Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Galatians | Page 3

that in
consequence of faith God would declare the nations to be 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