Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Galatians | Page 3

free from guilt, sent beforehand the Good News to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." 003:009 So we see that it is those who possess faith that are blessed with believing Abraham. 003:010 All who are depending upon their own obedience to the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed is every one who does not remain faithful to all the precepts of the Law, and practise them." 003:011 It is evident, too, that no one can find acceptance with God simply by obeying the Law, because "the righteous shall live by faith," 003:012 and the Law has nothing to do with faith. It teaches that "he who does these things shall live by doing them." 003:013 Christ has purchased our freedom from the curse of the Law by becoming accursed for us--because "Cursed is every one who is hanged upon a tree." 003:014 Our freedom has been thus purchased in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing belonging to Abraham may come upon the nations, so that through faith we may receive the promised Spirit. 003:015 Brethren, even a covenant made by a man--to borrow an illustration from daily life--when once formally sanctioned is not liable to be set aside or added to. 003:016 (Now the promises were given to Abraham and to his seed. God did not say "and to seeds," as if speaking of many, but "and to your seed," since He spoke of only one-- and this is Christ.) 003:017 I mean that the Covenant which God had already formally made is not abrogated by the Law which was given four hundred and thirty years later--so as to annul the promise. 003:018 For if the inheritance comes through obedience to Law, it no longer comes because of a promise. But, as a matter of fact, God has granted it to Abraham in fulfilment of a promise. 003:019 Why then was the Law given? It was imposed later on for the sake of defining sin, until the seed should come to whom God had made the promise; and its details were laid down by a mediator with the help of angels. 003:020 But there cannot be a mediator where only one individual is concerned. 003:021 God, however, is only one. Is the Law then opposed to the promises of God? No, indeed; for if a Law had been given which could have conferred Life, righteousness would certainly have come by the Law. 003:022 But Scripture has shown that all mankind are the prisoners of sin, in order that the promised blessing, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who believe. 003:023 Before this faith came, we Jews were perpetual prisoners under the Law, living under restraints and limitations in preparation for the faith which was soon to be revealed. 003:024 So that the Law has acted the part of a tutor-slave to lead us to Christ, in order that through faith we may be declared to be free from guilt. 003:025 But now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor-slave. 003:026 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus; 003:027 for all of you who have been baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ. 003:028 In Him the distinctions between Jew and Gentile, slave and free man, male and female, disappear; you are all one in Christ Jesus. 003:029 And if you belong to Christ, then you are indeed true descendants of Abraham, and are heirs in fulfilment of the promise. 004:001 Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, 004:002 but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed. 004:003 So we also, when spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved. 004:004 But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law, 004:005 in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as sons. 004:006 And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!" 004:007 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act. 004:008 But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist. 004:009 Now, however, having come to know God--or rather to be known by Him-- how is it you are again turning back to weak and worthless rudimentary notions