Galatians 3:2-18

2The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

3Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?

4Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.

5Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

6Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,

7so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.

8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”

9So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.

10For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”

11Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.

12But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

15Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.

17What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.