Gal 3 | BSB | STEP | O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before [your very] eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [as] crucified.

Galatians 3

Faith and Belief

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before [your very] eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [as] crucified. 2 I would like to learn just [one thing] from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? After starting in [the] Spirit, are you now finishing in [the] flesh? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 5 {Does} [God] lavish [His] Spirit on you and work miracles among you because [you] practice the Law, or because [you] hear [and] believe? 6 So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{▼▼Genesis 15:6} 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are [the] sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, [and] foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ^{▼▼Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18} 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the [man] of faith.

Christ Redeemed Us

10 All who rely on works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed [is] everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” ^{▼▼Deuteronomy 27:26} 11 And it is clear that no one is justified before God by [the] Law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” ^{▼▼Habakkuk 2:4} 12 The Law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The [man who] does these things will live by them.” ^{▼▼Leviticus 18:5} 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed [is] everyone who is hung on a tree.” ^{▼▼Deuteronomy 21:23} 14 [He redeemed us] in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Purpose of the Law

15 Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. [The Scripture ] does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” ^{▼▼Genesis 12:7; 13:15} meaning One, who is Christ. 17 What I mean [is] this: [The] Law that came 430 {} years later does not revoke [the] covenant previously established by God, so as to cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on [the] Law, [then it] no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted [it] to Abraham through a promise. 19 Why then [ was ] the Law [ given ] ? It was added because of transgressions, until [the] arrival of the seed to whom [the] promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator is unnecessary, however, [ if there is only ] one [ party ] ; but God is one. 21 [Is] the Law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness {would} certainly have come from [the] Law. 22 But the Scripture [ pronounces ] all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. 23 Before [this] faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now [that] faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Sons Through Faith in Christ

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you [who] were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male [nor] female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed [and] heirs according to [the] promise.