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