AM)have put on Christ.^28 (AN)There is neither Jew nor Greek,^(AO)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all^(AP)one in Christ Jesus.²⁹ And^(AQ)if youareChrist’s, then you are Abraham’s^(AR)seed, and^(AS)heirs according to the promise.