¹⁹ Then why do we have the Law? It was given because of sin. It was to be used until Christ came. The promise had been made looking toward Christ. The Law was given by angels through Moses who stood between God and man. ²⁰ But when the promise was given to Abraham, God gave it without anyone standing between them. ²¹ Is the Law against the promise of God? No! Never! If it had been possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by obeying the Law, then being right with God would have come by obeying the Law. ²² But the Holy Writings say that all men are guilty of sin. Then that which was promised might be given to those who put their trust in Christ. It will be because their faith is in Him.

²³ Before it was possible to be saved from the punishment of sin by putting our trust in Christ, we were held under the Law. It was as if we were being kept in prison. We were kept this way until Christ came. ²⁴ The Law was used to lead us to Christ. It was our teacher, and so we were made right with God by putting our trust in Christ. ²⁵ Now that our faith is in Christ, we do not need the Law to lead us.