3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 8 3:7 so then, understand 9 that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. 10 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, 11 saying, “All the nations 12 will be blessed in you.” 13 3:9 So then those who believe 14 are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 3:10 For all who 15 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.” 16 3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 17 3:12 But the law is not based on faith, 18 but the one who does the works of the law 19 will live by them. 20 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming 21 a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 22 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, 23 so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
3:15 Brothers and sisters, 24 I offer an example from everyday life: 25 When a covenant 26 has been ratified, 27 even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. 28 Scripture 29 does not say, “and to the descendants,” 30 referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” 31 referring to one, who is Christ. 3:17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, 32 so as to invalidate the promise. 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave 33 it to Abraham through the promise.
3:19 Why then was the law given? 34 It was added 35 because of transgressions, 36 until the arrival of the descendant 37 to whom the promise had been made. It was administered 38 through angels by an intermediary. 39 3:20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. 40 3:21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? 41 Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 42 3:22 But the scripture imprisoned 43 everything and everyone 44 under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness 45 of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.
3:23 Now before faith 46 came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners 47 until the coming faith would be revealed. 3:24 Thus the law had become our guardian 48 until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous 49 by faith. 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 50 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 51 3:27 For all of you who 52 were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave 53 nor free, there is neither male nor female 54 – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, 55 heirs according to the promise.