The false teachers said that the Christians in Galatia needed to obey the *Jewish laws. But God’s blessing does not come as people obey the laws. (‘God’s blessing’ means the good things that God gives to his people.) Instead, people can have a right relationship with God because of God’s promise to Abraham. Abraham did not earn or deserve God’s blessing. God chose Abraham simply because God is kind. And Abraham received God’s promise because Abraham trusted God.

The purpose of God’s laws

v19 But the laws did have a purpose. God gave his laws because people *sin. And those laws show people what *sin really is. The laws continued until Abraham’s special *descendant came. *Angels gave the laws to Moses. And Moses gave the laws to the people. v20 The laws did not come directly from God. But God acts alone.

v21 But this certainly does not mean that God’s laws are opposite to his promises. The laws would be opposite if they could give us *spiritual life. In fact, God would have accepted us because we obeyed his laws. v22 But the *Scriptures say that everyone in the world has a strong desire to *sin. And this desire controls people. But this happened so that they would trust Jesus Christ. Then they would receive what God had promised.

v23 But there was a time before people could trust Jesus Christ. During that time, the law was like a prison guard. And we were like prisoners. We were waiting until God showed us how to trust him. v24 The law became like a guide who takes boys to school. So the law led us to Christ. Then we could trust Christ and have a right relationship with God. v25 Now we are able to trust Christ. Therefore, the law is not still like our guide. It does not still control us.

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