151Brethren, 2I speak in terms of humanrelations: 3eventhough it is only a man'scovenant, yet when it has been ratified, noonesets it asideoraddsconditions to it.
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Now the promises were spoken4to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "5And to your seed," that is, Christ.
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What I am saying is this: the Law, which came6fourhundred and thirtyyearslater, does not invalidate a covenantpreviouslyratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
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For 7if the inheritance is based on law, it is nolongerbased on a promise; but 8God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
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9Why the Lawthen? It was addedbecause of transgressions, having been 10ordainedthroughangels11by the agency of a mediator, until12the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
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Now13a mediator is not for one party only; whereasGod is only one.
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Is the Lawthencontrary to the promises of God? 14May it never be! For 15if a law had been given which was able to impartlife, then righteousness would indeed have beenbased on law.
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But the Scripture has 16shut up everyoneundersin, so that the promise by faith in JesusChrist might be given to those who believe.
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But beforefaithcame, we were kept in custodyunder the law, 17being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
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Therefore the Law has become our 18tutor to lead us to Christ, so that 19we may be justified by faith.
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But now that faith has come, we are nolongerunder a 20tutor.
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For you are all21sons of Godthroughfaith in 22ChristJesus.
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For all of you who were 23baptized into Christ have 24clothed yourselves with Christ.
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25There is neither*JewnorGreek, there is neither*slavenorfreeman, there is neither*malenorfemale; for 26you are allone in 27ChristJesus.
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And if28you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham'sdescendants, heirsaccording to 29promise.