The Law and the Promise

Galatians 3

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: r Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of s one, t "And to your Seed," 1 who is u Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, v which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God 2 in Christ, w that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if x the inheritance is of the law, y it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 What purpose then does the law serve? z It was added because of transgressions, till the a Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was b appointed through angels by the hand c of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, d 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 have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined e all under sin, f that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, 3 kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore g the law was our 4 tutor to bring us to Christ, h that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you i are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For j as many of you as were baptized into Christ k have put on Christ. 28 l There is neither Jew nor Greek, m there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all n one in Christ Jesus. 29 And o if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's p seed, and q heirs according to the promise.

  1. Cross References
    Hebrews 9:17
    For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 22:18
    "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 12:3
    I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
    Genesis 12:7
    Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
    Genesis 13:15
    For all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
    Genesis 24:7
    The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
  4. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:12
    For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 15:13
    Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
    Exodus 12:40
    Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.
    Acts 7:6
    But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.
  6. Cross References
    Romans 4:13
    For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 8:17
    And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 4:14
    For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect.
  9. Cross References
    John 15:22
    If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
  10. Cross References
    Galatians 4:4
    But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 7:53
    "who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 20:19
    Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
    Deuteronomy 5:5
    I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said:
  13. Cross References
    Romans 3:29
    Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.
  14. Cross References
    Romans 11:32
    For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 4:11
    And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.
  16. Cross References
    Romans 10:4
    For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
  17. Cross References
    Acts 13:39
    And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
  18. Cross References
    John 1:12
    But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 28:19
    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
    Romans 6:3
    Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
    1 Corinthians 10:2
    All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 10:12
    For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
    Romans 13:14
    But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
  21. Cross References
    John 10:16
    And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
    Romans 3:22
    Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.
    Romans 10:12
    For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
    Ephesians 2:14
    For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
    Colossians 3:11
    Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
  22. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:13
    For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
  23. Cross References
    John 17:11
    Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
    1 Corinthians 12:13
    For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
    Ephesians 2:15
    Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.
    Ephesians 2:16
    And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 21:10
    Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.
    Hebrews 11:18
    Of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called.
  25. Cross References
    Romans 4:11
    And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.
    Galatians 3:7
    Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 12:3
    I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
    Genesis 18:18
    Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
    Romans 8:17
    And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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