16 yet we know that (A)a person is not justified[a] by works of the law (B)but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, (C)because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found (D)to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I (E)died to the law, so that I might (F)live to God. 20 I have been (G)crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives (H)in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, (I)who loved me and (J)gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for (K)if righteousness[b] were through the law, (L)then Christ died for no purpose.

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? (M)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly (N)portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: (O)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by (P)hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? (Q)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[c] the flesh? (R)Did you suffer[d] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and (S)works miracles among you do so (T)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as (U)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Know then that it is (V)those of faith who are (W)the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that (X)God would justify[e] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, (Y)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10 For all who rely on works of the law are (Z)under a curse; for it is written, (AA)“Cursed be everyone who does not (AB)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that (AC)no one is justified before God by the law, for (AD)“The righteous shall live by faith.”[f] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather (AE)“The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ (AF)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, (AG)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged (AH)on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might (AI)come to the Gentiles, so that (AJ)we might receive (AK)the promised Spirit[g] through faith.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Or counted righteous (three times in verse 16); also verse 17
  2. Galatians 2:21 Or justification
  3. Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
  4. Galatians 3:4 Or experience
  5. Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
  6. Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
  7. Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit

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