But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Far from it!

For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Therefore, recognize that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”

So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Sonship in Christ

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything,

but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.

Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”