Study Desk

But when God, who had set me apart from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying!)

And they were glorifying God because of me.

But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

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

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness,

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you."

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

And 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 abolish the promise.

For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise.

Now a mediator is not for one person only, whereas God is one.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law.

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

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

And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?