New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
19 So what was the law for? It was given to show that the wrong things people do are against God's will. And it continued until the special descendant, who had been promised, came. The law was given through angels who used Moses for a mediatorn to give the law to people.
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Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.
20 But a mediator is not needed when there is only one side, and God is only one.
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A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Does this mean that the law is against God's promises? Never! That would be true only if the law could make us right. But God did not give a law that can bring life.
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Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
22 Instead, the Scriptures showed that the whole world is bound by sin. This was so the promise would be given through faith to people who believe in Jesus Christ.
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But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming.
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Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
24 In other words, the law was our guardian leading us to Christ so that we could be made right with God through faith.
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So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under a guardian.
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Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.