Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

God’s Promises To Abraham Were Not Cancelled By The Law Which Came Later

¹⁵ Brothers, I speak in accordance with human thinking: Though it is [a covenant] of a human, no one sets-aside or adds-conditions-to a covenant having been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed^[a]. He^[b] does not say [in Gen 13:15] “and to seeds”, as-though speaking in reference to many; but as-though speaking in reference to one, “and to your seed”— who is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say: the Law, having come-about after four-hundred and thirty years, does not un-ratify^[c] the covenant having been previously-ratified by God, so as to do-away-with^[d] the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is of ^[e] the Law, it is no longer of the promise. But God has freely-given it to Abraham through the promise!

The Law Was Added Because of Transgressions, Until The Christ Should Come

¹⁹ Why then the Law? It was added because of the transgressions until which time the Seed should come to Whom the promise has been made, having been commanded^[f] through angels by the hand of a mediator^[g]. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of [only] one [party], but God is one^[h].

The Law Served To Lead Us To Faith In Christ So As To Inherit The Abrahamic Promises

²¹ Is the Law then against the promises of God? May it never be! For if a Law being able to give-life had been given, righteousness really would have been by the Law! ²² But the Scripture confined all things under^[i] sin, in order that the promise by faith^[j] in Jesus Christ might be given to the ones believing.