Kid's Study Bible provides illustrations, maps, images and fun information for kid's of all ages.
 
 

Home -> Major Sections of the Bible -> Galatians 3:1 - Galatians 4:31

Paul Explains Justification by Faith

Major Bible Sections  Major Bible Sections

Galatians 3:1 - Galatians 4:31

Abraham's Faith Credited as Righteousness; Purpose of the Law

Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?
I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?
He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."
Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.
The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
10 
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."Deuteronomy 27:26
11 
Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."Habakkuk 2:4
12 
The law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."Leviticus 18:5
13 
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"Deuteronomy 21:23
14 
that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 
Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.
16 
Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn't say, "To descendants", as of many, but as of one, "To your offspring", which is Christ.Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
17 
Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
18 
For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
19 
Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
20 
Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.
21 
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
22 
But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 
So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 
For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 
If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.

We are not children of the handmaid, but of the free woman

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
10 
You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11 
I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12 
I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
13 
but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
14 
That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 
What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 
They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
18 
But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-
20 
but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
22 
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
23 
However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24 
These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25 
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 
For it is written,"Rejoice, you barren who don't bear.Break out and shout, you that don't travail.For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."Isaiah 54:1
28 
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 
But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30 
However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman."Genesis 21:10
31 
So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.


Major Bible Sections  Major Bible Sections