¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^(A)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but ^(A)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, ^(B)he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, ^(C)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” ¹⁵ And thus Abraham,^{[a] (D)}having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for ^(A)if righteousness^[a] were through the law, ^(B)then Christ died for no purpose.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

¹³ For ^(A)the promise to Abraham and his offspring ^(B)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ^14 (C)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For ^(D)the law brings wrath, but ^(E)where there is no law ^(F)there is no transgression.

¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, ^(G)in order that the promise may rest on grace and ^(H)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, ^(I)who is the father of us all,

²⁹ And ^(A)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(B)heirs according to promise.

¹⁷ and if children, then ^(A)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(B)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.