¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ,^[a] the righteousness from God based on faith.^(A)

¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise, but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.^(A)

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring^[a] would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.^{(B) 20} Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.^(C)

²¹ Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. ²² But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ^[b] might be given to those who believe.^(D)

²³ Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous^[c] by faith.^(E)

²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests humans, who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.^(A)

¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope through which we approach God.^(A)