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Galatians 3

World English Bible

WEB

1Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 2I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 7Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” 14that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ. 17Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. 19Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Galatians Chapter 3 addresses the issue of faith versus the law, emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Apostle Paul begins by expressing his astonishment at the Galatians for turning away from the gospel of grace to a different gospel that relies on the works of the law. He asks them, 'Who has bewitched you?' (Galatians 3:1), highlighting the foolishness of seeking justification through the law instead of through faith. Paul reminds them that they received the Holy Spirit not by observing the law but by believing what they heard about Christ, reinforcing the idea that faith is the key to receiving God's promises. This sets the stage for his argument that righteousness comes through faith, not through human effort or adherence to the law.

Paul further illustrates his point by referencing Abraham, stating that 'those who have faith are children of Abraham' (Galatians 3:7). He explains that the promise made to Abraham was based on faith, and that all nations would be blessed through him. Paul contrasts the curse of the law with the blessing of faith, declaring that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). The chapter concludes by affirming that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). This powerful declaration emphasizes the unity and equality of all believers in the body of Christ, highlighting the transformative power of faith in the life of a believer.

Overall, Galatians 3 serves as a reminder that our standing before God is not based on our adherence to the law but on our faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and offers us grace and salvation. #Galatians #Faith #Abraham #Law #Grace #Unity

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 12:2-3v8Genesis 12:2-3 contains God's promise to bless Abram and make him a great nation, which Galatians 3:8 interprets as the gospel being preached beforehand, indicating that all nations would be blessed through Abram.
  2. Genesis 22:18v16Genesis 22:18 promises that through Abraham's offspring all nations will be blessed, which Galatians 3:16 identifies as fulfilled in Christ, the seed of Abraham.
  3. Deuteronomy 21:22-23v13Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states that a hanged man is cursed, which Paul references in Galatians 3:13 to explain how Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law.
  4. Deuteronomy 27:26v10Deuteronomy 27:26 states that anyone who does not uphold the words of the law is cursed. Paul references this in Galatians 3:10 to illustrate that reliance on the law for justification brings a curse, pointing to the necessity of faith in Christ.
  5. Habakkuk 2:4v11Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in Galatians 3:11 to argue that no one is justified by the law before God, but by faith, reinforcing the doctrine of justification by faith.
  6. Matthew 1:17v16Matthew 1:17 summarizes the genealogy of Jesus, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises through specific generations, which Paul expounds in Galatians 3:16 as the singular 'seed' referring to Christ.
  7. Romans 5:20v19Romans 5:20 states that the law was added so that trespass might increase, but where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Galatians 3:19-24 explains the purpose of the law as a guardian until Christ came, highlighting the increase of grace.
  8. Romans 13:14v27Romans 13:14 instructs believers to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, which is similar to Galatians 3:27, where those baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:13v281 Corinthians 12:13 speaks of all believers being baptized by one Spirit into one body, regardless of background, which is echoed in Galatians 3:28 where Paul states that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.
  10. Ephesians 3:6v28Ephesians 3:6 speaks of the mystery that Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Galatians 3:28 emphasizes the unity in Christ, stating there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus.
  11. 1 Timothy 1:9v191 Timothy 1:9 explains that the law is made for the lawless, which is similar to Galatians 3:19 where the law is described as being added because of transgressions.
  12. Philemon 1:16v28Philemon 1:16 emphasizes Onesimus's new status as more than a slave, but a beloved brother in the Lord, which aligns with Galatians 3:28 where Paul declares that in Christ there is neither slave nor free, but all are one.
  13. Hebrews 9:15v13Hebrews 9:15 speaks of Christ as the mediator of a new covenant, which is related to Galatians 3:13-14 where Christ redeems us from the curse of the law to bring the blessing of Abraham.
  14. James 2:10v10James 2:10 explains that breaking one part of the law makes one guilty of all, highlighting the law's comprehensive nature. Galatians 3:10 echoes this by stating that those who rely on the law are under a curse if they do not continue in all things written in the law.

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