The Changeless Promise^(A)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: ^(B)Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of ^(C)one, ^(D)“And to your Seed,” who is ^(E)Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the law, ^(F)which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God ^[a]in Christ, ^(G)that it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸ For if ^(H)the inheritance is of the law, ^(I)it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose then does the law serve? ^(J)It was added because of transgressions, till the ^(K)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ^(L)appointed through angels by the hand ^(M)of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, ^(N)but God is one.

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. ²² But the Scripture has confined ^(O)all under sin, ^(P)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, ^[b]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore ^(Q)the law was our ^[c]tutor to bring us to Christ, ^(R)that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you ^(S)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For ^(T)as many of you as were baptized into Christ ^(U)have put on Christ. ^28 (V)There is neither Jew nor Greek, ^(W)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all ^(X)one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(Y)if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s ^(Z)seed, and ^(AA)heirs according to the promise.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth ^(A)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[a]“Abba, Father!”

No Return to the Law

^11 (A)Now when ^[a]Peter had come to Antioch, I ^[b]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, ^(B)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing ^[c]those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about ^(C)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter ^(D)before them all, ^(E)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, ^[d]why do you compel Gentiles to live as ^[e]Jews?

³ Now Joshua was clothed with ^(A)filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

⁴ Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, ^(B)and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

¹⁴ But ^(A)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(B)make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

⁹ For ^(A)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead ^[a]bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the ^(B)head of all ^[b]principality and power.

^13 (A)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized ^(B)none of you except ^(C)Crispus and ^(D)Gaius, ¹⁵ lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of ^(E)Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(F)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.