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15 We were not born as non-Jewish “sinners,” but as Jews. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God not by following the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be made right with God because we trusted in Christ. It is not because we followed the law, because no one can be made right with God by following the law.

17 We Jews came to Christ, trying to be made right with God, and it became clear that we are sinners, too. Does this mean that Christ encourages sin? No! 18 But I would really be wrong to begin teaching again those things that I gave up. 19 It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God. 20 I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me. 21 By saying these things I am not going against God’s grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ’s death would be useless.

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15 “We who are Jews by birth(A) and not sinful Gentiles(B) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(C) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(D) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.(E)

17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,(F) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(G) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law(H) so that I might live for God.(I) 20 I have been crucified with Christ(J) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(K) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(L) who loved me(M) and gave himself for me.(N) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(O) Christ died for nothing!”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of
  2. Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.