3Galatians 3

Faith Is the Only Way

1You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you?Select Galatians 3:1

2I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him?Select Galatians 3:2

3How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God's Spirit started in you?Select Galatians 3:3

4Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing?Select Galatians 3:4

5God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?Select Galatians 3:5

6The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith.Select Galatians 3:6

7And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham.Select Galatians 3:7

8Long ago the Scriptures said God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. This is why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him.Select Galatians 3:8

9This means everyone who has faith will share in the blessings given to Abraham because of his faith.Select Galatians 3:9

10Anyone who tries to please God by obeying the Law is under a curse. The Scriptures say, “Everyone who doesn't obey everything in the Law is under a curse.”Select Galatians 3:10

11No one can please God by obeying the Law. The Scriptures also say, “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.”Select Galatians 3:11

12The Law isn't based on faith. It promises life only to people who obey its commands.Select Galatians 3:12

13But Christ rescued us from the Law's curse, when he became a curse in our place. This is because the Scriptures say that anyone who is nailed to a tree is under a curse.Select Galatians 3:13

14And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit.Select Galatians 3:14

The Law and the Promise

15My friends, I will use an everyday example to explain what I mean. Once someone agrees to something, no one else can change or cancel the agreement.Select Galatians 3:15

16That is how it is with the promises God made to Abraham and his descendant. The promises were not made to many descendants, but only to one, and that one is Christ.Select Galatians 3:16

17What I am saying is that the Law cannot change or cancel God's promise made 430 years before the Law was given.Select Galatians 3:17

18If we have to obey the Law in order to receive God's blessings, those blessings don't really come to us because of God's promise. But God was kind to Abraham and made him a promise.Select Galatians 3:18

19What is the use of the Law? It was given later to show that we sin. But it was only supposed to last until the coming of that descendant who was given the promise. In fact, angels gave the Law to Moses, and he gave it to the people.Select Galatians 3:19

20There is only one God, and the Law did not come directly from him.Select Galatians 3:20

Slaves and Children

21Does the Law disagree with God's promises? No, it doesn't! If any law could give life to us, we could become acceptable to God by obeying that law.Select Galatians 3:21

22But the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone, so that God's promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.Select Galatians 3:22

23The Law controlled us and kept us under its power until the time came when we would have faith.Select Galatians 3:23

24In fact, the Law was to be our teacher until Christ came. Then we could have faith and be acceptable to God.Select Galatians 3:24

25But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher.Select Galatians 3:25

26All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.Select Galatians 3:26

27And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.Select Galatians 3:27

28Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.Select Galatians 3:28

29So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised.Select Galatians 3:29