Study Desk

But when ^(C1)Cephas came to ^(C2)Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^(F1)stood condemned.

For prior to the coming of some men from ^(F1)(C1)James, he used to ^(C2)eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, ^(C3)fearing those from the circumcision.

The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even ^(C1)Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they ^(C1)were not ^(F1)straightforward about ^(C2)the truth of the gospel, I said to ^(C3)Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, ^(C4)live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^(F2)

"We are ^(C1)Jews by nature and not ^(C2)sinners from the Gentiles;

nevertheless, knowing that ^(C1)a person is not justified by works of ^(F1)the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by ^(C2)faith in Christ and not by works of ^(F1)the Law; since ^(C3)by works of ^(F1)the Law no ^(F2)flesh will be justified.

"But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found ^(C1)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^(F1)(C2)Far from it!

"For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I ^(C1)prove myself to be a wrongdoer.

"For through ^(F1)the Law I ^(C1)died to ^(F1)the Law, so that I might live for God.

"I have been ^(C1)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but ^(C2)Christ lives in me; and ^(F1)the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in ^(C3)the Son of God, who ^(C4)loved me and ^(C5)gave Himself up for me.

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(C1)if righteousness comes through ^(F1)the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

^(F1)You foolish ^(C1)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ ^(C2)was publicly portrayed as crucified?

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of ^(F1)the Law, or by ^(C1)hearing ^(F2)with faith?

Are you so foolish? Having begun ^(F1)by the Spirit, are you now ^(F2)being perfected by the flesh?

Did you ^(F1)suffer so many things in vain—^(C1)if indeed it was in vain?

So then, does He who ^(C1)provides you with the Spirit and ^(C2)works ^(F1)miracles among you, do it by works of ^(F2)the Law, or by ^(C3)hearing ^(F3)with faith?

Just as ^(C1)Abraham ^(C2)BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Therefore, recognize that ^(C1)it is those who are of faith who are ^(C2)sons of Abraham.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^(F1)would justify the ^(F2)Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "^(C1)ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."

So then, ^(C1)those who are of faith are blessed with ^(F1)Abraham, the believer.

For all who are of works of ^(F1)the Law are under a curse; for it is written: "^(C1)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM."

Now, that ^(C1)no one is justified ^(F1)by ^(F2)the Law before God is evident; for, "^(F3)(C2)THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH."

^(F1)However, the Law is not ^(F2)of faith; on the contrary, "^(C1)THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS ^(F3)THEM WILL LIVE BY ^(F3)THEM."

Christ ^(C1)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: "^(C2)CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON ^(C3)A ^(F1)TREE"—

in order that ^(C1)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(C2)would receive ^(C3)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

^(C1)Brothers and sisters, ^(C2)I speak ^(F1)in terms of human relations: ^(C3)even though it is only a man's ^(F2)covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^(F3)conditions to it.

Now the promises were spoken ^(C1)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, "^(C2)And to your seed," that is, Christ.

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(C1)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

For ^(C1)if the inheritance is ^(F1)based on law, it is no longer ^(F1)based on a promise; but ^(C2)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^(C1)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the ^(F1)violations, having been ^(C2)ordered through angels ^(C3)at the hand of a ^(F2)mediator, until ^(C4)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

Now ^(C1)a mediator is not ^(F1)for one party only; but God is only one.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^(F1)(C1)Far from it! For ^(C2)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness ^(F2)would indeed have been ^(F3)based on law.

But the Scripture has ^(C1)confined ^(F1)everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, ^(F1)we were kept in custody under the Law, ^(C1)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.

Therefore the Law has become our ^(F1)(C1)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that ^(C2)we may be justified by faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^(F1)(C1)guardian.

For you are all ^(C1)sons and daughters of God through faith in ^(C2)Christ Jesus.

For all of you who were ^(C1)baptized into Christ have ^(C2)clothed yourselves with Christ.

^(C1)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is ^(F1)neither male nor female; for ^(C2)you are all one in ^(C3)Christ Jesus.

And if ^(C1)you ^(F1)belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's ^(F2)descendants, heirs according to ^(C2)promise.