Study Desk

But these leaders saw that I had been given the work of telling the Good News to those who are not Jewish, just as Peter had the work of telling the Jews.

God gave Peter the power to work as an apostle for the Jewish people. But he also gave me the power to work as an apostle for those who are not Jews.

When I saw they were not following the truth of the Good News, I spoke to Peter in front of them all. I said, "Peter, you are a Jew, but you are not living like a Jew. You are living like those who are not Jewish. So why do you now try to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews?"

We were not born as non-Jewish "sinners," but as Jews.

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.

But I would really be wrong to begin teaching again those things that I gave up.

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.

You people in Galatia were told very clearly about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But you were foolish; you let someone trick you.

But those who depend on following the law to make them right are under a curse, because the Scriptures say, "Anyone will be cursed who does not always obey what is written in the Book of the Law."

God made promises both to Abraham and to his descendant. God did not say, "and to your descendants." That would mean many people. But God said, "and to your descendant." That means only one person; that person is Christ.

If the law could give us Abraham's blessing, then the promise would not be necessary. But that is not possible, because God freely gave his blessings to Abraham through the promise he had made.

But a mediator is not needed when there is only one side, and God is only one.

Does this mean that the law is against God's promises? Never! That would be true only if the law could make us right with God. But God did not give a law that can bring life.

While they are children, they must obey those who are chosen to care for them. But when the children reach the age set by their fathers, they are free.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son who was born of a woman and lived under the law.

But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?

Though my sickness was a trouble for you, you did not hate me or make me leave. But you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Jesus Christ himself!

You were very happy then, but where is that joy now? I am ready to testify that you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me if that were possible.

Those people are working hard to persuade you, but this is not good for you. They want to persuade you to turn against us and follow only them.

It is good for people to show interest in you, but only if their purpose is good. This is always true, not just when I am with you.