Law and Promise

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.^{[a] 11} Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.^{[b] 12} But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.^{[c] 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.^{[d] 14} The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.^{[e] 16} Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,^[f] who is Christ. ¹⁷ My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God^[g] and thus cancel the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.