17. Here is what I mean. The law came 430 years after the promise. But the law does not get rid of God's covenant and promise. The covenant had already been made by God. So the law does not do away with the promise.
18. The great gift that God has for us does not depend on the law. If it did, it would no longer depend on a promise. But God gave it to Abraham as a free gift through a promise.
19. Then what was the purpose of the law? It was added because of human sin. And it was supposed to control us until the promised Seed had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a go-between.
20. A go-between does not take sides. God didn't use a go-between when he made his promise to Abraham. But the same God was at work in both the law and the promise.
21. So is the law opposed to God's promises? Certainly not! What if a law had been given that could give life? Then people could become right with God by obeying the law.
22. But Scripture announces that the whole world is a prisoner because of sin. It does so in order that what was promised might be given to those who believe. The promise comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
23. Before faith in Christ came, we were held prisoners by the law. We were locked up until faith was made known.
24. So the law was put in charge until Christ came. He came so that we might be made right with God by believing in Christ.
25. But now faith in Christ has come. So we are no longer under the control of the law.
26. You are all children of God by believing in Christ Jesus.
27. All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ as if he were your clothes.
28. There is no Jew or Greek. There is no slave or free person. There is no male or female. Because you belong to Christ Jesus, you are all one.