[continued from previous message]   
      
   [18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a   
   transgressor.   
   [19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.   
   [20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ   
   liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith   
   of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.   
   [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the   
   law, then Christ is dead in vain.   
      
   Galatians 3   
      
   Law or Faith   
      
   1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey   
   the truth? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you   
   as crucified.   
   2 (Ac 15:8; Gal 3:14) I want to learn only this from you: Did you receive   
   the Spirit through the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?   
   3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being   
   perfected by the flesh?   
   4 (2Jn 1:8) Have you endured so many things for nothing, if indeed it was   
   for nothing?   
   5 (1Co 12:10; Gal 3:2) Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles   
   among you by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?   
   6 (Ge 15:6; Ro 4:21-22) Even Abraham "believed God, and it was credited   
   to him as righteousness."(Ge 15:6.)   
   7 (Gal 3:9) Therefore know that those who are of faith are the sons   
   of Abraham.   
   8 (Ge 12:3) And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify   
   the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel in advance to Abraham,   
   saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."(Ge 12:3; 18:18; 22:18.)   
   9 (Ro 4:16) So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.   
   10 (Dt 27:26; Jer 11:3) For all who rely on the works of the law   
   are under the curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone   
   who does not continue in all things which are written   
   in the Book of the Law, to do them." (Dt 27:26.)   
   11 (Hab 2:4; Ro 1:17) Now it is evident that no man is justified   
   by the law in the sight of God, for "The just shall live by faith." (Hab 2:4.)   
   12 (Lev 18:5; Ro 10:5-6) But the law is not of faith, for "The man who does   
   them shall live by them." (Lev 18:5.)   
   13 (Dt 21:23; Gal 4:5) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law   
   by being made a curse for us-as it is written, "Cursed is everyone   
   who hangs on a tree"(Dt 21:23.)-   
   14 (Ac 2:33; Gal 3:2) so that the blessing of Abraham might come   
   on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive   
   the promise of the Spirit through faith.   
      
   [1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the   
   truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,   
   crucified among you?   
   [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of   
   the law, or by the hearing of faith?   
   [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect   
   by the flesh?   
   [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.   
   [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles   
   among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?   
   [6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for   
   righteousness.   
   [7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the   
   children of Abraham.   
   [8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through   
   faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all   
   nations be blessed.   
   [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.   
   [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it   
   is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are   
   written in the book of the law to do them.   
   [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is   
   evident: for, The just shall live by faith.   
   [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in   
   them.   
   [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse   
   for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:   
   [14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus   
   Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.   
      
   The Law and the Promise   
      
   15 (Heb 9:17) Brothers, I am speaking in human terms: Though it is only   
   a man's covenant, yet if it is ratified, no one annuls or adds to it.   
   16 (Ge 12:7; Lk 1:55) Now the promises were made to Abraham and his Seed.   
   He does not say, "and to seeds," meaning many, but "and to your Seed,"   
   (Ge 12:7; 13:15; 24:7.) meaning one, who is Christ.   
   17 (Ge 15:13; Ac 7:6) And this I say, that the law, which came   
   four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul the covenant   
   that was ratified by God in Christ, so as to nullify the promise.   
   18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from   
   the promise. But God gave it to Abraham through a promise.   
   19 (Ac 7:53; Gal 3:16; Dt 5:5) What purpose then does the law serve?   
   It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come   
   to whom the promise was made. And it was ordained through angels   
   by the hand of a mediator.   
   20 (1Ti 2:5; Dt 6:4) Now a mediator is not a mediator   
   for only one party, but God is one.   
      
   [15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's   
   covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.   
   [16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And   
   to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.   
   [17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in   
   Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot   
   disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.   
   [18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God   
   gave it to Abraham by promise.   
   [19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,   
   till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained   
   by angels in the hand of a mediator.   
   [20] Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.   
      
   Slaves and Sons   
      
   21 (Gal 2:21; 2:17) Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?   
   God forbid! For if there had been a law given which could have given life,   
   righteousness would indeed come through the law.   
   22 (Ro 11:32) But the Scripture has confined all things under sin,   
   that the promise through faith in Jesus Christ   
   (Or through the faith of Jesus Christ.) might be given to those who believe.   
   23 But before faith came, we were imprisoned under the law,   
   kept for the faith which was later to be revealed.   
   24 (Gal 2:16; Ro 10:4) So the law was 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 (Gal 4:5-6) You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus.   
   27 (Ro 13:14; Ac 2:38) For as many of you as have been baptised   
   into Christ have put on Christ.   
   28 (Col 3:11; Gal 5:6) There is neither Jew nor Greek,   
   there is neither slave nor free, and there is neither male nor female,   
   for you are all one in Christ Jesus.   
   29 (Ro 8:17; 9:7-8) If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed,   
   and heirs according to the promise.   
      
   [21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there   
   had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness   
   should have been by the law.   
   [22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by   
   faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)