The Skeptics Annotated Bible (933 page)

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many
as are of the works of the law are under the curse
: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

(3.10) “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.”
156 Are those who obey the law cursed?

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,
The just shall live by faith
.

12
And the law is not of faith
: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

(3.11-12) “The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith.”
304 Is Salvation by faith alone?
33 Has the ever been a just person?

13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law
,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

(3.13a)
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.”
56 Must Christians obey the Old Testament’s laws?

(3.13b)
“Christ …, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
Jesus was cursed by God.

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to
Abraham
and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ.

(3.16) “Abraham … and to thy seed, which is Christ”
329 Was Jesus a descendent of Abraham?

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth
the law
? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it
was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

(3.19) “The law … was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
105 Who gave the law to Moses?

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore
the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come,
we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

(3.24-25)
“The law was our schoolmaster … We are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
56 Must Christians obey the Old Testament’s laws?

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

(3.28) “There is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
42 Is slavery OK
464 Should women have the same rights as men?