In Galatians 2:16 and 3:7 we read,
“…and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.” (CSB)
This is coherent with the section, “Abraham: The Father of Faith,” above. Now let’s see how Paul corrects the Jew’s understanding of what constitutes “Abraham’s sons,” and how faith also justifies the Gentiles as blessed with Abraham.
3:7-9, 14 “You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith…The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (CSB)
It is through faith in Christ Jesus that the promised blessing of salvation and the Spirit “would come to the Gentiles,” that is to say, “everyone!” Paul continues,
3:22-29 “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” (CSB)
Law and works gives way to Jesus and faith. The basis or grounds for salvation has changed from being “confined under the law” to that of faith in Jesus Christ. Upon that basis – faith in Jesus Christ – rests the promise of salvation without distinctions, which is to say, “every person” may be saved! Salvation is truly universal on the basis of faith in Christ Jesus.
The Truth of the Gospel 